Bone Broth: The Superfood You Should Be Drinking
Ever wonder why your grandmother always made bone broth? It’s not just because she was trying to make you eat more vegetables. There are actually tons of health benefits to bone broth, and it’s something that everyone should be including in their diets.
Bone broths, sometimes called ‘stock’ as well, are something everyone should be including in their diets. Not only are they delicious, but bone broths possess tons of health benefits too. Popular all around the world since the beginning of time, this inexpensive superfood is a healthy addition to your family’s diet- and it’s easy to make too! Given the title of a ‘superfood’, Health Fitness Revolution has compiled a list of the Top 10 Health Benefits of Bone Broth. Simply boil the animal bones, add some spices, and you are good to go! Let’s check out the health benefits:
Nutrients & Amino Acids
Bone broth is a simple dish that is packed with nutrients and amino acids. Bone broth includes calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. The tissue and bone in the broth contain collagen, gelatin, proline, glycine, L-glutamine, Glycosaminoglycans. The bone marrow contains iron, vitamins A and K, fatty acids, selenium, zinc, and manganese.
Bone broth is also an excellent source of the amino acid L-glutamine which helps to heal your gut lining and reduce inflammation in your body. It has been shown to be beneficial for people with celiac disease or digestive issues like leaky gut syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It can also help to improve your immune system function as well as help you sleep better at night!
Joint protection
As we age, the cartilage in our joints wear and tear as we continually use them in our day to day lives. A study done in 2017 found that an increase in gelatin consumption increased the amount of collagen found in the tissue.
Collagen improves joint health by reducing inflammation and lubricating the joints so they can move more smoothly. This helps prevent pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis.
Gut health
Do you ever feel like your stomach is a mess?
Maybe it’s too acidic, or maybe it’s just not working the way it used to. Maybe you feel bloated, or have acid reflux, or just have an overall sense that something isn’t right with your digestion.
If so, we have good news for you: bone broth can help. That’s right—that liquid that comes off of a chicken carcass after hours of cooking can actually help you heal your gut and get things moving again.
Bone broth is rich in collagen, which helps repair and protect your stomach lining. And when your stomach lining is protected, you can expect healthy bowel movements and better digestion (without bloating, acid reflux, etc.). It’s even helpful for those dealing with Crohn’s disease due to their lower levels of collagen.
Cold & Flu
Chicken soup, bone broth, and other foods that contain gelatin—like bone broth—are all great ways to fight cold and flu symptoms. A study was done to find the effectiveness of chicken soup on those dealing with a cold concluding that they contain parts that have a substantial amount of medicinal activity, relieving people of their symptoms.
Bone broth is an excellent source of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids for your immune system. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties which are great for fighting off infections and reducing inflammation in your body. The gelatin found in bone broths can also help with digestion so it’s not surprising that you feel better after consuming it!
Osteoarthritis
While bone broth is known for its ability to help the joints, it has also been found to help those dealing with osteoarthritis. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are ways to manage it. One way is through eating foods rich in collagen. Collagen is a protein found in bones and connective tissues that helps keep our joints healthy. Collagen also helps heal wounds and other injuries faster than other proteins do because it’s more flexible than other proteins. A study was done in 2016 to see how collagen interacted within the body of those dealing with osteoarthritis. The results concluded that collagen helped improve pain, stiffness, and mobility.
The study also focused on collagen’s ability to help promote cartilage growth and repair as well as its ability to reduce inflammation in the joints. Collagen is what provides strength and flexibility in our bodies’ connective tissues (such as ligaments, tendons, bones). It also helps protect them from wear and tear by creating a cushion between them. Collagen is made up of amino acids that are absorbed by the body through food sources such as meat or fish but can also be made from gelatin (a protein found in bone broth).
Hair, skin, nails
If you’re looking for a way to support the health of your hair, skin, and nails—without spending a fortune on expensive creams and lotions—bone broth may be the answer. Collagen- present in broth- supports the growth of hair, skin, and nails.
A study was conducted on women taking collagen supplements for an 8-week period. The results found that skin elasticity improved with prolonged use, meaning that skin will become more supple with repeated use of collagen-rich foods like bone broth.
Bone broth also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps your body retain moisture looking plump and youthful.
Anti-inflammatory
Bone broth truly is the new superfood!
It’s full of amino acids, including glycine, which has been found to reduce inflammation and fight free radicals. And that’s not all—glycine also supports your immune system.
Make bone broth part of your daily diet and you’ll be sure to feel better and look better!
Sleep improvement
If you’re looking for a way to improve your sleep quality, you might want to try bone broth. Bone broth is made with bones, water, and some vegetables, and it’s considered a superfood because of its high concentration of minerals and amino acids.
In 2015, researchers found that the amino acid glycine helped safely improve sleep quality. Those taking glycine noted better sleep and less fatigue throughout the day. This is especially helpful for people who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, but it can also help those who are simply looking for a deeper sleep experience.
Heart health
Collagen is a very important protein to have within your body. It can be found all around in your skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Collagen can help improve the elasticity in your blood vessels and increase the good cholesterol (HDL)- fighting against atherosclerosis.
Blood sugar
Bone broth is a great food for those dealing with diabetes. High in protein, low in calories and sugar, bone broth was found to act as a buffer for carbohydrates at increasing blood sugar levels. Glycine, the amino acid, has also been shown to control glucose production in the liver. Not only that, but glycine also helps fight against fructose consumption.
Studies have shown that glycine inhibits the release of insulin from the pancreas and reduces its production in the liver by increasing glucagon activity while decreasing insulin activity in the kidneys. Glycine also decreases the amount of sugar entering your bloodstream by inhibiting intestinal glucose absorption via sodium-dependent transporters (SGLT1).
