If you’ve read my numerous blog posts on the benefits of bone broth, then you already know the power of gelatin as a healing agent for the gut. So I put together this delicious recipe for homemade jello as another way to get all of the benefits from gelatin.
French research until the 1950’s shows that gelatin was used in the treatment of diseases such as ulcers, jaundice, diabetes, infection, and cancer. Bone broths contain minerals like calcium, phosphorous, sulphur, silicon, magnesium, and trace minerals – all in forms the body can instantly absorb and utilize.
As the cartilage and tendons are broken down, substances like chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine are also made available to the body in highly absorbable forms. Mushroom broths provide beta-glucans to heal and balance the immune system and vegetable broths provide alkalinity and detox – thus benefiting the liver, adrenals, and thyroid.
In The IBD Remission Diet, I recommend drinking homemade bone broths between Absorb Plus shakes to provide the healing gelatin for the GI tract, to provide taste variety (sweet-salty-sweet-salty etc.), and to keep your appetite stimulated. The high level of gelatin in properly prepared bone broth from organic or pasture-raised animals is extremely healing for the gut. And if you’re vegetarian, or for variety, you can also drink homemade vegetable broth, or that mushroom broth I talked about.
Here’s more info on the health benefits of bone broth, and you can download this free broth recipe eBook to get you started.
But what if you are craving something a bit sweeter? Homemade jello made from clear fruit juice and gelatin is another allowable on the IBD Remission Diet (strain juice through a coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove the fiber), and there are many ways you can customize it to your liking. I recently had a reader from our LTYG Facebook Group ask the below question, which I thought was a fabulous idea:
I read in the IBD Remission Diet that one of the allowable foods is homemade gelatin (jello) and that we could use clear juice to make it. All the organic, non-pasteurized juice I can find has a ton of sugar. Is herbal tea sweetened with honey okay to use for gelatin?
The answer is…yes! Technically honey also contains a disaccharide sugar (along with the monosaccharide, fructose), so although disaccharides are not allowed on an elemental diet, one could argue that the amount is so tiny, it’s unlikely to make a difference. You can also use monk fruit (luo han guo) to sweeten the honey further, and that is an allowed sweetener. That’s what I do with my mint tea – I use just a small amount of honey and 3 drops of monk fruit.
Of course, you could always make your herbal tea and sweeten it with your choice of fully allowed natural sweeteners: fructose, dextrose, glucose, stevia, or monk fruit (luo han guo).
What I love about my readers is that they are always happy to share their findings and successes with the rest of the LTYG community! This reader went ahead and gave it a try, and here was her experience:
I made gelatin today using Stash brand hibiscus tea. Added 5 bags of tea to 2 cups of boiling water. Let steep 15-20 minutes and squeezed the tea bags before discarding. Added 1 tablespoon honey. Meanwhile poured one cup water in small casserole dish and sprinkled 2 tablespoons gelatin over the top while stirring with whisk. Then poured tea into water and whisked for a few seconds. Placed in the fridge. Approximately 1 hour later I had gelatin. It’s not sweet, so if you are used to using juice, taste before adding to water – and of course use as little honey as possible. If you want gummies instead of gelatin, add 3 tablespoons of gelatin to the water instead of 2. I’ll be trying apple cinnamon herbal tea next. 😉
Apple cinnamon sounds divine! The types/flavors of tea (or clear juice) can make your jello more customizable – just make sure your tea of choice adheres to my guidelines in The IBD Remission Diet: You want a tea that is organic and free of any caffeine.
You’ll find I go into much more detail on all allowable ingredients/foods in my book, but here is the simple recipe to make your own jello…
Homemade Jello Recipe
Natural jello is a really nice alternative texture when all you’re having is liquids. This recipe also provides more gelatin to soothe the mucosal lining of your gut. Try to find a brand of gelatin that is high-quality and kosher, as these usually have a very benign/bland taste (similar to Knox gelatin):
- Pour 1 tablespoon of unflavored gelatin over 1/4 cup of natural, unsweetened, clear, fruit juice (preferably certified organic) OR herbal tea of your choice
- Add 1/4 cup boiling water and stir constantly until gelatin is completely dissolved (about 1-2 minutes)
- Add another 1.5 cups of juice or tea, stir and refrigerate until set
- *If you want a stiffer jelly, then add less juice
And if you’re looking for more recipes containing gut-healing gelatin, why not give this congee recipe a try? This congee uses broth, rather than water, and adds extra minerals, gut-healing gelatin, and flavor. It provides bowel rest, and is a favorite of my recipes!
Thanks again to our fabulous reader for sharing!!
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert on natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s Disease and has remained drug and surgery-free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcast, TV, and radio shows throughout the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, giving people hope and vision for how they can heal their Colitis, Crohn’s, Diverticulitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), using entirely natural methods. Her books on natural healing for digestive diseases have sold worldwide in over 80 countries.
