Three Reasons You Should Start Drinking Bone Broth Today

In recent years, bone broth has garnered lots of attention over the internet and social media, quickly gaining popularity as a nutritional powerhouse—the latest ‘superfood’ adored by wellness junkies if you will. Due to its many health benefits and oh-so comforting flavor, bone broth boasts a ton of nutrients that can significantly enhance your overall well-being—making its recent hype pretty justified, IMO. 

Let's delve into the top three health benefits of bone broth, and why you should consider including it as a staple in your wellness repertoire, supported by the latest scientific studies.

Gut Health

Recent research suggests the important role of bone broth in nurturing a healthy gut microbiome (the community of microorganisms living in the digestive system that influence your health and digestion). The gelatin and collagen present in bone broth are rich sources of amino acids like glycine, proline, and glutamine, which are crucial for gut health. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found that glutamine supplementation significantly reduced intestinal permeability (the ease with which substances can pass through the intestinal walls and enter the bloodstream), highlighting its potential in keeping gut-related disorders at bay.

Bone broth also contains collagen, as it is made by simmering animal bones in water for an extended period of time. During this process, collagen, a protein found in connective tissues like bones, tendons, and ligaments, is extracted from the bones and released into the broth. As a result, consuming bone broth provides a natural source of collagen to your body. A recent review published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases highlighted the therapeutic potential of collagen in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Collagen supplementation was shown to alleviate inflammation and promote mucosal healing in individuals with conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. 

All in all, the evidence clearly suggests that incorporating bone broth into your diet can fortify your gut barrier and enhance digestive function—and little help in that department can’t hurt amirite?

Joint and Bone Support

If you’re struggling with joint pain or bone-related ailments, bone broth may just be the natural elixir you’ve been looking for. The abundance of collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin in bone broth provides essential building blocks for joint health and cartilage regeneration. A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that participants with knee osteoarthritis experienced a significant reduction in pain and improved joint function after collagen supplementation.

Another study, this one in a journal called Nutrients, demonstrated that regular consumption of collagen peptides enhanced bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women, suggesting a potential role in osteoporosis prevention. 

Thanks to its abundance of collagen and its role in supporting bone density, bone broth serves as a potent ally in maintaining skeletal health and mobility (if you’re in the 30+ club, this should be reason enough for you to be convinced, if you know what I mean). 

Immune System Boost

If gut health, as well as joint and bone health weren’t enough, bone broth is also known for its role in fortifying the body's defence mechanism: the immune system. The amino acids and minerals present in bone broth, including zinc, selenium, and glutamine, play key roles in immune function and inflammation regulation. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition demonstrated that zinc deficiency impaired immune responses, highlighting its indispensability in immune regulation.

The anti-inflammatory properties of bone broth can also help to promote immune system balance. A review published in Frontiers in Immunology presented the immunomodulatory effects of glycine, the amino acid discussed earlier which is abundant in bone broth, and regulates immune cell function and cytokine production—doubling it’s impact by aiding both in gut support and immune support. 

The role of glycine alone presents a compelling case for the gut-immune connection, a concept further explored in The Gut-Immune Connection: How Understanding the Connection Between Food and Immunity Can Help Us Regain Our Health by Emeran Meyer, MD.

In conclusion, bone broth sets out to reinforce the "food is medicine" saying, with its profound impact on gut health, joint support, and immune function. Backed by scientific evidence, integrating bone broth into your dietary regimen can unlock a plethora of health benefits you don’t want to miss out on. 

For best in class grass-fed, organic, beef bone broth infused with immune boosters, check out The People's Broth.