Uses for Unflavored Gelatin
Gelatin is a natural product that comes from animal materials such as collagen, skin and bones. It is a hydrocolloid, which means that it has an affinity for water and can soak it up easily. Gelatin is a protein and is taken from collagen through a process known as hydrolysis. It is used in a variety of industries for items such as food, as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals and in photography. Does this Spark an idea?
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Food Ingredient
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Gelatin can help stabilize foods when it is used as an ingredient. It is often found in jams, jellies, icing, marshmallows and whipped toppings. It is used in canned meats to shape the products and bind them together. It can be found in dairy products such as sour cream and yogurt as well as in gelatin desserts. Gelatin is used in wine, juice and beer-making because it has the ability to clarify liquids and remove any cloudiness.
Pharmaceuticals
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Gelatin is used in the pharmaceutical industry in micro-capsules that hold medicines. The gelatin binds the ingredients together until it dissolves in the body. It can also be used as a stabilizer in face and body creams, hair-care products and cosmetics. It is used in nail polishes and lipsticks to provide smooth texture. Ingesting gelatin can help contribute to stronger nails and hair, so it is sometimes taken orally as a nutritional product.
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Photography
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Gelatin has many uses in the areas of photography and film. It coats film to bond layers of silver halide crystals to strips of celluloid. Gelatin helps photographs develop after being exposed to light. It is also used to coat photograph paper to contribute to the chemical reactions that occur when the paper has chemicals and water added to it. There has not been another substance found that can do the same things that gelatin can in this industry.
Other Uses
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Gelatin can be made into a large block to test bullets and other types of ammunition because it has the ability to react like human flesh. This provides important safety and research information for police and military units. Gelatin is high in protein so it is often used as an additive in nutritional substances and bars. It can be used as a treatment for arthritis and other joint problems. It is also used in copy paper for receipts because it can provide copies without carbon paper.
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References
- Photo Credit Eising/Photodisc/Getty Images
