Ah yes, bone broth, another health trend that will soon be forgotten I hear you saying.  Or maybe that’s not what you said, and it’s just my ears playing up again.

Bone broth is in fact nothing new, it has been used for quite some time, being a staple in traditional diets.  The bones, joints, cartilage and anything else that couldn’t be chewed was boiled to get as much out of the animal as possible.

Bone broth is full of nutrients that tend to be lacking in a typical diet which we’ll see below.  On top of this, it has a wide array of beneficial health effects ranging from healing the gut to improving joint pain and more.

Don’t think of this as just as a medicine though.  Bone broth was made to be enjoyed as a food. Good thing its delicious.  

Let’s get into some of the details of bone broth.

Nutrients

• Collagen

• Gelatin

• 19 amino acids including Proline, Glutamine, Arginine and Glycine

• Hyaluronic acid

• Minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and more

• Chondroitin Sulfate

• Glucosamine

What it can do for you

Improved gut health and digestion

Gelatin, collagen and glutamine are just some of the nutrients in bone broth that are beneficial for the gut.  Bone broth can promote healthy inflammation in the gut as well as support and restore the lining.  This reduces permeability of the intestines (AKA leaky gut) and all the issues that come along with it.

Immune system

By improving gut function, bone broth is able to assist the immune system.  When the intestines are permeable, undigested food particles enter the bloodstream and are detected by the immune system. They are seen as foreign invaders that must be removed.  This leads to increased inflammation and an autoimmune type response.

Joints

The gelatin in bone broth improves joint lubrication and provides the body with some building blocks to maintain healthy bones.  Collagen has also been shown to improve joint pain in athletes at rest, while moving and with lifting.
On top of that, bone broth also contains Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine, 2 nutrients used in many joint health supplements, to reduce inflammation, arthritis symptoms and joint pain.

Skin

And one more to wrap it up.  Daily ingestion of collagen for 8 weeks led to improved skin elasticity, skin moisture and roughness.  In short, it can make you more beautiful than you already are.

Where do I get this wonder food?

DIY

This is one of the easiest foods to make yourself, it just requires some time, the right ingredients and the know-how.

Don’t feel like making it yourself?  

Buy some pre-made bone broth (here are some ideas) or whatever is available in your health food store.  As always, check out the ingredients label. Look for grass fed/pasture raised and filtered water and wholefoods like celery, carrot, onion etc.  

Even simpler?

Find some collagen protein powder.  This makes a great addition to smoothies and foods, with plenty of recipes for Paleo baked goods using this!

Some ways to enjoy it

Use it as a base for soups, to cook up veggies, to sip on as a standalone or add some tonic herbs to it, like this bone broth latte recipe.

Conclusion

There’s a reason for this health trend of using bone broth. It has both traditional and scientific backing!  Make your bone broth, buy it pre-done or go for some collagen protein. Tell me about the ways you’ve enjoyed this and the benefits you’ve noticed!