Much of today’s corpus of health foods, superfoods and health supplements has its roots in traditional diet and medicine. For example, the benefits of apple cider vinegar and coconut oil both have their origins in ancient civilisations, with the nutritional benefits and healing properties widely known throughout the ages.
Consuming bone broth — the extract of the goodness through boiling down of animal bones— definitely falls into this category. The practice has been used for centuries in many cultures with the nutrient-rich liquid taken either by itself as a health-boosting drink or as the base for mightily delicious foods such as soups and stews.
So how great is bone broth? Dare we say it’s a Premier League “superfood”? Here are eight key benefits of drinking bone broth daily that would suggest so.
Gut health: Great healers as far back as Hippocrates have touted the link between bone broth and gut health. Not only is it beneficial to the workings of the gut (which then boosts overall health) the gelatin contained in the bone broth helps act as a sealant to help prevent “leaky gut” syndrome. This occurs when partially-digested foods and toxins “leak” from the gut and into the bloodstream.
Skin and hair: Collagen supports the growth of skin, hair and nails. When it is boiled down, as with bone broth, it becomes available in the form of gelatin that is easy to digest. The result could be seen in improved skin tone and glossy hair.
Digestion: Bone broth allows easily digested amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids to pass into the gut which is beneficial in the body’s digestive process. The gelatin in the broth also works with water to help the gut digest cooked foods.
Blood health: Boiled down broth also contains bone marrow, depending on the type of bones used in the broth, as well as other important trace elements. All of these contribute to healthier blood and gives your immune system an important boost.
Fights colds and flu: Anyone with Jewish heritage will know that chicken soup (made with chicken broth) is famous as a cure for many maladies. Bone broth has long been a great stand by to help battle colds and flu and generational wisdom has always recommended hot soups as a great buffer against colds and flu. Remember your own Grandma’s healing soup recipe?
Anti-inflammatory properties: Amino acids contained in bone broth — such as glycine, proline, and arginine — all have anti-inflammatory properties that benefit overall health.
Protecting joints: Glucosamine has been taken in tablet form for many years to help alleviate joint pain. Not only is bone broth rich in glucosamine, it also contains a number of other elements (such as chondroitin sulfate) which help to keep joints healthy. There is some evidence that these help in alleviating the symptoms of osteoporosis.
Bone growth: The phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium contained in the boiled down bones will also help promote healthy — and stronger — bone growth.
Rich, full of nutrients, easy-to-make and delicious as the base for a soup or stew, bone broth is a great winter-style meal that can (and should) be enjoyed throughout the whole year. The broth makes available a huge number of valuable and essential nutrients in a way the body can easily absorb. Most recipes for bone broth prefer beef bones, from grass-fed animals if possible, however bone broth can be made equally as well with chicken and fish bones.
Looking for a high quality bone broth? Look no further than the Bone Broth range by Nutra Organics.
As an unmatched health supplement, supporters say having bone broth as a morning tonic with breakfast is a grand way to give you a boost to get through the day. Thinking of dinner? What about bone broth as the base for a stew or soup? With a timeless appeal and laden with health benefits, isn’t it time you tried out making your own bone broth? Here is our favourite recipe.
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