{"id":35446,"date":"2014-12-29T11:15:02","date_gmt":"2014-12-29T16:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=35446"},"modified":"2021-05-13T11:55:38","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T15:55:38","slug":"benefits-of-bone-broth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/health\/benefits-of-bone-broth\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Bone Broth: Should You Be Sipping It?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Benefits
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can pick up the season\u2019s hottest new drink from a pop-up shop in New York City\u2019s East Village or even order it by subscription service for $15 a quart. No, it\u2019s not green juice<\/a> or Bulletproof Coffee<\/a>. It\u2019s bone broth \u2014 the warm brew that enthusiasts claim will soothe everything from joint pain to digestive problems. Oh, and did we mention it\u2019s supposed to give you glowing skin, hair and nails, too?<\/p>\n

Find out if this emerging trend has meat on its bones\u2026or if it\u2019s just a bunch of hot water.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Are Medicinal Mushrooms the New Kale?<\/a><\/p>\n

The Age-Old Benefits of Bone Broth<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The newest health elixir<\/a> is anything but new. Bone broth has been around for centuries in cultures around the world, and it\u2019s known for its healing properties. It\u2019s often prescribed in Traditional Chinese Medicine for a multitude of symptoms including digestive, endocrine and fertility issues. Recently, broth has reemerged as the go-to brew for foodies, as well as among Paleo followers<\/a>, for its rich nutritional profile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe broth carries the vitamins and minerals into your body in a way that your body can easily absorb and use.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s the cooking method that differentiates bone broth from regular chicken or beef stock that you might make at home or buy in the store. \u201cRegular stock is made at really high temperatures, and it isn\u2019t cooked for an extended period of time,\u201d says Carolyn Brown, R.D. at FoodTrainers<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s like putting a tea bag in hot water for two seconds versus five minutes. Bone broth has to simmer in stock with an acid, like vinegar, for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the type of bone used, in order to get the good stuff out.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 19 Ways to Add Flavor for 10 Calories or Less<\/a><\/p>\n

You can make broth with bones from cows, chicken, lamb and even fish, but the nutritional composition of the broth differs based on the type of bone used. \u201cSince chicken bones are smaller and weaker, they are less nutrient dense<\/a>,\u201d says Brown.<\/p>\n

While interest in bone broth has been increasing, not many people actually<\/em> want to make it at home \u2014 it\u2019s both time-consuming and messy. Taylor Chen and Lya Mojica, of New York City, had been stewing their own bones (and reaping the health benefits of broth) for years. When friends found out, they began asking if they could buy from the pair. Soon, their kitchen endeavors turned into a full-blown broth-selling business, called Bone Deep and Harmony<\/a>. They\u2019ve doubled their number of quarts sold per week since the summer.<\/p>\n

Super Food or Souper Hyped? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you simmer bones, they start to break down, releasing the vitamins and minerals<\/a> stored inside. \u201cThe broth then carries the vitamins and minerals into your body in a way that your body can easily absorb and use,\u201d says Chen. Most people sip on one to three cups of broth a day, according to Chen. You can also cook with it, incorporating it into other recipes like soups or stews.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Butternut Squash Soup Recipe<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHigh-quality ingredients completely change the nutritional content of food. You always want to go organic with something like this.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to Brown, there are a number of nutritional superstars in the warm tonic. Collagen<\/a> is the most abundant protein in animals, comprising our bones, cartilage and connective tissue. \u201cThe collagen in bones breaks down into gelatin, which is great for your skin, bones and immune system<\/a>,\u201d says Brown. \u201cSince our digestive tract is largely made of collagen and gelatin, bone broth can help repair [that area] by restoring the intestinal barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bone broth is also a good source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are important for maintaining healthy connective tissue and cartilage, as well as phosphorus and calcium, the minerals that make up our bones. Increasing our intake of these elements can help improve joint health, according to Brown. Broth made from the bones of pasture-fed animals is also rich in heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids<\/a>, which is said to help reduce inflammation<\/a> in the body.<\/p>\n

To reap the full benefits of bone broth, the quality of the bone is crucial. \u201cHigh-quality ingredients completely change the nutritional content of food,\u201d says Brown. \u201cYou always want to go organic with something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

One recent study<\/a> found that there might be a risk of lead contamination in bone broth. For that reason, Chen recommends bones from grass-fed cattle. \u201cIf an animal eats a diet full of hormones and grains treated with pesticides<\/a>, those chemicals end up in the animal\u2019s bones,\u201d says Chen. \u201cWhen you use those bones to make a broth, you\u2019re taking in that toxicity, too.” Brown also recommends using a cast iron or ceramic pot, not a metal slow cooker, to further reduce the risk of lead leaching into the broth.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re making broth at home, don\u2019t go overboard on salt when seasoning your batch. If you\u2019re buying it at the grocery store, you\u2019ll want to watch for high sodium content and preservatives like MSG, advises Brown.<\/p>\n

To Sip or Not to Sip<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While many sing the praises of bone broth, it\u2019s important to note that there are no scientific studies on its nutritional and health benefits, and most evidence is anecdotal. \u201cIt’s a tricky situation because there’s a lot of confusion about bone broth,\u201d says Kim Hoban<\/a>, R.D. \u201cIt does have components that offer some health benefits,\u201d she says. But the nutritional profile of bone broth can depend on how the broth is prepared: If it\u2019s made at home or store-bought, the type of bone, and how long the bones are cooked. \u201cI\u2019m not sure that drinking it is a better way to get amino acids and nutrients than how we get it from other protein sources<\/a>,\u201d she says. \u201cBut, it\u2019s budget-friendly and probably has some benefits, so why not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Will this trend cool to a simmer over time? Brown doesn\u2019t think so. \u201cThere’s going to be a continued movement even if bone broth is just the base for other foods and recipes<\/a>,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Chen says they are growing their business, and including new products such as chicken and lamb broth. They are also expanding with a new pick-up location in Midtown Manhattan, a delivery service and an e-commerce site.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople want something that\u2019s tried and true and sustainable. There are all sorts of fad diets and most of the time, people are thinking, \u2018How will this make me skinnier?\u2019 It\u2019s a vain pursuit,\u201d says Chen. \u201cPeople are starting to see that what they want is happiness and that comes from a body and mind that works in harmony. Broth is an easy access point.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The latest must-have drink comes from an age-old recipe that even your Grandmother makes. But are the nutritional and healing benefits of bone broth legit or full of steam? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":35455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,7,11],"tags":[31,41,51,71,179,184,345,390],"class_list":["post-35446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diet-nutrition","category-health","category-health-hacks","tag-beverages","tag-diets","tag-food-choices","tag-nutrition","tag-paleo","tag-paleo-diet","tag-tax1conditions","tag-tax2ibs"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35446\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}