This post shares the top 5 ways bone broth benefits gut health, skin, hair, nails, joints, the immune system, and detoxification!
People have been making bone broth and consuming it regularly for its health benefits since ancient times. People would take all the parts of an animal that weren’t directly edible and simmer them for days at a time to draw out all their beneficial nutrients. Recently, bone broth has been regaining popularity and its health benefits are getting the publicity they deserve.
Bone broth is one of the most powerful things you can eat to help your body heal holistically, and maintain optimal health. Full of essential nutrients that are easy for your body to digest, as well as gelatin, collagen, and amino acids, this post will outline the major health benefits of bone broth, where you can get it or how to make it, and how to use it.
Just a heads up: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. Thanks for supporting me!
Bone Broth Benefits
1. Supports Gut Health
Bone broth helps your body absorb more nutrients from food. Bone broth in itself is full of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and others that are in a form that is easy for the body to use. It also contains amino acids and gelatin that also aid the body’s nutrient absorption. Bone broth supports the growth of probiotics, which are healthy bacteria in the gut that help your body break down foods.
Collagen, gelatin, and amino acids in bone broth help to build and strengthen the tissue in the intestinal tract and colon, which makes bone broth powerful for healing leaky gut syndrome and food intolerances.
2. Supports Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails
Bone broth contains collagen and gelatin, and provides your body with the amino acids it needs to produce collagen. Collagen and gelatin support skin, hair, and nail health, and collagen helps skin to be smooth and firm.
3. Supports Joint Health
The glucosamine and chondroitin sulphates in bone broth, along with the collagen, gelatin, and other compounds, are amazing for joint health.
4. Boosts Immune System
Eating chicken soup while sick has been a tradition for a very long time. Modern research is actually showing now why chicken soup really is beneficial in helping your body get healthy! Having a healthy immune system starts in the gut. Chicken broth has anti-inflammatory effects, and since the collagen and gelatin in chicken broth, especially bone broth, support a healthy gut, the immune system benefits greatly from bone broth.
5. Supports Detoxification
The potassium and glycine in bone broth help cells and the liver expel toxins from the body. The essential minerals in bone broth, which are in a form that is easy for the body to digest and use, help to block toxins and heavy metals from attaching and staying in the body.
Bone broth also contains many other amino acids and essential compounds which benefit literally every part of the body. Dr. Axe goes into detail about each of these compounds and their benefits in his article.
Where to Get Bone Broth (Or How to Make Your Own)
Most grocery stores now sell bone broth. Bon Appetit has written a very helpful post about the Top 5 Bone Broth Brands they recommend based on price and flavor.
You can also buy bone broth in bulk on Amazon. Here are two organic bone broth options that Amazon sells in 12-packs:
Pacific Foods Organic Bone Broth, 12-pack
Swanson Organic Bone Broth, 12-pack
If you have the time, you can inexpensively make your own bone broth at home!
I love this Bone Broth Recipe from Wellness Mama.
She includes a lot of helpful information, including where to get the bones and what steps of the process are optional, and which are essential.
To make bone broth at home using her recipe, you’ll need a large pot and a strainer to separate out the pieces when it’s done, 2 pounds of bones from a healthy source (chicken, beef, or fish), water, and apple cider vinegar. Your bone broth will taste better with veggies like onion, celery, and carrots, plus some herbs and spices. It’s best to simmer chicken bone broth for 24 hours, and beef bone broth for 48. Fish broth only takes more like 8 hours. The bone broth can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or you can freeze it.
How to Use Bone Broth
One of the best ways to use bone broth is in soups. You can also use bone broth in other types of recipes including gravies, sauces, and for roasting or sautéing veggies.
Check out my post of 10 Paleo & Whole30 Bone Broth Soups that are extremely good for gut health!
Or, you can drink bone broth straight from a mug! This is especially helpful in the winter months or when your immune system might be down. Bone broth is extremely healing when your body is fighting off sickness, as well.
Sources:
Wellness Mama’s Bone Broth Uses and Benefits
Dr. Axe’s Bone Broth’s Benefits for Digestion, Arthritis, and Cellulite
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that I am not a health care professional. Please consult a professional health care provider before making changes to your lifestyle or if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to read about other foods that powerfully aid your health holistically, check out my posts about Pink Himalayan Salt and Maca Powder!
