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Once a traditional staple ingredient, bone broth has attracted recent popularity among health-conscious enthusiasts, celebrities and the media. In this blog post, we will dive deep into the essence of bone broth, and its potential health benefits, and provide our nutritionist-approved recommendations.
What is bone broth and what does it do to you?
Bone broth is a nutrient-dense liquid made from slow-simmering animal bones and connective tissue. The slow-simmering process extracts amino acids, essential minerals, collagen and other healing compounds from the bones which may provide multiple health benefits.
Bone broth is a gut-friendly beverage that contains easily absorbable amino acids and minerals to help rebuild and support the cells of the digestive tract, thereby improving digestion and nutrient absorption. Additionally, bone broth boasts an abundance of collagen and gelatin, two vital proteins known to support joint mobility and health. Scientific research has also reported the benefits of collagen in bone broth for promoting skin elasticity, hydration and strength.
Whether you're looking to soothe a sensitive gut, improve joint mobility or seek an additional health boost, bone broth can be a fantastic addition to your pantry.
Is it healthy to drink bone broth every day?
Bone broth can be a healthy addition to a well-balanced diet, and drinking 1-2 cups of bone broth per day can improve one's hydration status and overall nutrient intake. Other delicious ways to use bone broth include adding it as a base for soups and stews, cooking grains, sautéing vegetables and using them in marinades or sauces.
What is the downside of bone broth?
It's unlikely that consuming bone broth will cause harm when consumed as part of a wholefood diet. Animal bones are a rich source of essential minerals, and although some bones may contain trace amounts of lead and other toxic metals, scientific research has indicated that these levels are too minimal to pose a health risk. To further mitigate risk, we recommend choosing brands that test their products for heavy metals and adhere to strict food standards.
However, some individuals with histamine intolerance or sensitivity may react to bone broth as bone broth is a high-histamine food. Histamine intolerance is a food intolerance where individuals react adversely to histamine. For any health concerns, it's always best to consult a qualified nutritionist, dietitian or naturopath.
Does drinking bone broth work?
Drinking bone broth is beneficial for most individuals, but it's important to note that the effectiveness of bone broth will vary depending on the individual's health status and goals. Bone broth is a highly nutritious source of essential nutrients such as gelatin, amino acids and collagen that can benefit one's overall health. Like all healthy foods, we recommend incorporating these regularly into your diet to reap the most benefits.
What type of bone broth is the healthiest? Does it matter what bone broth you buy?
Different brands and products of bone broth will vary in quality and nutritional value. At GoodnessMe, we've taken the guesswork out of choosing the healthiest bone broth brands for you. Using our Real Food Code, we've ensured that all the products in our shop meet our strict nutritionist-approved criteria.
We know that ingredients matter and we range of brands that use high-quality ingredients, including organic, grass-fed and finished animal bones whilst keeping additives to a minimum. We prefer bones cooked using the traditional method- a long and slow simmer. This slow simmer extracts health-promoting compounds found in the bones and prevents nutrient degradation from high-heat processing.
Good Bones contain simple, real-food ingredients including certified organic beef bones, vegetables and herbs. For those looking for an even shorter ingredient list, Bone broth body glue natural is made from just two ingredients - Australian grass-fed beef bones and naturally evaporated sea salt, making it an ideal gut-loving product for those with sensitive tummies. Additionally, for those following a keto or low-FODMAP diet, the Stock Merchant's beef broth provides a suitable option to meet your dietary requirements.
For those looking for natural cold and flu support, we recommend Gevity's Immuno Tonic which is their special edition bone broth specially made to support the immune system. Their collagen-rich bone broth is infused with 23 immune-boosting ingredients to create the ultimate immunity tonic.
Explore another immunity-supporting broth with Nutra Organics' Beef Hearty Original Beef Broth, a nourishing and enriching broth that contains over 40% skin-loving collagen and immunity-supporting zinc. The beef broth concentrate undergoes strict processing to maximise the nutrients and undergoes strict food standards to test for heavy metals to guarantee top quality.
Finally, for health-conscious foodies, Nutra Organics' Natural Beef Concentrate is a delightful choice. Whether you're looking to boost the nutritional value of your meals or add an extra taste dimension, Nutra Organics' Natural Beef Concentrate is an excellent companion for culinary exploration.
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Difference between chicken VS beef broth
Chicken and beef broth are two popular varieties of bone broths that offer unique flavours, nutrient profiles, and culinary preferences. Chicken broth, derived from chicken bones boasts a milder flavour than beef broth making it a versatile addition to a range of dishes. Beef broth has a deeper flavour profile and adds a hearty depth to meals. Nutrition-wise, beef broth contains more of the amino acid hydroxylysine whilst chicken broth contains more proline but both are great sources of nourishment.
We recommend the Stock Merchant's chicken broth which is prepared using a traditional cooking method, simmering free-range chickens for 24 hours to extract a pure broth suitable for keto and paleo diets.
For busy bees seeking convenience without compromising on quality nutrition, Good Bones offers 100% certified organic chicken broth. Their ready-to-heat broth allows time-poor individuals to experience the goodness of the bone broth hassle-free.
Finally, Nutra Organics' chicken broth promises exceptional nutrition by enriching its product with essential vitamins and minerals, including immunity-supporting zinc and energising B vitamins. The convenience of their organic homestyle chicken broth is ready in seconds and offers the same delectable taste and nutritional value as homemade.
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Difference between broth VS stock
Broths and stocks may appear similar and are often used interchangeably in recipes but are distinct in their cooking times, texture and ingredients. Broths are liquids created by simmering animal meat or vegetables for a short duration, usually a few hours or less. Stocks are liquids derived from collagen and gelatin-rich bones simmered over long periods, resulting in a deep-flavoured and thicker liquid. Thus, technically speaking, bone broth is a type of stock since it is made from bones and undergoes a prolonged simmering process to extract maximum nutrients.
The quality of stocks matters, and similar to the bone broths available on the market, they vary in terms of quality and nutritional value. Some supermarket brands contain unnecessary additives such as flavour enhancers, food colours and sugar.
However, The Broth Sisters' Asian vegetable stock stands apart from the stock standard brands by being free from nasty additives. Packed with 10 different vegetables and herbs, their stock offers a flavour and healthy boost to meals.
Mrs. Rogers believes that freshly packed, high-quality herbs are the wholesome means to improve the flavour and taste of your meals. Their organic vegetable stock is packaged in an eco-friendly recycled box to ensure that the captivating flavours of the herbs and spices remain preserved to keep them, fresher, for longer.
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Bone broth offers a range of potential health benefits due to its rich nutrient profile and collagen content. It may support joint health, gut health, and immune function. Incorporating bone broth into a balanced diet may be a nutritious addition, but it should not be relied upon as a cure-all solution.