Bone Broth – What’s All The Hype About?…

Key Take Aways on Bone Broth:

1. Considered ‘Natures Multi Mineral’, but has fallen out of favour in modern timesHas
2. 11 distinct and profound benefits to our body & health
3. Can be purchased in pleasant and convenient gravy form and mixed with hot water (like a cup-a-soup)

We’ve A Lot To Learn From Our Ancestors

We’ve been consuming bones for thousands of years, as far back as the Palaeolithic era, and in some regions of the world, early humans were scavengers rather than hunters. We would use tools to crack open the bones of carcasses left by other predators to expose the rich bone marrow.

In some cultures, it’s still accepted and normal to crunch into bones and consume the bone marrow. I know, it sounds gross, and was exactly my reaction when my greek mother would do the same around the dinner table!

You would have likely heard of chicken broth used to treat the common cold, being touted as ancient folk wisdom for centuries. For example, the greeks would make a soup from beaten eggs, lemon and chicken broth, and use as a traditional remedy for colds and flu (It’s delicious by the way). Chicken soup was also a traditional dish of Jewish kitchens; it has even been called “Jewish penicillin” and is used to treat and prevent illness.

Maybe those before us were on to something…

What Makes Up Bone Broth – ‘Natures Multi Mineral’?

Before we touch on all the benefits of Bone Broth, it’s worth understanding what is it within this ‘nutrient goldmine’ that makes it so good for us. All of the below are critical to optimal life and function:

• Collagen – Makes up about 30 percent of the protein in your body and is the main component of connective tissues like cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone, and skin. It is also present in the blood vessels, cornea, and lens of the eye.
• Gelatin – When Collagen is simmered, it forms Gelatin. It acts like a soft cushion between bones that helps them move without friction.
• Hyaluronic Acid – Acts as a “shock absorber” for joints. It holds water and forms a gel-like substance, lubricating and cushioning joints.
• Glysine – Classed as a ‘conditionally essential’ amino acid. Acts as a neurotransmitter, and performs many functions within the body.
• Glycosaminoglycans
 Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) – Complex carbohydrates that participate in many biological processes.
• Bio-Available Minerals – Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Silicon, Sulphur, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Potassium, Sodium & Zinc.

To not make this a dense science text book style article, we’ll not go into the individual benefits and roles of these compounds, nor is the above a complete list. A simple search on Google will help fill in the gaps.

The LONG List of Bone Broth Benefits?

#1 – SKIN HEALTH – You may have heard of collagen in the context of skin, or skincare products. Well, Collagen consumption significantly improves skin elasticity and tended to improve skin moisture content, hence it’s use in these products.

#2 – BRAIN HEALTH – The healthy fats in bone broth provide a source of fuel and raw material for the brain. After all, more than 60 percent of the human brain is composed of fat.

#3 -GUT HEALTH – Gelatin and Glysine help maintain the thin protective layer of mucus that surrounds the intestinal way. If this mucus layer is compromised, you get what is called ‘Leaky Gut’, which allows undigested food, toxins and pathogens to pass through the intestinal barrier and into the blood stream. This is far too common unfortunately, and results in the immune system attacking your body and an inflammatory response to address the foreign invaders.

#4 – HAPPY GUT, HAPPY BRAIN – Roughly two thirds of your chemical brain messengers produced are made within the gut. If there is any distress in the gut, this production will decrease – resulting in a decrease neural drive. If the gut wall is inflamed, there is high chance that the blood-brain-barrier will also be inflamed as there is a nerve connecting the gut directly to the brain. This will decrease the brains performance.

#5 – DIGESTIVE HEALTH – Bone Broth is an excellent digestion aid. Glycine stimulates the production of stomach acid, which is essential for the proper digestion of food. Also, Glysine draws fluid into the intestine, improving gut motility and supporting healthy bowel movements.

#6 – HEALTHY JOINTS & MOBILITY – GAGs and Collagen lubricate joints to give full range of motion, allowing bones to painlessly slide over one another.

#7 – BONE HEALTH – Intuitively, drinking bone broth provides all of the raw material for building healthy bones: calcium, phosphorus, amino acids, etc. For example, Osteoporosis is associated with reduced levels of collagen and calcium in the bones.

#8 – METABOLIC & HEART HEALTH – Glysine within Bone Broth is shown to regulate blood sugar as well as reduce the size of heart attacks

#9 – RESTFUL SLEEP
 – Glycine can decrease anxiety, promote mental calmness, and help with sleep.

#10 – MUSCLE & PERFORMANCE – Glycine assists in increasing in anaerobic (high-intensity) exercise capacity, and encourages the secretion of human growth hormone (HGH), which  enhances muscle repair.

#11 – DETOXIFICATION – Glycine stimulates production of glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant.

#12 – EYE HEALTH – Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen and Glycine keep the eyes internally hydrated, helps with maintaining the transparency of the cornea and delay the progression of cataracts.

So, How do I Get My Hands On Bone Broth?

Bone broth can be made at home or it can be bought pre-made. Homemade bone broth is simple to make, but takes time and requires big stewing pots to be out most of the time. Ask your local farmers if they have soup bones, or roast a whole chicken and save the bones for making broth.

Personally, I just buy the stuff in concentrated form. Check out Amazon or other online/health stores. Just make sure the pre-made broth is organic and made from pasture-raised animals (this minimizes the toxins and maximizes the nutrients you get from the bone broth). My wife and I have a cup of Bone Broth after dinner and once the kids are in bed as a healthy wind down. We use the Turmeric and Black Pepper Beef Bone Broth from Best of The Bone, which comes from a 48 hour simmering of Australian Beef bones. As you can see from the main Blog photo, it produces a cup-a-soup like drink, that tastes pleasant, just like a chicken broth/soup.

Hopefully you now see the compelling reasons why so many people are turning to Bone Broth, and including it as a staple in their diets. Do yourself a favour, and make this incremental change towards caring for you body and helping it thrive!