Bones are the only true source of type II collagen which is known for keeping joints and teeth health and skin supple and smooth, as well as other health benefits.

Bones are also rich in several minerals, compounds and anti-inflammatory amino acids that help speed up the body’s healing process from various things such as leaky gut, arthritis, or sports injuries.

However, since we can’t chow down bones and connective tissue in their whole form, simmering them for 10 to 20 hours to make bone broth is one of the best ways to release their nutrients and enjoy its numerous and extensive health benefits. In fact, bone broth contains many different nutrients, most of which cannot be obtained from other foods. This is partly why bone broth is so special.

By using bone broth in recipes or drinking it regularly, you help reduce gut inflammation and permeability while promoting healthy gut integrity. Let’s explore the major benefits of bone broth.

Heal your Gut and Promote Digestion

Nowadays, bone broth is the top-recommended food for improving symptoms of various chronic digestive conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

This is largely because collagen forms gelatin when you cook it down further. Gelatin and collagen are rich in amino acids that help reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and they also have the ability to heal and seal holes in the GI tract, which can cause leaky gut syndrome.

Research shows that leaky gut syndrome is one of the primary underlying causes of various digestive conditions. Leaky gut is also a contributor to chronic low energy, brain fog, depression, anxiety, eczema, allergies and acne.

However, it’s essential to understand that leaky gut can show no symptoms, especially in the early stages. Bone broth is highly recommended on various special gut healing protocols and diets such as the SDC diet, low FODMAP diet, and the GAPS diet.

Relieve Arthritis and Soothe Inflamed Joints

Whether it’s sore muscles, an injury or arthritis, the best way to nourish your joints and bones is by consuming the nutrients found within them, including calcium, magnesium, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and glucosamine.

Bone broth is heavily packed with all of these essential nutrients, plus various amino acids that can help reduce inflammation and joint pain, like proline and glycine. This is one of the main reasons why bone broth has become a very popular recovery drink especially among workout enthusiasts and athletes.

Accelerate Weight Loss

Consuming bone broth on a regular basis can help promote sustainable weight loss. Studies have found that consuming bone broth before a meal promotes weight loss mainly due to the low amount of calories consumed during the meal itself.

Moreover, the combination of bone broth and intermittent fasting accelerates sustainable weight loss by restricting calorie intake and burning fat more efficiently. If you want to combine bone broth and intermittent fasting, you should increase bone broth consumption on the fasting days. However, the findings show that consuming water during or before meals does not have this beneficial effect.

Better Nails, Hair, and Skin

Nowadays, many anti-aging skincare brands add collagen to their serums, face creams, and moisturizers. However, many people are not aware of the fact that these creams can’t provide much in terms of results mainly because collagen molecules are bigger than the size of our skin pores and hence cannot be absorbed directly through the skin.

You’ll be happy to know that collagen is easily absorbed through the digestive system. Since there’s a direct link between the skin and the gut, incorporating bone broth in your diet will have very powerful and lasting effects on the overall health and appearance of your skin.

It’s also essential to keep in mind that nails and hair are made up of various proteins including collagen. Therefore, adding bone broth to your diet can help strengthen nails, and encourage hair to grow quicker and thicker.

Deep, Restful Sleep

Stats show that the average person sleeps an average of 6.8 hours per night. Therefore, we all need a little more of better sleep in order to make those few hours count.

Studies show that bone broth is very rich in glycine which works on the CNS (Central Nervous System) and when taken before bed it can reduce daytime drowsiness and improve sleep quality. It is even more effective when combined with other important sleep-supportive nutrients such as magnesium and calcium.

Healthy Pregnancy

For expectant mothers, your growing baby will also get to experience all the benefits you’ll reap from bone broth including a healthy digestive system, and healthy joints and bones. Although it can be almost impossible to keep food down when morning sickness hits, bone broth is usually well-tolerated and can be soothing for nausea.

On the other hand, bone broth provides all the nutrients you and your unborn baby need, including minerals, protein, and essential vitamins. The slow simmer time of about 10 to 20 hours makes nutrients easier to absorb and highly bio-available compared to nutritional supplements. Bone broth also helps you have a more comfortable and healthy pregnancy by soothing painful or still joints.

Improve Mood

According to neuroscientists and nutritionists, your brain is influenced by your gut bacteria. On the other hand, your diet has a huge impact on your gut bacteria. Your microbiome (the makeup of your gut bacteria) influences how your brain is wired in terms of ability to learn, memory moods and dealing with stress.

Therefore, when your gut microbiome is unhealthy, it sends stress and anxiety signals to the brain, and when it’s healthy it sends signals of happiness. This has led neuroscientists to start investigating how gut bacteria can be managed as a treatment for various stress-related disorders.

Studies show that gelatin promotes the growth of good bacteria (probiotics) in the gut hence supporting healthy digestion function which can help improve general mood. Biologists also say that the rise in inflammatory and degenerative diseases especially in industrialized societies can be attributed to the presence of various restorative amino acids such as hydroxyproline.

Bone broth is rich in various important nutrients which make it a very powerful food that can be highly beneficial for your entire family including your pets.

Besides the benefits listed above, bone broth can also benefit your pet’s joints, bones, teeth, shiny coat and digestion.

Bone Broth and Weight Loss

Bone broth is hearty, complex, soul satisfying and rich. It has very few calories and virtually zero carbs. It is a low calorie food that supports weight loss by providing you with a hydrating and nutrient-rich food source. Therefore, you don’t experience hunger even on your fasting days. Since numerous studies have found that water is an important factor in circulatory and gut health, it also makes sense that bone broth would be too.

Relative increases in water intake promote weight loss by lowering your total energy intake, whereas absolute increases promote weight loss by increasing metabolism. Either way, increasing your water intake helps you with weight loss. Gelatin consumption also supports weight loss by stimulating the gut hormone GLP-1 which increases feelings of fullness helping you slow down digestion and glucose intake.

This leads to a reduction in overall food intake which aids in weight loss. Moreover, gelatin is commonly used to treat low and high acid levels in the stomach, which helps improve digestion.  Similarly, an ingredient of gelatin known as glycine stimulates the production of gastric acid which also helps with digestion.

Although there are some potential links that justify bone broth as a weight loss food, more studies should be conducted to assess this directly. However, there are still several unquestionable health benefits of bone broth especially for weight loss. Therefore, you can integrate bone broth into your healthy eating plan without any significant problems or complications.

Can Bone Broth be Used as an Only Food?

Despite the numerous potential benefits of bone broth and its growing popularity even in celebrity circles, you should not use it as your only food since this is not a sustainable approach to your weight loss goals.

Bone broth creates a massive calorie deficit that can have serious long term health implications and can even cause an increase in weight when you return to your normal diet plan.

On the other hand, when eaten on its own, bone broth cannot provide you with all of the nutrients you need to maintain a healthy body. Instead, it’s highly recommended that you use good quality fat burner nutrients alongside a small calorie deficit.

The bottom-line – Can Bone Broth Help you Lose Weight?

Bone broth is a great source of

• protein,
• amino acids,
• gelatin,
• collagen and
• healthy nutrients.

It is rich in glycine which promotes detoxification and is also a key component in the making of various naturally occurring chemicals that support fat loss and muscle building.

However, despite being a great food that supports weight loss, skin health and digestion, bone broth should be paired with exercise and a healthy diet to promote sustainable weight loss.

Read more about the health benefits of Bone broth!