Over 2000 years ago Hippocrates stated that all disease begins in the gut. Today’s research confirms that optimal health requires a healthy gut. Many autoimmune, metabolic, and cognitive diseases do start with imbalances and disturbances within the gut microbiome. Your immune system, endocrine system, heart, and brain require good gut health for proper function.
Sometimes disturbances in the gut cause symptoms such as brain fog, depression, poor memory, anxiety, poor concentration, fatigue, or even skin conditions. That means you can have tummy trouble without tummy symptoms.
One easy tip for better gut health is to simply add bone broth to your diet a few times a week. At some point in your life, you’ve heard about the healing benefits of chicken broth – or chicken soup. It’s not a myth and it’s not limited to chicken broth. Today you’re going to learn why I recommend bone broth for maintaining or improving your gut health as well as your joints, skin, and detox system.
First, let me answer the most commonly asked question which is: What’s the difference between broth and stock? They’re both good for you. Broth is made from simmering the bones (chicken, beef, fish) with the meat still on them. Stock is made only from the bones and cooked longer. Make sure to choose organic, from grass-fed beef or free-range chickens. Many people think the broth tastes better than the stock.
Five ways bone broth is good for you:
- Bone broth promotes good gut health by strengthening the lining of the GI tract. If you have or want to prevent leaky gut, bone broth is your best friend. It also helps promote the proliferation of a variety of good gut bacteria which is a must for a healthy gut. It even helps fight food allergies like wheat and dairy.
- Bone broth helps protect your joints. Here’s an example: A few years ago, my dad called to talk with me about the pain he was having in his finger joints. Knowing my dad as I do, the first step is to help him get a quick result. I told him to buy plain Knox gelatin packets at the grocery store, mix in water, drink it down each day and call me in a week : ). His pain went away. That’s because the gelatin is made from collagen obtained from animal bones and collagen is good for your joints. I have since switched him to organic collagen powder. It’s been 3 years and it’s still working – he uses it about 3 times a week, more if needed. Why didn’t I recommend bone broth? Because my dad isn’t going to drink bone broth. It would be better for him, but he’s not going to do it. Supplemental collagen is the next best thing.
- Bone broth may improve the appearance of your skin. So will drinking a lot of water, I recommend both. The collagen in the broth helps form elastin and other compounds that diminish with age.
- Bone broth supports the immune system. If it helps heal your gut, it’s going to support your immune system because most of your immune system is located in your gut. Remember, everything is connected.
- Bone broth helps detoxification. Your body has a great system for detoxifying itself, but today’s environment is far more toxic than that of our ancestors. Bone broth promotes the liver’s ability to remove toxins and helps move waste through the proper channels.
The second most frequently asked question when I recommend bone broth is – Can’t I just take the supplement?
You can, but it’s always better to get as much nutrition as possible from actual food. I recommend using organic bone broth (you can get it at the grocery store or Costco). Warm it and sip ½ cup or more a few times a week. I like it with lunch or dinner. Also, use it to make nourishing soups and stews.
However, if you’re like my dad and you just aren’t going to add bone broth to your diet but want the benefits, then get a good supplement. He’s using Vital Proteins Pasture-Raised, Grass-fed, Collagen Peptides. You can get it on Amazon, but I don’t let my dad buy it there and would caution you as well. Instead, if you’re one of my email subscribers, you can set up a ,,FullScript account for safe access to many high-quality brands. It’s the service all my clients use. If you aren’t on my email list, ,you can sign up for it here.
Remember, bone broth is easy, it tastes good and it’s good for your gut. Anything good for your gut is good for the rest of your body. Choose real foods and ditch the sugars, processed foods, and fast foods. Your gut and your brain will thank you.