Apparently, my father’s skin was a topic of conversation among his hospice team for how beautiful it was. Nature was certainly on his side but it also helped that I gave him collagen.
Collagen is a protein found in skin, bones, connective tissue & elsewhere in the body. Beef tendon is a staple in some cuisines, but modern Western diets tend to be poor in collagen, which can improve skin & hair health, heal the gut, reduce joint pain & more.
Despite having beautiful skin, my father developed some bedsores during the years that he was bedridden. I largely credit collagen for the wounds healing well and staving off others.
According to Abbott Nutrition Health Institute:
The presence of a wound increases a person’s need for calories, protein, water, and other nutrients, including specific vitamins and minerals. A failure for wounds to heal in a timely way can lead to the development of chronic wounds, which are common in older adults.
Bone broth is a great way of getting collagen into the diet. Though delicious, I grew tired of making it and was thrilled to find this bone broth powder, but that was after my Dad passed.
For him, I used unflavored Great Lakes brand collagen peptides, which my preferred online retailer (Swanson) doesn’t have now but this and this are good options.
Things to note:
- Great Lakes makes flavored and unflavored collagen so check the flavor before buying.
- When buying collagen, look for the words “dissolve,” or “mix in hot or cold liquids.” Avoid beef gelatin powder unless you want to make gummies. 🙂
- Though healing to the gut, collagen peptides can cause abdominal discomfort in people with “leaky gut,” or intestinal permeability. I generally take half of the full serving. If you have problems at that level, start with 1 teaspoon and slowly work up.
Here’s how I used collagen peptides for my dad and generally kept him fed and wound free:
(This is for informational purposes. See full Disclaimer.)
Before breakfast:
Water with liquid chlorophyll added (more on this below).
Breakfast:
Menu item #1 was fortified coffee.
- Water
- Coffee
- Creamer
- 1 scoop unflavored collagen peptides
- 1TBSP coconut oil or unsalted butter
I blended the coffee with an immersion blender but a frother will also work.
If I were making my dad coffee today, I’d use 1 scoop unflavored bone broth, like I blend into my cocoa. My mother can detect the taste so I use collagen peptides in her coffee.
Pro tip:
Add bone broth powder to your cooking along with, or in place of, stock for better flavor.
It also makes a nice sipping broth. I blend in miso paste and turmeric, plus some pepper and a bit of olive oil to help the turmeric do its thing. Paleo Valley, the company that makes the broth, shares recipes for their products through their newsletter.
Breakfast:
Menu item #2 was fortified cream of wheat.
I don’t remember the precise recipe, but it was RICH to help maintain my father’s weight. If you’re adept at whisking eggs into warm liquids without them curdling, feel free to do so.
- Warm 50-50 milk and water
- Whisk in egg (optional)
- Whisk in cream of wheat
- Add big pat of butter
- Add peanut butter, if desired
- Add bone broth powder, if desired
Breakfast ended with liquid vitamins by Tropical Oasis. Peruse the site for other formulations.
Lunch:
Protein smoothie.
- Liquid base, 50-50 plain kefir and full-fat coconut milk
- 1 scoop protein powder
- Frozen berries
I used vanilla Garden of Life Sport Protein (with unsweetened cocoa sometimes). I think the ingredients may have changed because it seemed chalkier on last taste.
I’m not a fan of protein powders myself but Nutiva brand is popular. This one is from a company that I really like. It’s pricier per serving but also contains fiber. Fiber helps with bowel movements, which can be an extra challenge for people confined to bed.
Dinner:
Generally, I blended soup or stews that my mother and I ate with butter and stock for my father’s dinner. I sometimes gave him blended sweet potatoes for “dessert,” which he loved and helped to keep some meat on his bones.
And now for a bit on chlorophyll:
Chlorophyll is the health-promoting pigment in green plants.
I gave it to my father for the same reason I took it—for an extra pop of nutrition. But then his nurse started asking what I was doing because his bedsore was healing quickly.
Liquid chlorophyll was the only recent change.
It was then that I discovered chlorophyll speeds wound healing, among other benefits.
I gave my father 2-3 teaspoons of unflavored liquid chlorophyll in a tall glass of water in the morning. It has a bit of a taste, but he didn’t mind. You can add it to smoothies too.
Things to note:
- Chlorophyll also comes with peppermint oil added so make sure you get the right flavor.
- Chlorophyll stains! I suggest dispensing it over the sink.
- Chlorophyll supplements can turn stool a greenish color.
For ease of handling, I like this concentrated chlorophyll in a dropper bottle. Here’s a mint option or softgels, which might be preferable for those without swallowing issues.
Chlorophyll can interact with drugs that increase sensitivity to sunlight. It can also cause mild indigestion or diarrhea, so you might want to consult a physician before using.
Don’t want to bother with a doc but still want the benefits chlorophyll offers?
Eat it:
Spinach, parsley and watercress are all rich sources of chlorophyll, but all green vegetables have some. Eat green vegetables raw or lightly cooked to retain chlorophyll content.
These days, I get chlorophyll into my system by eating copious greens and using random green powders, like mixes of wheatgrass, spirulina and chlorella.
As for my mother, she wakes up to a “green drink” or her “morning elixir,” which I make with water, green powder, liquid vitamins and minerals, and stevia-sweetened Metamucil (fiber). I think the drink is what’s making her snow-white hair turn black again.
(By following his nutrient-dense diet, Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s patients reported color returning to their gray hair. At first, he was skeptical but the reports kept pouring in.)
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