Bone Broth: What are the benefits of this “Golden Elixer?“

by Jennifer Peters | Sep 10, 2019 | Nutrition Notes

Snuggle down.  Sit by a big warm fire and let’s talk.  Hold a warm mug in your hand.  Draw your nose to the edge and bring in the scent.  It’s not coffee or tea in your mug but the “golden elixir,” as some call it.  Bone broth.

Let us tell you a little something about what’s actually in your cup.   Inside is something packed with readily available nutrients that nourish your body.   Bone broth has positive effects on brain activity, mood, sleep, gut health, bone strength, blood sugar regulation, inflammation and immunity.

Bone broth is made when you slowly simmer leftover bones and connective tissue from animals.  Generally there is an acid component added, such as apple cider vinegar, to break down the bones and extract as many nutrients from the bones as possible.  Each batch that is made is unique.  It gleans the nutrient content from the bones of individual animals. Every batch of broth is affected by the animal’s diet, how it was nourished, and which bones were used.

After a long 24-36 hours the bones are broken down, and minerals and amino acids released.  The broth is then strained and the result is a warm treat where nutrients are much easier to digest and absorb.

Bones in all animals including humans, act as a vault filled with minerals and amino acids that are crucial for many systems in the body. So when you drink bone broth from quality animal bones, these mineral benefits are transferred to you! Some of these nutrients and their function include:

Calcium– Calcium aids in bone and joint health, proper contraction of muscles, release of neurotransmitters and heart health.

Magnesium– Magnesium helps to regulate normal muscle, nerve, and immune function. It is also key to bone and heart health, as well as over 300 other biochemical reactions in the body.

Collagen– Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and the most prominent when you drink a cup of bone broth. It helps to provide amino acids most crucial to the body’s strength and structure, including skin, joint, tendon and bone structure.

Iron– Iron helps to make hemoglobin, the red blood cells responsible for taking oxygen throughout the body.

Selenium– Selenium is a powerhouse anti-oxidant mineral.

Glutamine– Bone broth is abundant in glutamine, an important amino acid in the body. It is healing to the gut lining, nourishes the immune system and helps us to manage times of stress.

Glycine– Glycine is an amino acid helpful for blood sugar regulation, glucose metabolism and sufficient HLC production. It is thought to be a crucial precursor to the body’s master anti-oxidant, glutathione, helping with the body’s ability to detoxify.

Aside form these, every cup could also have sodium, potassium, zinc, vitamins A and K, which are all essential nutrients! Packed with so many good things, it’s no wonder bone broth is having such an impact on health.  We are finding that whole animal nutrition is key to nutrition.

Head-to-tail of an animal will nourish us head-to-toe.  The bones of the animal are no exception. Prepared properly from wild, pasture raised, 100% grass-fed and organic sources, bone broth can be a great way to get a protein packed, mineral dense source of whole food nutrition.

About the Co-Author

Kellen Kurtz is a wife, mama, budding athlete, lover of good food & wine and a passionate seeker of health, wholeness and all the good things of life. Kellen works with everyday athletes, families, moms, women and life enthusiasts.

Her journey in nutrition was rocked when, at the age of 3, her son was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Since then she has relentlessly searched for holistic solutions to help her son, and entire family, thrive through this life altering diagnosis.

Kellen is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), Restorative Wellness Solutions Certified and the founder of Rise Nutrition & Wellness.