What is bone broth? Bone broth is derived from simmering animal or fish cartilage, tendons, and bones for hours at a time. It is widely used in many cultures around the world to aid in restoring or strengthening overall health. One particular health benefit of bone broth is its role in gut health. At Functional Medicine Los Angeles, we emphasize the importance of gut health for overall wellness.
The Importance of a Healthy Gut
It is becoming more evident now that a healthy gut is essential to overall health. Signs of a healthy gut include healthy stools, regularity, abundance of energy, and healthy skin tone. Likewise, poor gut health will lead to a lack of nutrient absorption, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, bad breath, and blotchy, uneven skin.
What you might not realize is that gut health can also affect your mental and behavioral health, from making stress and anxiety worse to leading to brain fog, poor memory, lack of focus and concentration, and low energy. This is why it is so important to find way to improve your gut like with bone broth.
1. Bone Broth is Rich in Nutrients and Minerals
Bones contain a number of minerals including zinc, calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. In addition to minerals, bone broth also contains collagen, gelatin, glycine, and seventeen different types of amino acids. When simmered at low heat for a lengthened amount of time, these nutrients seep into the water and create “liquid gold.” functional medicine Sherman Oaks provides comprehensive strategies to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption.
2. Protective and Anti-inflammatory Properties
The amino acids, gelatin, glycine, and nutrients in bone broth help to strengthen the mucus layer and intestinal barrier within the gut while also altering the gut microbiota composition. Furthermore, these nutrients aid in reducing inflammation. No wonder many people and cultures around the world eat bone broth when they are ill! For those seeking natural ways to reduce inflammation, functional medicine Santa Monica offers holistic approaches to healing.
3. Aids in Digestion
While rich in nutrients and minerals, bone broth can also do wonders for digestion. As mentioned above, this liquid gold assists in altering the gut microbiota; a strong, diverse gut microbiota is essential to break down food byproducts for proper absorption. Furthermore, the broth itself helps to hydrate the body, thus, promoting better digestion for healthy, regular stools. Drinking bone broth is great but adding vegetables and herbs to the bone broth is even better as this will increase nutrient content and further aid in digestion.
Ultimately, bone broth has many beneficial components including an abundance of nutrients, minerals, and amino acids. Such nutrients aid in protecting the gut, providing anti-inflammatory properties, and overall, promoting better digestion.