Bone broth has been a delicious, nutritious staple in the diet of most cultures for thousands of years. While the art of making bone broth has mostly been lost on modern culture, it is making a strong comeback today because of its medicinal and culinary uses, as well as health benefits. Homemade made broth is a nutrient dense liquid made from the bones of beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, venison or fish, and is the result of simmering those bones on low for many hours - easily done in a crockpot. If you have only used broth in the boxed containers in the grocery stores, you really haven’t tasted the slow-cooked deliciousness of true bone broth. It is an inexpensive, satisfying way to add flavor and nutrition to your soups, stews and gravies or to just sip to reap the nutrition bone broth provides.
These nutritional benefits come from important components within the bones and surrounding structures; such as minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and trace minerals, as well as amino acids, gelatin and collagen. Not only is the marrow from the bones considered a delicacy in many cultures, the properties of its high fat content have been touted for its health benefits in increasing immunity, aiding digestion and fighting cancer.
When it comes to joint health, we often think of the expensive glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements sold on television and retail shelves. Bone broth is an inexpensive way to obtain these and many other nutrients that support the gut, bones, muscles, joints, and skin. In addition, the slow-cooking process of the bones over 24-48 hours helps to release glutamine, collagen, proline and glycine – all components contained within the bones and connective tissue (ligaments, tendons, etc.) of the animal – that are made readily available for absorption. It is an easy and delicious way to make your nutritional supplement dollars stretch much farther.
More Health Benefits
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Helps Heal a Leaky Gut – The gelatin released from the bone broth helps to heal and protect the intestinal lining. It helps fight against bad bacteria in the gut, prevents mucosal lining breakdown and cell death, repairs the intestinal wall by using the amino acids in the collagen to rebuild tissue lining the entire digestive tract and support the immune system, 70-80% of which is located in the gut.
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Helps Resolve Food Allergies and Intolerance – Healing a leaky gut can help to overcome issues related to food intolerance and allergies, because they are caused by large, undigested particles of food that leak through the gut into the body, triggering an immune reaction. Healing a leaky gut with bone broth helps to eliminate this issue.
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Decreases Joint Pain and Inflammation – As stated above, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate helps to heal and stimulate the growth of new collagen and repair joints, thereby reducing pain and inflammation.
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Creates Strong Bones – Minerals needed for strong bones, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus aid in the strengthening and repair of bone.
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Reduces Length of Colds and Flu - Chicken soup is good for the soul and much more! It has been used for centuries as an aid for those suffering from respiratory infections. When the immune system detects a virus, it sends out an army of white blood cells and chemical messengers that trigger symptoms. Chicken soups has medicinal qualities that reduce the number of white blood cells that cause cold symptoms.
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Promotes Healthy Hair and Nails – Bone broth contains plenty of gelatin to aid in healthy hair and nails.
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Healthy Skin and Reduced Cellulite – Bone broth contains collagen, which is known for its ability to fight the signs of aging. Collagen also helps to form elastin, which helps maintain healthy skin tone and appearance. It is not uncommon to hear of a reduction in cellulite among those who drink bone broth or take collagen supplements, a cellulite is a result of the reduction of connective tissue, which causes skin to lose its firmness.