My patients in the office know I'm a bit of a bone broth enthusiast. It's a universal kitchen staple - it shows up in culinary traditions throughout the world from Denmark to Japan to New York City. There's been a lot of hype around the stuff - so it can be difficult to parse the marketing out from the science. I use it in private practice because, in the west, one of the main causes of disease is that we beat the snot out of our guts. Literally. The synthetic chemicals found in processed food in concert with the various forms of sugar we eat as staples of the western diet all come in direct contact with our intestinal lining. The wear and tear caused by the garbage we eat leads us to feeling like...garbage. The quickest way to feeling better is not a $400 a month supplement regimen that you may not be able to absorb anyways.
The quickest way to feeling better is to put your gut lining into direct contact with things that can repair the inflammation and are of high nutritional value. Hence...bone broth.
10 Reasons Why Bone Broth is Magic
1. Reduces Inflammation
There are specific components in bone broth that reduce systemic inflammation; chondroitin sulfate is a structural component of cartilage and has been found to improve inflammatory conditions. Bone broth also contains large amounts of the amino acids glycine and proline. Both of these amino acids are extremely anti-inflammatory.
2. Aids Digestion
The gelatin in bone broth is soothing to the digestive track and actually helps repair the mucousal lining. It also helps break down the protein and fat from foods, making them easier to digest.
3. Heals Leaky Gut
Leaky gut shows up in the form of food allergies, autoimmune conditions, asthma, skin conditions, digestive disorders, chronic fatigue and more. Leaky gut goes largely undiagnosed and affects a large part of the population due to poor food choices, stress, environmental toxins, overuse of NSAIDS, antibiotics, and other medications.
Because the gelatin in bone broth heals the mucosal lining of the digestive tract, bone broth is the single best food item you can eat to heal and seal your gut! Leaky gut is when your intestinal lining is weak and permeable, allowing undigested food particles or bacteria to leak from your gut into the bloodstream. Because these things don't belong in the blood stream, the body sees these food particles as invaders and goes on the attack.
Bone broth helps heal gut permeability. When your digestive system is healed and working well, you absorb and digest nutrients properly.
4. Increases Mineral Consumption
Unfortunately, the human body cannot manufacture its own minerals and therefore must get them through food. However, just because you're consuming minerals doesn't mean you're absorbing them. Most minerals are only moderately absorbed even when digestion is optimal. Due to everything from long term consumption of processed food to soil depletion, many people are mineral deficient. Because our biology is wired to consume food rather than supplements, bone broth offers things such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and other trace minerals in a form that our body can easily absorb.
5. Helps your Liver Detox
One of the liver's job's is to clean toxins from the body. The liver's ability to detox toxins efficiently is limited to the amount of glycine available; one of the richest source's of glycine is gelatin rich bone broth! We need to consume ample amounts of glycine the liver has the resources to do its job properly.
6. Helps Joint and Muscle Pain
The specific amino acids in bone broth, glycine and proline, are needed to build muscle, repair tissue and lessen inflammation. Bone broth is an excellent source of glucosamine and chondroitin, two supplements many people take for joint pain relief. The latest studies have shown that the gelatin in bone broth provides almost immediate relief to joint pain. The glycine in gelatin speeds wound healing, helps stiff joints and promotes recovery.
7. Fights infections
Bone broth provides a rich source of minerals and amino acids that supply the body with raw materials to rebuild stronger and healthier cells. Bone broth also boosts antioxidant activity in the body.
8. Smooths Skin
As we age, our collagen production decreases. Bone broth is rich in collagen along with proteins found in flesh and connective tissues. Skin becomes smoother and more supple when there’s an abundance of connective tissue.
9. Helps Repair and Grow Bones
The large amounts of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in bone broth helps our bones grow and repair.
10. Assists with Sleep
Research has shown that consuming gelatin before bed helps induce sleep due to the amino acid glycine. Glycine plays an important role in the neurotransmitters within the brain, therefore bone broth not only improves sleep quality, but helps reduce daytime sleepiness and improves your memory during waking hours.