In Japan, collagen-rich foods are a beauty essential. In a recent Oprah episode about beauty secrets from around the world, Japanese women highlighted the crucial role of collagen in keeping their porcelain skin smooth, plump, and wrinkle-free.
Collagen is often on the menu in local restaurants. Some Japanese women drink it daily, either mixed with water or in tea. Miki Okae, one of Japan’s most famous beauty experts, even admitted that she sneaks out of work when the supermarket opens to get her hands on beef tendons before they fly off the shelves.
Eat Yourself Beautiful, a British nutri-cosmetic company founded in 2007, is trying to adapt the Japanese collagen craze for the British market with collagen-rich marshmallows. According to the Daily Mail,
Products dubbed “beautyceautical” and nutri-cosmetics” are the newest evolution of the trend towards functional foods –ordinary foods like yogurt and spreads enriched with health-giving ingredients.
As if non-enriched food isn’t functional? But I digress… The marshmallows are manufactured in Japan and imported to the United Kingdom where they can be purchased online or at British Department store, Harvey Nichols. Each 50g package of marshmallows contains 3,000mg of collagen peptides. They also contain glucose syrup, sugar, gelatin, corn starch, soy protein, and artificial colors and flavors flavours. When you put it that way, Yum!
If you’re thinking that cellulite-busting marshmallows sound like unscientific fluff, you might want to check out “The Science” page on the Eat Yourself Beautiful website where they quote some journals and stuff. The “What Is It?” page explains the same three things again in case you didn’t understand it when it was labeled “science.” Fortunately, they get down to serious business on the “Research and Information” page where they show you how to google relevent terms.
I’m not doubting that collagen is good for you or even that it might help reduce cellulite. But marshmallows? To quote Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers, “Really?”
*This post is part of Fight Back Friday hosted at FoodRenegade.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
do these help youner llooking skin? how much do they cost any coupons? special orders thank you Alvie Rocha
Their website is no longer active so I suspect they went out of business. It was a novel product to write about but I don’t think it actually worked! If you want collagen, drink homemade bone broth. See How to Make Beef Stock in a Slow Cooker.
Unfortunately the marshmallows are not going to be as beneficial as other foods that contain collagen. If SUGAR is an ingredient, then it’s going to work against the benefits of the collagen because sugar causes inflammation and something called “advanced glycation end products” that cause damage to the protein in your skin.
Melissa, whose comment is above, is correct. Homemade bone broth will create a better collagen food product.
For those of us who don’t want to make our own broth, you can buy unflavored gelatin in the baked goods department and add it to your coffee, tea or smoothies.
It dissolves more easily in cold water than in hot. To prepare it easily for coffee or tea, put the contents of the packet in a cup and add a tablespoon or two of water, mix until dissolved, then add your hot liquid and stir. It does not add any unpleasant taste. Just be sure to drink your beverage before it cools, because it will turn to jello if you leave it sitting around.
Thanks for the info, Toni! I didn’t know gelatin dissolves better in cold water. I have to try that!