In this age of prepackaged, de-boned cuts of supermarket meat, we have forgotten something our ancestors knew for thousands of years: some of the most beneficial nutrients are found in the least-edible-seeming parts of animals—the bones. Slowly cooking bones creates a rich broth full of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that nourish the body and help strengthen bones, improve digestion, boost energy, and even tighten skin.
“It’s been known throughout history and across cultures that broth settles your stomach and also your nerves,” Sally Fallon Morell, author of Nourishing Broth told the New York Times. “When a recipe has that much tradition behind it, I believe the science is there too.”
What’s in bones that’s so beneficial? Lots of good stuff!
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and are even considered the building
blocks of life. They help the body grow, break down food, repair damaged tissue, generate energy, and more. Amino acids are categorized as essential, nonessential, and conditional—meaning those that are not usually essential but become essential in times of sickness. Bone marrow is loaded with these conditional amino acids that help the body heal, including arginine, glycine, proline, and glutamine.
Bone Marrow
Important stem cells are stored in the center of large bones, in the spongy tissue known as bone marrow. In infants, the marrow is all red and works to generate blood cells including red blood cells, which oxygenate the blood; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which help the blood clot. As we age, some of the bone marrow turns yellow and is used to store fat.
Bone marrow is critical to normal bodily function. When bone marrow cells are faulty, as in leukemia or sickle-cell anemia, a bone-marrow transplant may be necessary to get the body working right again. Some nutritionists believe eating bone marrow will stimulate our own healthy production of bone marrow. Whether or not that’s the case, bone marrow is definitely full of beneficial vitamins and very tasty.
Cartilage
Cartilage, the flexible white stuff that holds joints together, is composed mostly of collagen
and elastin proteins. It has been shown to be helpful for osteoarthritis, stimulating the body’s production of cartilage and reducing inflammation. Of course, you don’t have to be arthritic to benefit from cartilage—we could all use more joint strength.
Minerals
Our bodies need minerals to function. They help us grow bones, teeth, and hair. They keep our nerves and muscles working. They help us metabolize the foods that we turn into energy. But on modern diets, many of us are deficient in vital minerals. Bone broth is packed with minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.
And here’s some extra good news: making your own bone broth is cheap and easy. You basically put some bones in a pot of water, add a splash of vinegar and maybe some veggies, and slowly cook until all of the beneficial bits are sucked out of the bones and into the broth. It takes a while, but it’s largely unattended.
Ready to experience the healing power of bone broth for yourself? Check out some of our favorite bone broth recipes here, here, here, and here.
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