SHAPE MAGAZINE
7 REASONS TO TRY
HEALING BONE BROTH
By Charlotte Hilton Anderson
This fall, there's a new trendy hot beverage filling mugs across America and experts are already singing its health praises. So what is this magical elixir? Bone broth has been considered a great healer in many cultures and in South America, it's even said that a good broth can revive the dead. (Broth is just one of the top 50 winter foods for weight loss.)
As a bone broth devotee, I couldn't be more excited about this news. I first learned about the broth interviewing a nutritionist about leaky gut syndrome. She told me that all of her patients drink bone broth and not only did they see vast improvements in gut issues, but she called it "magic." Then I read that bone broth is one of the three pillars of the LA Laker’s official team diet. If it's good enough for pro ballers, it's definitely good enough for me!
Here's why you should try drinking bone broth (as with any healing protocol, you will get more benefits the more frequently you consume it):
1. Heal and seal your gut. According to Jill Grunewald, a holistic nutrition coach and founder of Healthful Elements, a cup a day works miracles for leaky gut syndrome but it's also good for protecting non-leaky guts. The gelatin in the bone broth ) helps seal up holes in intestines. This helps cure chronic diarrhea, constipation, and even some food intolerances.
2. Protect your joints. Taking glucosamine supplements to help with joint pain has been common knowledge for years, but it turns out that bone broth has glucosamine too. But unlike pills, the broth also includes a host of other goodies that help keep your joints happy, healthy, and pain-free. The chondroitin sulfate in bone broth has been shown to help prevent osteoarthritis.
3. Look younger. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen. You can find collagen in all kinds of “plumping” products these days, but why stick it on the outside when you can drink it? It can make your skin, hair, and nails look just as radiant.
4. Sleep better, and feel better. The glycine in bone broth has been shown in several studies to help people sleep better and improve memory.
5. Immune support. Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint, actually calls bone broth a “superfood” thanks to the high concentration of minerals. He says that the bone marrow can help strengthen your immune system. (Something that won't surprise your grandma who always made you her famous chicken soup when you got sick!) A Harvard study even showed that some people with auto-immune disorders experienced a relief of symptoms when drinking bone broth, with some achieving a complete remission.
6. Stronger bones. The phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium in the bones seeps out into the broth leaving you with the essential building blocks for healthy bones.
7. More energy. I’m not sure what the mechanism is for this, but if you read accounts of bone broth, you’ll notice everyone swears by the energy boost.
So get out there and try bone broth today! Your body will thank you.