Bone Broth Benefits

While bone broth has gained recent popularity as a dietary trend among health enthusiasts, athletes, and celebrities, this much-touted elixir's roots go back to humanity's first days of cooking with fire. Ancient Chinese medicine practitioners used bone broth to treat disorders of the kidneys and digestive system, while the Ancient Greeks used it for digestive cleansing.

Like many health trends, bone broth promises to treat many issues, from leaky gut and arthritis to reversing the natural signs of aging. Can it deliver on these promises? Read more to learn about the science of bone broth and how it might improve your health.

Bone broth is a liquid infused with nutrients from animal bones. Unlike regular meat stocks, bone broth is simmered for an extended time (often over 24 hours), allowing the collagen to break down and infuse more vitamins and minerals into the broth.

Manufacturers of bone broths today typically make their broth with:

• Beef, chicken, or pork bones
• Aromatic vegetables and herbs
• Water
• Vinegar

Making bone broth at home is relatively straightforward, albeit time-consuming, with a simple list of required ingredients. The quality of your bone broth depends on the ingredients you use. For example, you can purchase organic bones and aromatics for your broth from a butcher or Asian grocery. For the best results, look for bones with the most significant percentage of cartilage and connective tissues, like:

• Oxtails
• Chicken feet, necks, or wings
• Beef knuckles and joints
• Marrow bones
• Pork feet
• Soup bones

Another option is repurposing bones from a roasted chicken or turkey. Even rotisserie chickens at the grocery store can be picked free of meat and used to make bone broth.

Steps

1. Blanch the bones. Once you've assembled the bones and aromatics you plan to use, place the bones in a large pot and cover them with an inch of cold water. Bring the water to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes before draining.
2. Roast the bones. After draining the bones, roast them to deepen the flavor and richness of your broth. Place the bones in a roasting pan, sprinkle them with salt, and roast them in an oven on high heat (425 to 450 degrees) for at least 30 minutes.
3. Return bones to the stock pot. After roasting, return the bones to your large soup pot and again cover them with one to two inches of water. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer for one hour.
4. Add the aromatics. You can choose as many or as few aromatics as you want, but for a simple broth, good options include celery, onion, carrots, herbs, peppercorns, and garlic. Continue simmering on low for at least 20 hours. Depending on how much broth you're making, your recipe may call for a longer simmer. Add water as needed to ensure the bones stay covered.
5. Strain and store it. After cooking bone broth, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove all solids. You can store bone broth in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze it for extended periods (up to 12 months). Keep in mind that bone broth will gelatinize as it cools. This is natural and indicates that you've adequately infused the broth with collagen.

While bone broth is simple to make, not everyone has time for a 24-hour simmering process. Fortunately, bone broth is readily available from store shelves, cafes, and online vendors. Major cities even feature restaurants and delivery services specializing in bone broth, such as Brodo in New York's East Village and Trad Bone Broth in San Francisco. And bone broth is an included component of some health and wellness programs as well, such as three-day cleanses.

You can purchase bone broth in liquid form or dehydrated, single-serve packets. Here are just some of the major bone broth brands that offer high-quality products available in online stores like Amazon and Thrive Market, to name a few.

• Pacific Foods Chicken Bone Broth
• Osso Good Chicken Bone Broth
• Brodo Hearth Bone Broth
• Kettle & Fire Bone Broth
• Bare Bones
• Thrive Market Organic Bone Broth

Whether you buy bone broth or make your own, there's no question that it can improve your health in many ways. A single cup of broth is a nutrient powerhouse, providing between 12 to 68mg of calcium and about 6g of protein per cup. It also delivers:1

• Glycine
• Proline
• Glutamine
• Glycosaminoglycans
• Collagen
• Phosphorous
• Potassium

No matter what types of bones or aromatics you use in your broth, you can generally expect some or all of the following health benefits.

Gut health

Bone broth improves your gastrointestinal health in several ways. Because it is rich in amino acids and anti-inflammatory agents, it is a proven effective therapy for patients with ulcerative colitis.2 Bone broth can also reduce symptoms of leaky gut syndrome by eradicating intestinal holes. Drinking one cup of bone broth daily may reduce:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Certain food intolerances

Bone broth is gentle on the digestive system and often appears in liquid diets for pre- and post-operative patients. It can even ease hangovers by reducing inflammation, supplying electrolytes, and helping to settle an upset stomach.

Bone and joint health

If you suffer from joint pain, arthritis, or associated inflammation, you're likely aware of the benefits of glucosamine supplements. Bone broth is a natural source of glucosamine, which studies have shown improves joint and bone health while reducing inflammation and pain.3 The calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium provided by bone broth support strong and healthy bones, while chondroitin sulfate may prevent osteoarthritis.

Hair, skin, and nail health

The extended time that bone broth simmers allows the connective tissues and bones to break down, infusing the liquid with natural collagen and gelatin that the body can easily absorb.

This collagen, along with hyaluronic acid, provides hydration to the skin, minimizing wrinkles and improving elasticity.4 At the same time, bone broth supplies the necessary building blocks for thicker, stronger, and longer hair and nails.

Improved sleep

Bone broth contains glycine, a non-essential amino acid that researchers have shown to improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia.5 6 It achieves this effect by decreasing core body temperature and inhibiting neurotransmitters in the spinal cord and brainstem, triggering REM sleep.

Strengthened immunity

Bone broth is high in vitamins and minerals that support a healthy immune system, including:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamins B2 and B12
• Vitamin E
• Zinc
• Selenium
• Omega-3s
• Omega-6s
• Iron

Additionally, bone broth provides essential amino acids that further aid immunity, including:

• Glutamine
• Glycine
• Arginine

Boosted energy and muscle recovery

Amino acid supplements and BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) are popular among athletes and bodybuilders for a reason. Essential amino acids in bone broth support muscle protein synthesis and can even reverse muscle atrophy and improve muscle mass in older people.7 8

Healthy weight management

The bone broth trend exploded partly based on its relationship to the paleo diet. But even if you aren't eating paleo, you can benefit from weight loss and healthy weight management by consuming bone broth. The natural gelatin in the broth provides feelings of satiety, while its amino acids and nutrients offer the energy needed for a refreshing workout.

You can consume bone broth in various ways and incorporate it into many recipes.