Hormone Healing Gummies

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I grew up in Minnesota - the capital of hot-dishes, dessert bars and jello salad. I don't think I can remember a single birthday party, holiday, school event or other celebration that didn't feature one of the above items (if not all of them together)! I've spent many hours re-creating recipes of my childhood with real food ingredients - they not only taste better but also offer many health benefits, such as these digestion/hormone/immune healing gummies.

Gelatin is a readily available protein source and nutrient dense food. It offers potent health benefits for the hair, skin and nails while also healing "leaky gut" to improve digestion, boost the immune system and impact hormone balance. When sourced from grass-fed animals, it also provides anti-inflammatory properties. I might go so far as to call grass-fed gelatin a super food - and you can read all about why here.

Your Hormones and Your Gut

Hormones cascade from one to the next in beautiful symmetry. In health, this process should continue without need for external intervention or support. Symptoms are a signal that something in this process is out of balance, and in almost all of the women I work with who are suffering from hormonal symptoms there is usually some level of gut-dysbiosis (imbalance).

Your digestion is the hub of your physiology. How, what and when you eat impacts your body not just in a fuel-capacity but on a cellular level. The information processed in the small and large intestines filter throughout the body and can either help or hinder the natural systemic flow.

The intestinal lining is the gate-keeper of this information - it decides what can get through or not. And gelatin is like armor for that gate-keeper, keeping it functioning in tip top shape for the body as a whole. When the lining is secure, inflammatory agents are kept out of the bloodstream - where they can't interfere with your delicate hormonal balance. Immune and liver/lymph detoxification systems are also supported when the digestive system is in healthy working order.

Get Creative With Gelatin

A great way to increase gelatin in your diet is through bone broth. Or, you can purchase collagen peptides and use the powder in your smoothies. But gelatin is fun because it, well, gels. The chewy texture can provide an excellent palate for creative expression of your favorite tastes. You can make a savory aspic for your favorite pate or a sweet treat with chunks of real fruit inside. Home-made - real food - "jello" is a fun way to incorporate more gelatin in your diet, and also great for kids as a natural immune boost and for supporting chronic allergies and skin conditions.

Recipe: Hormone Healing Gummies

  • 2 Cups Liquid*
  • 5 Tbsp Grass Fed Gelatin
  • Maple Syrup or Honey, to taste (optional)
  • Lemon Juice, to taste (optional)

Pour liquid into a saucepan on the stove. Whisk in the gelatin and stir/warm until fully dissolved. Once dissolved, remove from heat and add maple syrup and/or lemon juice (if using). Whisk to combine. Pour the mixture into a shallow pan or silicone mold like this one. Refrigerate until set. Remove and serve.

*Choose your liquid wisely. You can make these gummies out of herbal tea (like peppermint or red-raspberry leaf), fresh juice (like orange), bottled juice (like tart cherry, pineapple), a creamy fluid like coconut milk, or a combination of any of the above. The options are endless! Except for fresh pineapple juice or fresh pineapple fruit - the enzymes won't let the gelatin set. If you want to get really creative, you can layer your gummies with different colors/flavors for an extra special treat.

I typically use tart cherry juice (for the anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory properties and naturally occurring melatonin to help us sleep soundly!) with a splash of maple syrup. For a more sour gummy, I'll add 1-2 Tbsp lemon juice.

Note: Gummies will often taste less potent once they are set, so if you like a real sweet or sour gummy, be sure to add enough sweetener or citrus to your liquid before pouring it off.