Bone broth: Here’s why gut health fanatics are adding it to their diet

Bone broth has become increasingly popular, especially among wellness enthusiasts and gut health fanatics. It may not sound like the most appetizing soup, but many believe having a bowl regularly could do wonders for your body.

Why is bone broth good for you, you ask? Let’s dig a little deeper.

In the olden days, various cultures engaged in nose-to-tail eating, and would make the broth out of leftover animal parts like knuckles, bones, and hooves. Now, people are looking into ways to eat a more “ancestral” or “traditional” diet, so together with the gut health craze, drinking bone broth is quite the trend.

There is limited research on the broth itself, but there is lots of evidence to support drinking it for optimal gut health due to the nutrients in boiled down bones and connective tissue.

3 Nutrients That Make Bone Broth A Powerhouse

  1. Collagen
    • All animal bones (including human ones) are filled with collagen and rich in protein content because of it. Collagen can be used by the body to produce two important proteins, glycine and proline. As a result, these proteins help regenerate collagen in the body. Collagen has been shown to support joint pain relief, bone loss prevention, heart health, and leaky gut.
  2. Glutamine
    • This non-essential protein, meaning that our bodies can make it on its own without requiring it from food, is found in abundance in bone broth. This doesn’t mean that the body wouldn’t benefit from a little more of it. Intestinal cells and immune cells, which are both well-integrated into our gut and digestive system, utilize glutamine for energy. Through the intestinal cells, this protein acts to maintain the gut barrier function and prevent leaky gut.
  3. Gelatin
    • Gelatin is a great source of proline and glycine, similar to collagen. It does wonders for digestion by essentially maintaining proper fluid balance in the gut and promoting healthy bowel movements. It has been shown to be especially helpful for those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

These nutrients found in bone broth may not be part of the foods we absolutely need to eat everyday, but enough research supports that these can only benefit the body. That’s especially the case for someone suffering from digestion-related issues.

Main Benefits Of Regular Bone Broth Consumption On The Gut

  • Reducing inflammation and strengthening the gut barrier by supporting the presence of good bacteria
  • Healing intestinal permeability to effectively improve chronic conditions like celiac disease and Crohn’s disease
  • Supporting optimal immune function by essentially sealing openings in the gut lining that could allow for things that weaken the immune system to pass

This nutrient-dense stock has rightfully become a big topic in the health and wellness sphere, and although it isn’t filled with vitamins and minerals like fruits and vegetables, the proteins are welcomed by the body just the same.

For the extra boost, many store-bought bone broth brands contain vegetables for added flavor and mineral content, which could make it a great choice for an all-round supportive addition to your diet. Since there is a lack of direct evidence on bone broth as an individual food, it’s best to look at what is known regarding the benefits. Now that it’s much more discussed by the public, researchers and food scientists may follow suit.

Of course, remember that you should always talk to your doctor or nutritionist first before making any changes to your diet you’re unsure about.

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