What is bone broth?

It is a preparation obtained from the slow cooking in water of a good quantity of bones of various animals. The most popular broths usually contain chicken, beef or turkey bones; but its raw material can also come from species such as fish, beef, lamb or buffalo, among other species. [At the end of this article you will find several links that will help you delve into this valuable broth]

Where does it come from?

As mentioned by Sally Fallon Morell in her book Nourishing Broth (2014), the first soups began to be prepared in the Stone Age. Apparently, the shells of turtles or the exoskeleton of some crustaceans served as containers. It would begin to be consumed more frequently thanks to the invention of ceramic vessels, about 20,000 years ago. That's how old the recipe is and, as the author says, "it is well known, throughout history, that the broth calms your stomach and also your nerves."

Why eat the bones?

Because they have many essential nutrients and because it is a practice that invites you to consume responsibly. It is about making the most of, as the ancient civilizations did, all the parts of the animal: from the nose to the tail.

What are the benefits of bone broth?

The mixture of all the components mentioned above gives this preparation numerous advantages and contributes to our well-being. In which organs will we notice its effects? What conditions does this recipe help correct? Read on to find out.

The intestine

Millions of people in the world suffer from intestinal permeability due to bad habits and a diet based on sugars and ultra-processed products. In other words, your intestine has lost its filtering properties. In good conditions, it would absorb the substances that benefit the body and close its doors to the harmful ones, but when it 'fails', it allows some or others to enter without distinction. Drinking some bone broth on a regular basis will help with intestinal repair. In this task, gelatin will be very important, which will help create a mucus barrier that will prevent bacteria and unwelcome guests from entering the intestine.

The skin

This is the first wall of protection that our body has, and it is its largest organ. Three main components of bone broth will be vital in maintaining the elasticity and hydration of our skin: keratin, collagen, and glycosaminoglycans. All of them present in the bones and skin of the animals that are part of this cooking. By the way, if your intestine is fine, so will your skin (bone broth helps both purposes).

Bones and joints

Nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamins C, D and K2; as well as the amino acids contained in the bone broth, would contribute to strengthening our bone structure. While collagen and glycosaminoglycans would strengthen the joints.

The digestive system

Likewise, glycine and glutamine will participate in this process (we talked to you about them lines ago, and we will continue mentioning them). Glycine helps produce acid in the stomach and prevent gastric ulcers. Do not forget that this organ, by nature, must preserve its acidic conditions (although some mistakenly insist on trying to 'alkalize' it). Glutamine, for its part, is an amino acid necessary to maintain the quality of the mucus that forms the protective barrier of the intestine. In addition, bone broth also facilitates the digestion of the other foods you eat.

Metabolism, heart, muscles

On a metabolic level, the glycine (again!) found in bone broth helps regulate blood sugar and glucose production in the liver. Another quality of this amino acid is that it allows the muscles of our body to increase their potential, their energy capacity and their performance. And it helps your heart health, which lowers your chances of a heart attack. It does so, thanks to the great role it plays in balancing the methionine that reaches our body every time we eat animal protein. When we consume meat in large quantities, because of the methionine, the levels of homocysteine in the bloodstream can be raised. If we don't have nutrients to reduce their presence, you could be at risk for heart disease or stroke, among other conditions. The glycine in the bone broth will balance those levels.

Chronic inflammation

As a result of your poor food choices and poor lifestyle habits, it occurs in your body when molecules called free radicals have outdone the good work of antioxidants. Chronic inflammation is the mother of dozens of diseases. But, frequent intake of bone broth would really help decrease it. Glycine and arginine would be definitive in this task. Studies conducted on rats – much of the scientific research is carried out on these animals because they have a genetic composition similar to that of humans – suggest that arginine, especially, is vital for this purpose.

Mental health

More than 60 percent of our brain is made up of fat. So the healthy fats in bone broth (such as those found in marrow) will do you a lot of good. Calcium (has a relevant role in nerve functions) and glycine are important for brain health, which, according to evidence, promotes the brain development of babies, from the time they are in the womb until the first months of life outside it.

Better mood, better sleep

A rich bone broth can help you sleep soundly. Guess what amino acid contributes to this? Indeed, glycine. If you sleep well, your stress will drop, your body will have more time to recover and, of course, your mood will change.