QA for MPD Is Jello Good for You? Nutrition, Benefits, and Downsides.

Jello is a gelatin-based dessert that has been on American menus since 1897.

Most people associate this jiggly and sweet substance with school lunches and hospital trays, but it’s also popular among dieters as a low-calorie treat.

The brand name “Jell-O” is owned by Kraft foods and refers to a product line including jellos, puddings, and other desserts.

This article tells you everything you need to know about jello and its ingredients.

What Is Jello?

The primary ingredient in jello is gelatin. Gelatin is made from animal collagen — a protein that makes up connective tissues, such as skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones.

The hides and bones of certain animals — often cows and pigs — are boiled, dried, treated with a strong acid or base, and finally filtered until the collagen is extracted. The collagen is then dried, ground into a powder, and sifted to make gelatin.

While it’s often rumored that jello is made from horse or cow hooves, this is incorrect. The hooves of these animals are primarily made up of keratin — a protein that can’t be made into gelatin.

Jello can be purchased as a powdered mix that you make at home or as a pre-made dessert often sold in individual cup-sized servings.

When you make jello at home, you dissolve the powdered mixture in boiling water. Heating breaks the bonds that hold the collagen together. When the mixture cools, the collagen strands reform into a semi-solid state with water molecules trapped inside.

This is what gives jello its characteristic jiggly, gel-like texture.

SUMMARY

Jello is primarily made up of gelatin, a protein extracted from the skins and bones of certain animals. The gelatin is dissolved in boiling water and then cooled to form a gelatinous, semi-solid substance.

Other Ingredients

While gelatin is what gives jello its wiggly texture, packaged jello mixes also contain sweeteners, flavoring agents, and colorings.

Sweeteners used in jello are typically aspartame, an artificial calorie-free sweetener, or sugar.

Artificial flavors are often used in jello. These are chemical mixtures that imitate a natural flavor. Often, many chemicals are added until the desired flavor profile is achieved (1Trusted Source).

Food colorings in jello can be either natural or artificial. Due to consumer demand, some products are now being made with natural colorings, such as beet and carrot juice. However, many jellos are still made with artificial food dyes.

For example, Strawberry Jell-O contains sugar, gelatin, adipic acid, artificial flavor, disodium phosphate, sodium citrate, fumaric acid, and red dye #40.

Sugar-free Black Cherry Jell-O contains the same ingredients, except it uses aspartame instead of sugar as the sweetener and contains maltodextrin from corn and blue dye #1.

Since there are many manufacturers of jello and many products available, the only way to know for sure what’s in your jello is to read the ingredients on the label.

Is Jello Vegetarian?

Jell-O is made from gelatin — which is derived from animal bones and skin. That means it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

However, vegetarian jello desserts made from plant-based gums or seaweeds like agar or carrageenan are available.

You can also make your own vegetarian jello at home using one of these plant-based gelling agents.

SUMMARY

Jello is made from gelatin, flavoring agents, natural or artificial sweeteners, as well as natural food colorings or artificial food dyes. Brand-name Jell-O is not vegetarian, but there are vegetarian versions on the market.

Is Jello Healthy?

Jello has long been a staple of many diet plans, as it’s low in calories and fat-free. However, this doesn’t necessarily make it healthy.

One serving (21 grams of dry mix) has 80 calories, 1.6 grams of protein, and 18 grams of sugars — which is approximately 4.5 teaspoons (2Trusted Source).

Jello is high in sugar and low in fiber and protein, making it an unhealthy food choice.

One serving (6.4 grams of dry mix) of sugar-free jello made with aspartame has only 13 calories, 1 gram of protein and no sugar. Still, artificial sweeteners may have negative effects on your health (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

Furthermore, while jello is low in calories, it’s also low in nutrients, providing virtually no vitamins, minerals, or fiber (2Trusted Source).

Gelatin and Health

Though jello is not a nutritious food choice, gelatin itself may be beneficial for your health. It contains collagen, which has been researched in several animal and human studies.

Collagen may positively impact bone health. In a randomized study, postmenopausal women who took 5 grams of collagen peptides a day for one year had significantly increased bone density compared to women given a placebo (4Trusted Source).

In addition, it may help reduce joint pain. In a small 24-week study, college athletes who took 10 grams a day of a liquid collagen supplement experienced less joint pain compared to those taking a placebo (5Trusted Source).

Furthermore, it may help reduce the effects of skin aging. In a randomized 12-week study, women aged 40–60 who took 1,000 mg of a liquid collagen supplement showed improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkling (6Trusted Source).

However, the amount of collagen in jello is far lower than those used in these studies. It’s unlikely that eating jello would lead to any noticeable effects.

Additionally, the high amount of sugar in regular jello is likely to counter any health effects that jello may provide for your skin and joints, as high-sugar diets have been shown to accelerate skin aging and increase inflammation in the body (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Jello is low in calories but also high in sugar or artificial sweeteners and low in nutrients. While gelatin supplements may have some beneficial effects on your health, it’s unlikely that jello will provide the same benefits.

Potential Downsides

Before eating jello, you may want to consider some of the possible negative health effects it may have.

Artificial Colors

Most jello contains artificial colors. These are made with ingredients derived from petroleum, a natural chemical used to make gasoline that may have harmful effects on your health.

The food dyes red #40, yellow #5 and yellow #6 contain benzidine, a known carcinogen — in other words, these dyes may promote cancer. However, they’re permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in low doses presumed to be safe (9Trusted Source).

Studies link artificial colors to behavioral changes in children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (10Trusted Source).

While in some studies, doses higher than 50 mg were associated with behavioral changes, other studies suggest that as little as 20 mg of artificial food colors may have a negative effect (10Trusted Source).

In fact, in Europe, foods that contain artificial dyes must display warning labels informing that the foods may cause hyperactivity in children (9Trusted Source).

The amount of food dye used in jello is unknown and likely varies between brands.

Artificial Sweeteners

Sugar-free packaged jello is made with artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and sucralose.

Animal and human studies show that aspartame may damage cells and cause inflammation (3Trusted Source).

What’s more, animal studies link aspartame to a higher risk of certain cancers — such as lymphoma and kidney cancer — at daily doses as low as 9 mg per pound (20 mg per kg) of body weight (11Trusted Source).

This is much lower than the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 22.7 mg per pound (50 mg per kg) of body weight (11Trusted Source).

However, human studies exploring the relationship between cancer and aspartame are lacking.

Artificial sweeteners have also been shown to cause disturbances in the gut microbiome.

In a 12-week study in mice, those receiving 0.5–5 mg per pound (1.1–11 mg per kg) of sucralose of the brand Splenda daily had significantly decreased levels of beneficial gut bacteria. The ADI of sucralose is 2.3 mg per pound (5 mg per kg) (12Trusted Source).

Furthermore, while many people eat calorie-free sweeteners as a way to manage their weight, the evidence does not show this to be effective. On the contrary, a regular intake of artificial sweeteners has been linked to increased body weight (13Trusted Source).

Allergies

While allergies to gelatin are rare, they are possible (14Trusted Source).

Initial exposure to gelatin in vaccines may cause sensitivity to the proteins. In one study, 24 of 26 children with an allergy to gelatin-containing vaccines had gelatin antibodies in their blood and 7 had documented reactions to gelatin-containing foods (15Trusted Source).

Allergic reactions to gelatin can include hives or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.

If you suspect you may have an allergy to gelatin, you can get tested by an allergist or an immunologist.

SUMMARY

Jello contains artificial colors and artificial sweeteners — both of which may be harmful to your health. Additionally, while rare, some people may be allergic to gelatin.

The Bottom Line

Jello is usually made from gelatin — derived from the bones and skin of animals.

Unless plant-based gelling agents are used, it’s unsuitable for vegetarian diets.

Plus, it has little nutritional value and often contains artificial colors, sweeteners, or sugar — which may have negative health effects.

While gelatin and collagen may have some health benefits, it’s unlikely that the amount of gelatin in jello is enough to make a noticeable difference to your health.

Despite its popularity, it may not be the healthiest food choice.

If you want to eat jello, it’s best to avoid the packaged mixes and make your own healthier version at home using gelatin and fruit juice.

Nutritious Exotic Fruits Worth Traveling For.

Dreaming of tropical beaches, lush palm trees, and exotic eats? The benefits of international travel reach beyond the stress reduction that comes with a much needed vacation. Travel helps us to experience other cultures, connect with others, see different perspectives, and find a new purpose. In fact, studies show that travel can have a positive effect on your health, well-being, relationships, and career.

Oh, and another benefit: food! That includes tropical fruits, many of which happen to be chock full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help to fight disease and boost health. Read on to discover nine new fruits you may never have heard of, but are definitely worth traveling for (even if it’s only to a specialty food store)!

1. Durian

Where to find it: Southeast Asia, in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Nutritional benefits: Revered in Southeast Asia as the “king of the fruits,” the durian is also famous for its distinct pungent odor. If you can get past the smell, you’ll find that its creamy inner flesh is rich inTrusted Source potassium, fiber, iron, and B vitamins. Studies show that the fruit is best eaten when ripe, thanks to its high antioxidant content. Studies also showTrusted Source that its thorny outer shell has cough relieving and antibiotic properties. If you are watching your weight, be careful not to eat too much of it, as it’s also got a high calorie count.

2. Rambutan

Dreaming of tropical beaches, lush palm trees, and exotic eats? The benefits of international travel reach beyond the stress reduction that comes with a much needed vacation. Travel helps us to experience other cultures, connect with others, see different perspectives, and find a new purpose. In fact, studies show that travel can have a positive effect on your health, well-being, relationships, and career.

Oh, and another benefit: food! That includes tropical fruits, many of which happen to be chock full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help to fight disease and boost health. Read on to discover nine new fruits you may never have heard of, but are definitely worth traveling for (even if it’s only to a specialty food store)!

3. Pitaya

Where to find it: While native to Central America, pitaya (or dragon fruit) is now one of the most profitable crops in Vietnam. Pitaya is also grown in Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii.

Nutritional benefits: The pitaya is an incredibly nutritious superfood, chock full of antioxidants such as carotenoids, as well as fiber and vitamin C. A 2010 studyTrusted Source found that the antioxidants in pitaya may help lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. The bright pink peel of the fruit also contains lycopene and polyphenols, which can helpTrusted Source to prevent cancer.

4. Camu

Where to find it: Camu (or Myrciaria dubia) grows in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Nutritional benefits: This sour tropical berry is lauded for its high vitamin C content, giving camu antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A study in the Journal of CardiologyTrusted Source found that when consumed for seven days, the juice from this berry lowers oxidative stress. Camu flavored ice cream and drinks are popular in Peru, but it’s usually consumed as a powder, which you can add to smoothies, yogurt, or juice.

5. Lychee

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Where to find it: Native to southern China, lychee is now grown throughout Asia, Africa, Central and South America, as well as in the United States.

Nutritional benefits: This sweet, fragrant fruit is known for its powerhouse punch of polyphenols, vitamins, and fiber. In fact, one study found that lychee may actually help to trim belly fat: A compound found in the fruit called oligonol may help to prevent obesity and reduce visceral fat. The fruit has a bumpy red outer shell and white inner flesh that can be eaten fresh or dried, giving it a consistency similar to raisins.

6. Goji Berries

Where to find it: Native to China, goji berries can now be found all over Asia and in parts of Europe.

Nutritional Benefits: The bright reddish-orange berry packs a powerful nutritional punch, thanks to its high vitamin and mineral content. One studyTrusted Source found that consuming a goji berry-derived juice can help to reduce fatigue and stress, increase focus and alertness, and also improve feelings of general well-being, due to its high antioxidant levelsTrusted Source. The berries can be consumed raw, dried, or in juice form, and they can be added to smoothies, cereal, trail mix, and more.

7. Mangosteen

Where to find it: This fruit can be found primarily in Southeast Asia, in countries such as China, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Nutritional benefits: The distinctive hard purple rind, sweet white flesh, bitter seeds, and bark have all been used for medicinal purposes. In traditional Asian medicine, it’s been used to fight infections and heal wounds

and is purported to help with everything from urinary tract infections and diarrhea to eczema. Packed withTrusted Source vitamin C, this fruit can be enjoyed raw.

8. Acai

Where to find it: The ancient fruit has its origins in South and Central America, in countries such as Brazil and Belize.

Nutritional benefits: This bold berry has been a food staple for native Amazon tribes for centuries, but has recently gained superfood status for the health-conscious, as seen by the latest “acai bowl” trend. And it’s no wonder: The fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Some claim that the acai berry works as a metabolism booster and weight reducer, although those claims are unsubstantiated. Studies do show that the high levels of antioxidants found in the acai plant are beneficial, and one study has found that the berry counters oxidative stress and lengthens the lifespan of fruit flies. While this does not mean that it will lengthen the life of humans, another study from the American Chemical Society did find that consuming berries such as acai may help to keep the brain healthy and prevent mental decline.

9. Jackfruit

Where to find it: While jackfruit is indigenous to India, it can now also be found in Southeast Asia. The fruit is grown in central and eastern Africa and Brazil as well.

Nutritional benefits: As one of the largest tree-borne fruits in the world (fun fact: one jackfruit can grow to weigh more than 80 pounds!), this tropical snack is full of fiberTrusted Source, which aids in healthy digestion and also keeps you full. The sweet, buttery flesh of the fruit also possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. The seeds, meanwhile, are a good source of B vitamins like thiamine and riboflavin, which help to keep skin, hair, and nails healthy. While the seeds of the fruit can be eaten raw, the fruit itself can be put on top of ice cream, or made into crunchy jackfruit chips.

Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Bananas.

Bananas are extremely healthy and delicious.

They contain several essential nutrients and provide benefits for digestion, heart health and weight loss.

Aside from being very nutritious, they are also a highly convenient snack food.

Here are 11 science-based health benefits of bananas.

1. Bananas Contain Many Important Nutrients

Bananas are among the world’s most popular fruits.

Native to Southeast Asia, they are now grown in many warm parts of the world.

Bananas vary in color, size and shape.

The most common type is the Cavendish, which is a type of dessert banana. Green when unripe, it yellows as it matures.

Bananas contain a fair amount of fiber, as well as several antioxidants. One medium-sized banana (118 grams) also boasts (1, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source):

• Potassium: 9% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 33% of the RDI
• Vitamin C: 11% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 8% of the RDI
• Copper: 10% of the RDI
• Manganese: 14% of the RDI
• Net carbs: 24 grams
• Fiber: 3.1 grams
• Protein: 1.3 grams
• Fat: 0.4 grams

Each banana has only about 105 calories and consists almost exclusively of water and carbs. Bananas hold very little protein and almost no fat.

The carbs in green, unripe bananas consist mostly of starch and resistant starch, but as the banana ripens, the starch turns into sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose).

SUMMARYBananas are rich in fiber, antioxidants and several nutrients. A medium-sized banana has about 105 calories.

2. Bananas Contain Nutrients That Moderate Blood Sugar Levels

Bananas are rich in pectin, a type of fiber that gives the flesh its spongy structural form (4).

Unripe bananas contain resistant starch, which acts like soluble fiber and escapes digestion.

Both pectin and resistant starch may moderate blood sugar levels after meals and reduce appetite by slowing the emptying of your stomach (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

Furthermore, bananas also rank low to medium on the glycemic index (GI), which is a measure — from 0–100 — of how quickly foods increase blood sugar levels.

The GI value of unripe bananas is about 30, while ripe bananas rank at about 60. The average value of all bananas is 51 (8, 9Trusted Source).

This means that bananas should not cause major spikes in blood sugar levels in healthy individuals.

However, this may not apply to people with type 2 diabetes, who should probably avoid eating a lot of well-ripened bananas — and monitor their blood sugar carefully if they do.

SUMMARYBananas can help moderate blood sugar levels after meals and may reduce appetite by slowing stomach emptying.

3. Bananas May Improve Digestive Health

Dietary fiber has been linked to many health benefits, including improved digestion.

A medium-sized banana has about 3 grams of fiber, making bananas a fairly good fiber source (10).

Bananas contain two main types of fiber:

• Pectin: Decreases as the banana ripens.
• Resistant starch: Found in unripe bananas.

Resistant starch escapes digestion and ends up in your large intestine, where it becomes food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source, 13).

Additionally, some test-tube studies propose that pectin may help protect against colon cancer (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas are fairly rich in fiber and resistant starch, which may feed your friendly gut bacteria and safeguard against colon cancer.

4. Bananas May Aid Weight Loss

No study has directly tested the effects of bananas on weight loss. However, bananas do have several attributes that should make them a weight-loss-friendly-food.

For starters, bananas have relatively few calories. An average banana has just over 100 calories — yet it is also very nutritious and filling.

Eating more fiber from vegetables and fruits like bananas has repeatedly been linked to lower body weight and weight loss (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

Furthermore, unripe bananas are packed with resistant starch, so they tend to be very filling and may reduce your appetite (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas may aid weight loss because they’re low in calories and high in nutrients and fiber.

5. Bananas May Support Heart Health

Potassium is a mineral that is essential for heart health — especially blood pressure control.

Despite its importance, few people get enough potassium in their diet (21).

Bananas are a great dietary source of potassium. One medium-sized banana (118 grams) contains 9% of the RDI.

A potassium-rich diet can help lower blood pressure, and people who eat plenty of potassium have up to a 27% lower risk of heart disease (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).

Furthermore, bananas contain a decent amount of magnesium, which is also important for heart health (26Trusted Source, 27).

SUMMARYBananas are a good dietary source of potassium and magnesium — two nutrients that are essential for heart health.

6. Bananas Contain Powerful Antioxidants

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants, and bananas are no exception.

They contain several types of potent antioxidants, including dopamine and catechins (1, 2Trusted Source).

These antioxidants are linked to many health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and degenerative illnesses (28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source).

However, it is a common misunderstanding that the dopamine from bananas acts as a feel-good chemical in your brain.

In reality, dopamine from bananas does not cross the blood-brain barrier. It simply acts as a strong antioxidant instead of altering hormones or mood (2Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas are high in several antioxidants, which may help reduce damage from free radicals and lower your risk of some diseases.

7. Bananas May Help You Feel More Full

Resistant starch is a type of indigestible carb — found in unripe bananas and other foods — which functions like soluble fiber in your body.

As a rule of thumb, you can estimate that the greener the banana, the higher its resistant starch content (31).

On the other hand, yellow, ripe bananas contain lower amounts of resistant starch and total fiber — but proportionally higher amounts of soluble fiber.

Both pectin and resistant starch offer appetite-reducing effects and increase the feeling of fullness after meals (20Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).

SUMMARYDepending on ripeness, bananas harbor high amounts of resistant starch or pectin. Both may reduce appetite and help keep you full.

8. Unripe Bananas May Improve Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for many of the world's most serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes.

Several studies reveal that 15–30 grams of resistant starch per day may improve insulin sensitivity by 33–50% in as few as four weeks (35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).

Unripe bananas are a great source of resistant starch. Therefore, they may help improve insulin sensitivity.

However, the reason for these effects is not well understood, and not all studies agree on the matter (35Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source).

More studies should be conducted on bananas and insulin sensitivity.

SUMMARYUnripe bananas are a good source of resistant starch, which may improve insulin sensitivity. However, more research is needed.

9. Bananas May Improve Kidney Health

Potassium is essential for blood pressure control and healthy kidney function.

As a good dietary source of potassium, bananas may be especially beneficial for maintaining healthy kidneys.

One 13-year study in women determined that those who ate bananas 2–3 times per week were 33% less likely to develop kidney disease (38Trusted Source).

Other studies note that those who eat bananas 4–6 times a week are almost 50% less likely to develop kidney disease than those who don't eat this fruit (38Trusted Source, 39Trusted Source).

SUMMARYEating a banana several times a week may reduce your risk of kidney disease by up to 50%.

10. Bananas May Have Benefits for Exercise

Bananas are often referred to as the perfect food for athletes largely due to their mineral content and easily digested carbs.

Eating bananas may help reduce exercise-related muscle cramps and soreness, which affect up to 95% of the general population (40Trusted Source).

The reason for the cramps is largely unknown, but a popular theory blames a mixture of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance (41Trusted Source, 42Trusted Source, 43Trusted Source).

However, research gives mixed findings about bananas and muscle cramps. While some studies find them helpful, others find no effects (44Trusted Source).

That said, bananas do provide excellent nutrition before, during and after endurance exercise (45Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas may help relieve muscle cramps caused by exercise. They also provide excellent fuel for endurance exercise.

11. Bananas Are Easy to Add to Your Diet

Not only are bananas incredibly healthy — they're also one of the most convenient snack foods around.

Bananas make a great addition to yogurt, cereal and smoothies. You can even use them instead of sugar in your baking and cooking.

Furthermore, bananas rarely contain any pesticides or pollutants due to their thick protective peel.

Bananas are incredibly easy to eat and transport. They are usually well-tolerated and easily digested — they simply have to be peeled and eaten.

It doesn't get much easier than that.

SUMMARYBananas make an excellent snack food, dessert or breakfast. Their versatility makes them easy to add to your diet.

The Bottom Line

Bananas are a popular fruit that happens to provide numerous health benefits.

Among other things, they may boost digestive and heart health due to their fiber and antioxidant content.

They may even aid weight loss, as they're relatively low-calorie and nutrient-dense.

Ripe bananas are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. What’s more, both yellow and green bananas can keep you healthy and feeling full.