Bone Broth 101
Chelan Wilkins, RHN
Edited on March 15, 2021.
Chicken soup, is it good for the soul? What do we actually know about this traditional and favorite comfort food created with love in kitchens around the world? For many of us, history has proven that a cup of bone broth has had a comforting and nutritious health effect especially during those cold and flu seasons. It has also been an excellent base to many other recipes in the kitchen. However, this comforting bowl of soup may have more to offer than just great flavor and warmth. The many nutrients inside that bowl of bone broth have been shown to be beneficial to your health, your skin, immunity, joints, cartilages and your gut health.
What is bone broth?
A type of broth made by simmering animal bones for extended periods of time, bone broth is featured in the traditional cuisines of many different cultures — and for good reason. Through the process of simmering, bones release beneficial nutrients such as collagen, gelatin and amino acids (such as glycine, glutamine and proline, to name a few). Alongside those nutrients are many key minerals that are often hard to absorb in our body; bone broth is an excellent way to up your intake.
Bone broth nutrition facts
Bone broth contains 19 easily absorbable amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Protein is the essential macronutrient needed in the body for cell regeneration. It is essential in our diets for muscle growth as well as to prevent muscle wasting and breakdown, a common symptom we can encounter as we age. Protein has been shown to help stabilize blood sugars and prevent hypoglycemia. This is particularly beneficial for those who suffer from diabetes and metabolic disorders. It also plays an important role in regulating our ghrelin levels, our satiety hormone.
There is another incredible group of nutrients found in bone broth known as Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These powerhouse nutrients are responsible for collagen and elastin production. They are our “strength” healers! Often found in various supplement forms, they are known for their roles in arthritis prevention and relief. These nutrients are also key to anti-aging, strong ligaments and cartilage, nails and skin firmness!
Bone broth benefits — Why should I drink bone broth?
Bone broth strengthens your connective tissues
Chicken bones are used in bone broth not just for the delicious taste, but also for the amazing effects of type 2 Collagen. While there are various types of collagen in our body with various roles, type 2 collagen is what we naturally store in our connective tissues and it plays a big role in our joint and cartilage health. It is also linked to supporting the inflammatory response in our body, which can be beneficial for those who suffer from inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, auto-immune disorders, asthma and allergies.
Bone broth heals the gut
Using bone broth daily has been anecdotally linked to significant improvement in allergies, asthma sufferers, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel conditions, chronic fatigue, stress, skin conditions, bloating, weight gain, thinning hair, food sensitivities and auto-immune disorders. These amazing results are likely linked to its nutrient profile: by decreasing the inflammatory response in the body, glycine improves the integrity of your digestive tract. This plays a vital role in the absorption of nutrients found in our foods, potentially helping with a number of conditions.
Bone Broth supports immune function
A huge part of our immune system is located in the digestive tract, so it would make sense that having a healthy and supported digestive tract would increase our immunity during those "cold and flu" months and add to our overall health. Testing the theory that "chicken soup cures all," research has shown that consuming chicken broth while experiencing respiratory tract infections helped to stop the neutrophil migration in the upper respiratory tract, effectively relieving infection symptoms.
How to make bone broth
Traditionally, bone broth is made by simmering animal bones for hours (sometimes days!) in order to extract every single nutrient from the bones. Organika has made it easier with powdered bone broths: you can now enjoy the nutritious goodness of traditional broth instantly!
Organika’s bone broth powders are very easy to use as well as digest. Simply add water or stir it into soups, sauces and more!
How to take bone broth
Bone Broth allows you to experiment, be creative and have fun in the kitchen. You can create healthy and nutrient packed recipes by adding in more nutrients from organic vegetables, fresh herbs and healing spices, allowing you to create your broth your way!
Try these recipes featuring our Bone Broth and Veggie Broth powders:
A healthy and nutritious tradition updated for modern times, with Organika's Bone Broths, you're only a a scoop or two away from a boost in both flavour and nutrition!