Does Bone Broth Help Build Muscle?

Besides being nourishing, bone broth is a good source of Vitamins B6 and C, contains a wide range of other minerals and vitamins and bone broth is a great way to build muscle naturally. However, most of the benefits we derive from bone broth come from the collagen it provides.

Collagen is one of the body’s main structural proteins and makes up about 30% of the body’s total protein content. High in protein and minerals but low in carbohydrates and calories, consuming bone broth is a good way of increasing your protein intake without any significant increase in consumption of carbohydrates and calories.

What is Bone Broth?

Bone broth is made by simply simmering connective tissue and bones from chicken, beef, turkey, fish and animals. Unlike bouillon and stocks, bone broth takes about 24 to 48 hours to prepare. Bone broth is commonly used for health drinks, soups and sauces. Bone broth has gained immense popularity lately, largely owing to its versatility. Bone Broth collagen is also conveniently available in powder form :

How Does Bone Broth Help Build Muscle?

Bone broth is rich in numerous essential minerals and vitamins that provide a wide range of health benefits including building muscle. Here is a breakdown of how each mineral aids in building muscle:

• Collagen

Bone broth is rich in collagen, a protein which provides elasticity and strength to numerous body systems including the skin, muscles, tendons, tissue, and bones. As we age, our production of collagen usually decreases significantly, which is one of the main reasons why our muscles, joints and bones become weaker while the skin becomes saggy and wrinkled.

In addition to providing anti-aging benefits such as tightening the skin, consuming collagen through bone broth boosts the production of amino acids which assist in building muscle mass and help muscles grow and repair faster.

• Amino acids

Bone broth’s amino acid profile is quite high. It contains several different conditional amino acids including glutamine, glycine, arginine, and proline. Conditional amino acids provide the body with a wide range of health benefits:

• Proline improves gut health, reduces the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite, rebuilds cartilage and heals joints.
• Glutamin boosts metabolism, increases muscle growth and protects the gut lining.
• Glycine helps detox the bod, prevents muscle breakdown and improves memory and sleep.
• Arginine helps detox the body, improves the immune system and boosts growth hormones

Although the body is capable of producing conditional amino acids on its own, production decreases significantly when we’re under stress

• Essential minerals (electrolytes)

Bone broth is rich in the electrolytes magnesium and potassium, which are very important for a wide range of bodily functions.

Essential minerals help control muscle and nerve function, balance the body’s blood pressure and pH levels, keep the body hydrated, and rebuild muscle tissue during daily activities or workouts.

Essential minerals are usually lost through sweat especially during strenuous activities or exercise.

Electrolytes are primarily lost through sweat during exercise. Drinking bone broth is an easy way to rebalance your electrolyte levels. Bone broth also contains other essential minerals, including copper, iron, manganese, phosphorus, sodium and zinc.

Collagen has a remarkable amino acid balance. It is rich in the amino acids proline, glycine, glutamine and arginine and low in histidine and tyrosine. Moreover, it has no tryptophan.

Arginine, proline and glycine help reduce inflammation. Arginine is beneficial in reducing whole body inflammation and increasing endurance by decreasing oxygen use and boosting NO (nitric oxide) production. Long term scientific studies show that arginine decreases fat while increasing lean mass in subjects.

The body uses proline to make cartilage and collagen, which keep joints and muscles flexible. Proline deficiency can lead to memory loss and a decrease in muscle mass. On the other hand, Glycine works as a brain neurotransmitter and it can help improve daytime cognition, sleep quality and symptoms of fatigue.

Glycine, methionine and arginine are required for the production of cretin in the body, which helps boost strength and build muscle.

The bottom line – if you want a supplement to build muscle naturally.

Bone broth is an excellent collagen/protein source in the form of a nutritional supplement. You can easily add it to your favorite recipes or smoothies, or use it as a pre or post-workout protein drink to replenish lost electrolytes and speedup muscle repair, among other health benefits.

A cup of bone broth provides type II collagen and 20 grams of protein. As a result, bone broth fortifies the function and structure of the body by promoting the development of tissues, muscles, bones, new cells, skin, hair, nails and more.