During the Spring Festival, a Weibo post sparked a heated debate. The official Weibo account of the National Health and Family Planning Commission posted a message saying, "Don't buy donkey-hide gelatin, it's just 'boiled donkey skin'." This post immediately stirred up controversy. Is donkey-hide gelatin, a renowned health product, really just boiled donkey skin?
The Source of Controversy
Among the controversy, the most attention was undoubtedly on Dong'e Ejiao. Dong'e Ejiao is the largest producer of donkey-hide gelatin in China and is responsible for setting industry standards. On its official website, they describe donkey-hide gelatin as a precious tonic that has been passed down for over 3000 years, often referred to as one of the "three treasures of nourishment" alongside ginseng and deer antler.
The source of the controversy is the claim that "donkey-hide gelatin is simply boiled donkey skin." Of course, this statement is a bit too absolute. After all, donkey-hide gelatin is made primarily from donkey skin, but it also involves complex processes such as adding huangjiu (yellow rice wine), rock sugar, and soybean oil. Therefore, we cannot simply say that donkey-hide gelatin is just boiled donkey skin. However, at the very least, donkey-hide gelatin is equivalent to donkey skin, with its main component being collagen protein.
Regarding this controversy, Yuan Baojun, the chief expert in food safety at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the deputy director of the Jiangsu Nutrition Society, offered the following explanation:
First, all foods have a certain nutritional value, just with different amounts of nutrients. There is no such thing as bad food, only bad combinations. There is no such thing as junk food, only poorly balanced diets. Donkey-hide gelatin is derived from animal skin and contains collagen protein, so from this perspective, it definitely has a certain nutritional value. This is also true for ingredients like sea cucumber.
Second, in terms of protein absorption rate, contribution to the human body, and cost-effectiveness, fresh eggs are the preferred source of protein intake. In other words, if you want to supplement protein, donkey-hide gelatin, bird's nest, and sea cucumber are not as good as eggs.
Third, donkey-hide gelatin is part of traditional Chinese medicine and a product that belongs to the category of medicine and food with the same origin. Nutrition science, more accurately speaking, belongs to the category of Western medicine. Since they are two different systems, they have not yet fully integrated. As for the claims made about the benefits of donkey-hide gelatin, such as tonifying qi and nourishing blood, nutrition science has not been able to explain whether donkey-hide gelatin really possesses these effects.
The Qi and Blood Tonic Effects of Donkey-Hide Gelatin
Donkey-hide gelatin has a significant effect on tonifying qi and nourishing blood, but its effects are not limited to these. Specifically, it has eight major benefits: promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding, nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, beautifying the skin and preserving youthfulness, regulating menstruation and aiding in pregnancy, strengthening the body and delaying aging, enhancing brain function and improving immune system.
As for the claim that donkey-hide gelatin is only suitable for women, this is also a major misconception. In fact, donkey-hide gelatin has no gender or age requirements. The main reasons why it is considered as a supplement for women are: firstly, donkey-hide gelatin is good for blood tonification, and women need it for various menstrual and pre/postpartum conditions; secondly, historically, there was a limited supply of donkey-hide gelatin, so women had more opportunities to consume it. In reality, men can also benefit from consuming a moderate amount of donkey-hide gelatin daily, as it can strengthen the body, improve resistance to diseases, especially for those who engage in physically and mentally demanding work.
Since we mentioned the consumption of donkey-hide gelatin by men, let me add a couple more points. Men regard semen as precious, and when blood is abundant, semen is vigorous. Insufficient blood leads to declining semen quality. Blood tonification can also replenish semen. In addition, donkey-hide gelatin can nourish yin and replenish the kidneys, moisturize the lungs, and prevent impotence, premature ejaculation, infertility, and prostatitis. The benefits of men consuming donkey-hide gelatin include improving physical fitness, relieving fatigue, improving sleep quality, nourishing essence and replenishing the kidneys, enhancing reproductive health, and resisting diseases.
