Bone Broth Benefits

Bone broth has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last few years and thought to be a fad, but it’s actually a very traditional food that has been made for centuries by cultures across the world.

It is a wonderful healing elixir that can be consumed as a hot drink or used in recipes and meals.

The benefits of bone broth are numerous and it is possibly one of the cheapest, easiest ways we can improve our health using food. Bone broth is also good for dogs as well as humans!

Bone broth is incredibly sustainable as it is part of the nose to tail approach to consuming animals.

What is Bone Broth?

Bone broth, quite simply is animal bones that have have been simmered in water for a long cook. Vegetables, herbs and other foods may be added. An acid (like apple cider vinegar) is usually added to draw the nutrients from the bones.

Broth differs from stock in that stock is primarily used for flavour in cooking, not health benefits. Stock also uses roasted bones and has a shorter cook time.

What are the benefits of bone broth?

• Helps to reduce joint pain. ( I can personally account for this).  Bone broth is loaded with glycoaminogylcans (GAGS). One being glucosamine, a natural chemical found in the body but that reduces with age. Glucosamine keeps cartilage joints healthy. Instead of buying glucosamine in tablet form, you can just drink broth! Other GAGS include chondroitin and hyaluronic acid (currently used now in anti-aging creams).
• Easy to digest. As the bones are cooked for a long time, the  nutrients are extracted and are easier on digestion, making them more bioavailable to the body. This is why bone broth is a great food for convalescing from an illness where appetite might be low. The gelatin found in bone broth is a hydrophyllic colloid, it attracts and holds liquids/digestive juices, supporting proper digestion.
• Fights inflammation.  Amino acids such as glycine, praline and argine all have anti-inflammatory effects. Glycine also has calming effects that can help with sleep.
• Helps boost immunity. Bones hold a wealth of essential nutrients, anti-inflammatory and gut healing proteins, healthy fats and a range of minerals. All help to keep your immune system working well.
• Helps to heal and seal your gut. Leaky Gut is a very common health problem these days. This is when your gut becomes permeable due to certain lifestyle factors: poor diet, stress, long-term contraceptive use, bacterial and fungal overgrowths etc. This creates leakage holes causing undigested food particles to slip through the gut lining and pass into the bloodstream. Over time this can be a contributor to health problems, including autoimmune problems. The gelatine in bone broth helps heal and seal the holes in the gut.
• Promotes healthy skin, hair and nails. As we age, collagen production in our body slows down and we see signs of ageing. The collagen in bone broth is fantastic for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and keeping our hair and nails growing strong. You don’t need to buy expensive collagen powders, just drink some broth!
• Helps to detox. The glycine extracted from the bones help the liver to remove toxins from the body.
• Helps with sleep. Glycine in bone broth also helps support healthy sleep patterns.  It is thought that glycine helps regulate our internal body clock and lower our body temperature to prepare us for sleep.
• Inhibits infection caused by cold and flu viruses. There is a reason why chicken soup was always made when someone was sick!. The university of Nebraska Medical centre found that the amino acids produced from making broth reduced inflammation in the respiratory system and improved digestion.

A note about marrow

Marrow is the soft, gelatinous tissue found in middle of bones. It adds flavour and has a high nutritional value of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and lipids. Animals around the world would know this as they as they go straight for bones after a kill.  Humans cannot crack open bones with our bare teeth.  We have to cook the bones to get the goodness and the benefits.

How do you make broth?

It really is as simple as water, bones (including joints and cartilage), apple cider vinegar with a long, simmered cook. Everyone has their own way of doing it. Experiment and see what you prefer. Ideally you would like to see your bone broth gel up, but it’s not necessary.

It is important to note that you must choose the best quality bones you can find. Bones can store toxicity, heavy metals and antibiotic residue. Also look into what the animals are fed to consider pesticide residue on grains.

Here is some more information on where I source my bones from.

Now, not everyone has the time, energy or inclination to make their own broth, which is why I dehydrate my broth and turn it into powders and strips  for you. It’s super convenient, easy to consume and use and you still get all the amazing benefits!

Shop Bone Broth here.

 

Referencing & further reading material:
Deep Nutrition-Dr Cate Shanahan, Weston A Price Foundation, undergroundwellness.com, paleoleap.com, nourishingtraditions.com, healthyliving.com