Bone Broth:
“Ancient Medicine’s Miracle Cure!”
Vegans and vegetarians please stop here because the following may upset you . . . chuckle chuckle . . . but it’s certainly worth the read . . . especially if you’re open minded.
Bone broth has been around since the ancient Greeks arguably discovered it in the first century BC, and it has been known as a healing food and appreciated for its high nutritional value ever since.
I remember in the 2nd or 3rd year of college our Chinese lecturer on Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dietetics meticulously went through the importance of using bone broth especially from chickens when in debilitating health to enhance a persons inner energy or qi. (Qi can be interpreted as the “life energy” or “life force,”)
Good old chicken soup!
Your grandma knew it, your mum knew it, and the chances are you’ll be making it too!
It is generally made by boiling bones and cartilage, possibly a little meat.
Bone broths are simmered for a long period of time (at least 24 hours, sometimes longer) on the stove.
Sally Fallon with Weston A. Price Foundation has previously published information about this healing food. [1]
Bone marrow, the substance in the centre of larger bones, is an essential part of the immune system, and contains all kinds of cells necessary for immune function and bone growth, and it is rich in unsaturated fats which may lower cholesterol.
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a conclusive nutritional analysis of it yet.
Many traditional cultures viewed it as a sacred food for fertility nutrition. [1a]
What Gives Bone Broth its Healing Properties?
Bone broth is dense with a variety of minerals, gelatin, collagen and proteins in the form of amino acids.
It’s known to heal the skin, gut, GI tract, aid in digestion and help you beat that cold/flu you’ve been suffering from.
It’s no coincidence from Ancient Medicine it’s known as a miracle cure when we are feeling under the weather.
- Minerals- such as calcium,
- Magnesium, phosphorus and trace minerals, which are easily absorb.
- Vitamins- such as Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6.
- Fats- bone broth contains fats which help restore gut health, which helps with the absorption of minerals.
- Gelatin and Collagen- Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It is found inside the lining of the digestive tract, within bones in bone marrow, in skin, and in the tissues that form joints, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Gelatin is derived from collagen during the boiling process, and helps support connective tissue, keeps joints healthy, helps heal the gut and helps the hair and nails be strong and healthy. [2]
- Amino Acid: Glycine- this helps detoxify the liver and promotes muscle repair and growth. It also helps produce the antioxidant, Glutathione. Glycine also aids in wound healing and supports the release of growth hormones.
- Amino Acid: Proline- this is essential to the structure of collagen so that it can ensure healthy gut, bones, skin, vein walls, tendons and ligaments, especially when taken with vitamin C. [3]
- Amino Acid: Glucosamine- this is important for the structure and function of joints. [4]
Health Benefits of Bone Broth
1. Heals your Gut.
A healthy gut is one of the prime factors of health.
When one’s gut and digestive system are healed and working as they should, one absorbs and digests nutrients properly.
Many modern diseases appear to be rooted from an unbalanced mix of microorganisms in our digestive systems, which is due to too an unbalanced diet, high in sugar content and low in beneficial bacteria and good fats, as well as an excess of various medications such as painkillers, antibiotics and birth-control pills.
This can lead to holes in the gut, allowing unwanted particles to enter the bloodstream in a condition called Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Collagen, which is the matrix of protein in bones, tendons, ligaments, and other flexible and connective tissues, is broken down during the simmering process into another protein called gelatin.
It helps seal up holes in intestines that occur in Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Gelatin is particularly soothing to the gut because it fills and lines the mucous membranes, protecting it from food particles.
It also helps retain water in the gut, allowing food to pass easily through and permitting regular bowel movements.
Leaky gut reaches as far as causing or contributing to things like asthma, food allergies, skin conditions, immune deficiencies, and even chronic fatigue, chronic diarrhea and constipation.
It also helps digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease.[5]
2. Protects your Joints.
Bone broth contains a host of goodies that are essential to the structure and function of joints, such as the amino acids glucosamine, proline and chondroitin sulphate.
These proteins, as well as hyaluronic acid, are especially beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis, a painful chronic autoimmune disease marked by painful damage to the tendons and ligaments.
They have also been shown to prevent osteoarthritis and keep joints healthy and pain-free.
Studies have shown that proteins in bone broth may actually help stop the autoimmune response altogether, and that collagen from organic bone broth of chickens may dramatically improve symptoms.
3. A Youthful Appearance
Bone broth is a rich source of collagen.
You can find collagen in all kinds of “plumping” products these days, but why stick it on the outside when you can drink it?
Not only is drinking it cheaper, but it can make your skin, hair, and nails look just as radiant and youthful.
4. Sleep better, and Feel better.
The glycine in bone broth has been shown in several studies to be relaxing, helping people sleep better and improve memory.
5. Immune support.
Thanks to its high concentration of minerals, bone marrow can help strengthen your immune system.
This can prevent many diseases.
6. Stronger bones.
The phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium in the bones, essential for healthy bone development, seeps out into the broth leaving you with the essential building blocks for healthy bones.
7. More energy
If you read accounts of bone broth, you’ll notice everyone swears by the energy boost.
8. Combats Inflammation.
Amino acids such as glycine, proline and arginine all have anti-inflammatory effects, even is sepsis, a condition in which there is whole-body inflammation.
9. Weight Loss.
Being low in calories and high in nutrients, bone broth is a hearty, satisfying drink that can even replace one of your meals per day.
The fact that it contains no sugar gives it many advantages over other diet drinks, but your Normal Health care professional should always be consulted first. [5]
Organic Bone Broth
Organic Bone BrothConsider only bones from organic animals for making bone broth, preferably grass-fed ones.
Non-organic animals are raised in an inhumane way in squalid, cramped conditions, and are fed antibiotics, hormones and genetically modified grain.
Bone Broth Fast
A bone broth fast means you consume bone broth several times per day but not much other solid food.
Most people do best fasting for a period between three to four days at a time.
The benefits of this type of fast include reducing cholesterol, normalizing blood sugar, weight loss and maintaining target weight, particularly in cases of obesity, for digestive problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and also lowering triglyceride levels.
It has also been shown to help certain neurological disorders and types of cancer. [6]
It should always be done under the supervision of a Normal Health Care Professional.
Click Here For Bone Broth Recipes
Don’t Have Time To Make It?
I know, not many people have the time to stand over a hot stove these days, especially not for as long as a good bone broth takes.
The good news is you can buy it ready made!
Where can you buy good bone broth?
Avoid the commercial supermarket tinned soups wherever possible.
There are many manufacturers that rear their own organic animals, that is they are grass-fed and free from antibiotics, hormones and GMO grains.
And, even better, you can buy online and have it delivered to your door!
Would you like to find out more?
Until next time,
Yours in Health.
Disclaimer: The information provided does not take into account individual needs of any particular person. When providing this information it is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research. The information provided should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction and is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
References:
1] http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/broth-is-beautiful/
1a] paleoleap.com/eat-this-bone-broth/
2] livestrong.com/article/456822-proline-amino-acid-benefits/
3] wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucosamine
4] aubonbrothbonebroth.com/blogs/bone-broth/34056900-bone-broth-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-part-1-of-2
5] .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4257368/
6] barebonesbroth.com
[7] https://www.healthambition.com/benefits-bone-broth-digestion-arthritis-cellulite/
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