Bone broth is not just another ingredient thrown into soups! It is the liquid left over from boiled animal bones which happens to be packed with tons of nutrients. Those nutrients are shown to have various positive effects on our bodies, which we’ll get into later. You can drink it on its own or use it in soups and other dishes to reap its benefits.
Before we get into the how let’s talk about the why.
Bone broth is an excellent source of protein, collagen, and amino acids. These nutrients help build and maintain protein. Not only that, but the minerals also help strengthen our bones.
When we heat and simmer bones in water, all of their vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are released in a way that is easy for our bodies to absorb. This means the broth is jam-packed with nutrients our bodies can immediately take in and put where they need to go. This is especially helpful for people who don’t get a variety of nutrients from other foods.
How else does bone broth help me?
Let’s talk about some of its benefits now that we know a little bit about bone broth and why it’s so nutritious!
Digestive Health
First and foremost, bone broth has been shown to improve our digestive system. It aids in the digestion of other foods and keeps food and waste moving through the intestines. It binds to liquids and forms a gel in the intestinal tract which helps prevent constipation (always a plus when it comes to digestive health).
Another interesting fact is that it has been shown to repair the intestinal lining of rats. Why is this important? A damaged intestinal lining can actually lead to a lot of issues in the body. Issues like inflammation, poor immune health, and even autoimmune diseases have been linked to a damaged intestinal lining. Further research needs to be done in order to confirm whether that is also the case for humans. Even so, the other digestive benefits of bone broth are a pretty good reason to try and get it into your diet.
Immune Health
The protein in bone broth has also been shown to improve immune health, meaning that it can help prevent getting sick or keep illness to a minimum. It contains the nutrient Glutamine. Basically, glutamine is required for leukocytes aka our white blood cells to function properly.
During periods of illness, glutamine is the body’s preferred source of energy because it is fueling those white blood cells. If you have enough glutamine, your white blood cells are able to continue working hard. Next time you’re feeling a little under the weather, reach for a warm bowl of soup made with bone broth!
Joint Health
Bone broth can also improve our joint health. It contains collagen and amino acids. Both nutrients help to build our own collagen. Collagen is an important component of connective tissue in the body. Our joints are held together by cartilage, a type of connective tissue.
Many people with osteoarthritis tend to have chronic pain which is typically caused by joints rubbing together because cartilage is missing. Bone broth is a great source of collagen which can help minimize pain in those with joint pain.
Brain Health
Bone broth contains the amino acid glycine which has been shown to improve sleep quality and relaxation. Not only that, but glycine helps influence our brain development, and acts as an antioxidant. Both of these are important when it comes to retaining our brain function as we age.
Too much oxidation or free radicals can cause a lot of damage to our bodies, including cancer, early aging, inflammation, diabetes, and dementia. It’s important to get antioxidants daily and bone broth can help get you there.
The Bottom Line on Bone Broth
Incorporating more bone broth even a few times a week will have positive effects on our health in more ways than one! You can drink it on its own, add it to different dishes, or stick with a classic soup.
