Retinol here, retinol there. Today we are going to tell you how you can prepare ‘’edible retinol’’! This will make your skin look great, it will give your sight many benefits, and it will improve your immune system.
In the last few years, many people looked for natural and homemade alternatives to improve their health and skin without going for processed products. This recipe is a great example of how to combine simple ingredients to get nutritious food. So, let’s see how we can do this, shall we?
Retinol and beta-carotene
Before going deeper into the recipe, we should explain something first: plants, like carrots, don’t have pure retinol. Retinol is only directly found in foods from animals, like liver, eggs, or dairy.
So, why are we talking about ‘’edible retinol’? Because carrots have beta-carotene, which is a provitamin A. This means that when you eat beta-carotenes, your body transforms them into vitamin A.
This is why carrots are used as a natural source to make your body produce retinol. Basically, what the recipe combines is vitamin A (thanks to beta-carotenes), natural collagen from the bone broth, and hydration and a soft, gummy-like texture from gelatin.
Why does this recipe work as ‘’natural retinol’’?
Retinol is a very popular compound for skincare. It’s used for making your skin look brighter, supporting cell regeneration, improving vision, and strengthening the immune system. Not bad, right?
Although this recipe doesn’t contain pure retinol, it offers something similar thanks to beta-carotenes from carrots. So, by combining carrots with bone broth adds:
- Collagen, which helps skin elasticity.
- Nutrients for joint health.
- Moisture.
- A smoother texture when mixed with gelatin.
This combination creates a healthy and natural snack that many people consider a “beauty food.”
Ingredients
This recipe is created by Chef Daniel Del Toro and it’s very simple, you need:
- 2 large fresh carrots (source of beta-carotenes).
- ½ glass of purified water.
- 1 cup of natural bone broth (source of collagen).
- 1 or 2 sheets of neutral gelatin (helps create a firm gummy texture).
The great thing is that all the ingredients are natural and affordable.
The process
Now, let’s focus on the step-by-step preparation. Are you ready? This is what you have to do:
- Wash and cut the carrots. Then, place the pieces in a blender or food processor.
- Blend the carrots with the half glass of water until the mixture becomes smooth. This helps extract all the provitamin A.
- Strain the mixture using a fine cloth or plant-milk bag. It’s important that you keep only the carrot juice and throw away the solid fiber so the final texture is soft and clean.
- Heat the bone broth in a small pot over medium heat. Careful! Do not let it boil strongly; it only needs to warm up.
- Add the gelatin sheet to the warm broth. If the package says to hydrate it in cold water first, do that, and mix until the gelatin melts completely.
- Combine the bone broth mixture with the carrot juice. Mix gently until the color becomes bright orange and uniform.
- Pour the mixture into a clean container such as a glass dish or airtight box.
- Refrigerate for several hours until the mixture becomes firm and solid.
When it is ready, you will have a natural, homemade snack—soft, orange, and full of nutrients for your skin and overall health.
So…
The preparation is easy, accessible, and uses only natural ingredients, giving you a clean and nutritious option without processed additives. It is a creative way to enjoy a beauty snack made at home, using the benefits found naturally in food. Will you have a go at this recipe?