Sip Your Way to Better Digestion with Bone Broth

Bone broth is a highly nutritious soup-based meal. People around the world have been consuming it for thousands of years, especially in Asia. It involves simmering the bones of chicken, beef, or fish for 12 hours or longer, extracting essential minerals and other nutrients from the bones and into the savory broth.

In recent years, bone broth has emerged as a popular meal supplement and superfood among Americans. Public figures have been singing praises about this magical brew.

In today’s blog, we will discuss the doctor-approved benefits of bone broth for digestive health and provide information on how to incorporate it into your diet.

Nutritional Value of Bone Broth

Bone broth is an abundant source of collagen, amino acids, gelatin, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus – all of which are essential for maintaining excellent gut health.

Digestive Health Benefits of Bone Broth

The nutrients in bone broth provide several digestive health benefits, including: 

• Collagen and gelatin assist in soothing and repairing the intestinal wall against damage from poor diets, stress, or medication.
• Amino acids like glutamine play a role in reducing inflammation in the gut. Amino acids also aid digestion by helping break down and absorb nutrients.
• Magnesium and calcium support overall digestive function.

Bone Broth vs. Other Digestive Health Products

Although several products on the market can also support digestive health, bone broth’s unique combination of nutrient-dense minerals is a cut above the rest. 

For instance, while probiotics are beneficial for gut health, bone broth contains essential amino acids and minerals that probiotics lack. Digestive enzymes also aid digestion, but bone broth provides a more comprehensive approach to overall gut health, as it helps heal and protect the intestinal lining.

How to Make Bone Broth at Home

You can serve your family golden bone broth using chicken or fish bones, although beef is the most popular choice.

To make the savory broth, simply simmer the bones in water for 12 hours or more. You can also pan-fry the beef for a few minutes beforehand to enhance the soup’s depth, as well as add other ingredients for additional flavor and nutrition. Among the delicious flavor enhancers you can add are garlic cloves, red or white onions, carrots, celery, bay leaves, kosher salt, black peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and chili peppers for a kick.

Once the cooking process is complete, use a wire mesh strainer to separate the broth from the bones and other ingredients.

For a detailed guide to making high-quality bone broth at home, check out this featured post on CNN Health.

How to Add Bone Broth to Your Diet

You can drink bone broth alone or use it as a base for other dishes. It can serve as an appetizing replacement for other liquids, such as when cooking rice, couscous, or quinoa. You can consume about one cup or 237 ml of bone broth daily to ensure optimal digestive health.

Takeaway

Rich in several good-for-you nutrients, adding bone broth to your diet can be an effective way to maintain or improve your gut health. And, since April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month, now is the best time to try making savory bone broth at home and experience the digestive health benefits for yourself!