Refresh Your Body with This Wonderful Collagen Recipe

Collagen – Why it’s Important and the Best Way to Get it

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. One third of all of the protein in your body exists in the form of collagen. Not only is collagen vital to the health of your skin, but collagen is also responsible for the strength of your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, teeth, blood vessels, and even your eyes. You can think of collagen as the glue that holds all of these tissues together. If your collagen is damaged, all of these tissues suffer. Excessive sunlight, smoking, and eating too much refined sugar will cause collagen to decay. Don’t worry, though, you can easily restore your collagen by consuming white wood ear mushroom. There are other options for supplementing collagen, but none of those options are as effective as white wood ear mushroom. White wood ear mushroom is practically pure collagen itself, and it works fast. Eat some white wood ear mushroom for a few days and your skin with be soft and smooth like a newborn baby. You can make white wood ear mushroom into a soup, you can make it into a shake, and you can even make it into a pudding. Included in this article are some recipes that you may be interested in trying out.

Plant-Based Collagen recipe

(8qt Instant Pot Version)

Ingredients:

100g (roughly 3) dry white wood ear mushroom (aka bai mu er, snow ear mushroom, shiro kikurage)

Enough water to reconstitute the mushrooms and enough to fill the pot to the ½ full mark

 

Directions:

1) Soak the mushrooms at least 10-15 minutes or until reconstituted and soft.  The mushrooms will expand to at least double their size. 

2) Fill the Instant Pot (IP) with water.  Press the Sauté button to start to bring the water to a boil. 

3) Trim off then discard the hard orange-colored parts of the mushroom.  Discard the soaking water. 

4) Place the white reconstituted mushrooms into the IP.  Add more water, if needed, to fill the liner to the ½ full mark.

5) Cancel the Sauté function.  Close the IP lid and set to sealing mode.  Cook under High Pressure with the temperature set at More.  For a crunchier mushroom texture, cook for about 40 minutes.  To extract more collagen from the mushrooms, cook for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until the desired consistency is reached.  Leave the IP to natural pressure release. 

6) Once the pressure has been released, enjoy the mushrooms and liquid warm as a pudding or soup.  The mushroom and liquid can also be used chilled or even iced.  Sweeten and flavor as desired. 

 

Plant-Based Collagen

(Crock Pot/Slow Cooker Version)

Ingredients:

100g (roughly 3) dry white wood ear mushroom (aka bai mu er, snow ear mushroom, shiro kikurage)

Enough water to reconstitute the mushrooms and to fill the Crockpot

 

Directions:

1) Soak the mushrooms at least 10-15 minutes or until soft.  The mushrooms will expand to at least double its size.  While that is soaking, set up your Crockpot and fill 1/3 with water.  Set the Crockpot to High. 

2) Trim off then discard the hard orange-colored parts of the mushroom.  Discard the soaking water. 

3) Place the white reconstituted mushrooms into the Crockpot.  Add more water, if needed, to cover the mushrooms.

4) Cook on High 2 to 2½ hours or until it reaches the desired consistency. 

 

 Iced Plant-Based Whipped Collagen Drink 

Ingredients:

1c cooked white wood ear mushroom with liquid

Stevia or Monkfruit, to taste

Fruit options:  orange, apple, grapefruit

Suggested flavoring options:  vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cacao powder

Ice (optional)

 

Directions:

1) Blend the white wood ear mushroom and liquid with sweetener to taste until foamy

2) Add desired fruit, flavorings and ice to the foam then blend

 

 Plant-Based Collagen Pudding

 

Ingredients:

1c cooked white wood ear mushroom with liquid

Suggested flavoring options:  stevia, monkfruit, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cacao powder, cardamom, Himalayan Pink Salt, fruit jams, fruit jellies

Suggested topping options:  coconut flakes, coconut milk

 

Directions:

1) Add desired flavorings and toppings

2) May be enjoyed warm or cooled to room temperature