Bone Broth has many health benefits from supporting gut health to boosting immunity. It’s been used for its healing abilities throughout history. Let’s explore these benefits and medicinal qualities in more detail:

• Health Benefits of Bone Broth
• Bone Broth as a Medicine

Did you know your gut is home to over 100 trillion cells? Together, they comprise the microbiome – a living community of healthy and potentially harmful bacteria.

Ultimately, we want to nourish those healthy bacteria with whole, minimally processed foods to support a healthy gut. Eating a healthy and varied diet is a great start to supporting good gut health. But there are other elements that many people lack in their everyday diet which can have a big affect on our gut health, for example collagen. Collagen plays an integral role in rebuilding and strengthening the lining of our digestive tract and gut lining, so boosting your collagen can help reduce inflammation and improve gut health.

The amino acids found in collagen, particularly  glutamine, glycine and proline, also play a part in supporting good gut health. Glutamine is a crucial amino acid that the body needs to support the gut lining. Glycine and proline have been shown to help improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and promote the growth of good gut bacteria.

As we get older our bodies naturally produce less collagen. Collagen is a major component of cartilage, the connective tissues that cushions joints and helps to prevent friction between bones. The natural decline in collagen production as we age can lead to joint pain and stiffness. We can alleviate some of these symptoms by increasing our collagen intake to help to support the growth and repair of cartilage, reducing inflammation and improving joint health.

The minerals found in bone broth are also essential for building and maintaining strong bones, as well as the compounds glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are known for their ability to reduce joint pain and inflammation.

Collagen is essential for healthy skin, hair and nails. It is the main structural protein found in the skin and helps to keep it firm, elastic, and hydrated. As we age, the production of collagen naturally declines, which leads to the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Bone broth is naturally rich in collagen - Freja beef bone broth, for example, provides 17 grams of collagen per 500ml carton. It’s also bioavailable collagen which means it’s more easily absorbed and utilised by the body. While there's no official guidance on how much collagen you need, research suggests that as much as 36% of daily protein should come from collagen peptides.

Bone broth also contains other useful nutrients for skin health such as hyaluronic acid, known for its unique ability to retain moisture and keeping the skin hydrated and healthy.

Our immune system can be affected by several life style factors but diet is also key. The zinc and vitamin C naturally found in bone broth are essential for immune system function. These nutrients can help to strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of infections. Zinc is particularly good for the development and function of immune cells, while vitamin C is a excellent antioxidant and helps to protect immune cells from damage.

The amino acids arginine and cysteine found in bone broth are also known for their immune boosting properties.

Glycine has been shown to promote better sleep and is naturally found in bone broth. It can help to improve the quantity and quality of our sleep. Simply enjoy a bowl alongside your dinner or one to two hours before bed. Leave some digestion time between eating and sleeping for the best results.

Bone broth is thought to be an excellent healing food to help common gut complaints like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and ulcerative colitis,  thanks to its anti-inflammatory qualities. The gelatin found in bone broth has been shown to help repair the lining of the gut, which can help to improve digestion and prevent leaky gut syndrome. It’s also a rich source of amino acids, in particular glutamine, which is known for its ability to heal and nourish the gut lining.

Collagen is an essential protein for healthy skin, and bone broth is a rich source of collagen. A deficiency in collagen can lead to a variety of skin-related health problems, including eczema. You can naturally boost your collagen intake by taking supplements or drinking bone broth regularly which will help to support the production of collagen in your skin, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.

Vitamin C and Zinc are also great for supporting your skin health. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Zinc is essential for maintaining healthy skin and has been shown to help reduce the severity of eczema symptoms.

Bone broth is rich in nutrients that can help reduce joint pain and inflammation. The gelatin in bone broth can help lubricate your joints, while the chondroitin sulfate can help improve joint health. Glutamine is exceptionally good at accelerating fracture healing and preventing degenerative bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.