Bone Broth, a staple in many traditional cultures for thousands of years is making a comeback. It is great used as a base for soups and casseroles and plenty of folks, including myself, heat up a mug and sip its nutritious deliciousness! What is it about this stock that is so nutritious and what are its health benefits?
Bones contain a plethora of minerals and 17 different amino acids. Together these ingredients can be helpful for everything from gut repair to easing some of the pain of arthritis. Generally made from the bones of either chicken, fish, or beef, bone broth packs a lot of good nutrition in a cup. Read on!
The following nutrients are found in most bone broths:
- Collagen: Collagen makes up about 30 percent of the protein in your body. It is the main component of connective tissues like cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and skin. Because there is so much collagen in bone broth many people drink 2-3 cups per day for relief from arthritis and most say their skin looks and feels much better!
- Glycine: Glycine is an amino acid that makes up more than a third of collagen. It also acts as a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that helps to regulate transmission of signals in the brain and spinal cord.
- Glutamine: The most abundant amino acid in the body, glutamine is very important in keeping our stomach and digestive systems working properly. Found in bone broth, it is also very important in energizing cells.
- Minerals: Bone broth is richly packed with the minerals calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.
Benefits of bone broth:
- It fills you up without adding pounds, has virtually no carbs, very few calories and you can drink as much of it as you want.
- Bone broth gives you a generous supply of nutrients (collagen, minerals) that help heal and protect the joints.
- In a 2004 randomized and controlled trial, collagen consumption significantly improved skin elasticity and improved skin moisture content.
- Bone broth stimulates the production of stomach acid, which is essential for the proper digestion of food. Low stomach acid, (hypochlorhydria), is surprisingly common in developed countries and can lead to a number of health issues.
- The healthy fats in bone broth provide a source of fuel and raw material for the brain, which is made up of more than 60% fat.
Organic bone broth is available at Costco in the soup aisle and Sprouts and Whole Foods stock frozen bone broth.
My own experience with bone broth? I noticed my tummy feels better, I sleep much deeper and my skin has taken on a new glow! Give bone broth a try and let me know what your benefits are!
Kim is LifeScape's in-house holisitic nutritionist. Book an appointment with Kim today to learn what specifically she can suggest for you to improve your own nutrition!