I used to whine when I saw cloudy bone broth waiting for me at the dining table. Without neither salt or pepper added, my oma (my gran) always knew what was best.
When I was a child, my unrefined palette thought bone broth tasted funny. I thought my oma had lost her marbles making us drink this tasteless fatty water.
I was too young to appreciate the practice.
I was too naive to understand it’s value.
But now that I am grown—with collagen and bone broth on my health radar— I realize, it was always a cup made with love; generations of wisdom passed on through every gulp.
Today, as I cut into a bag of organic bone broth, bought from the store, the effort that went into making every drop of homemade bone broth is not lost on me.
Recently, I’ve made bone broth my daily ritual with a dash of olive oil, salt, and pepper—moral of the story: oma was always right.
Side note: I am also championing the habit of a savory breakfasts to keep our blood sugar behaving and energy levels sustained throughout the day.
What were some of the health habits your grandma tried to instill in you which you might have took for granted? I’d love to know.
Why bone broth?
#1 Gut health
Glutamine cozies up to your digestive tract to help protect your gut lining. With amino acids (glutamine, glycine, proline, histidine, arginine) and minerals (Ca, P, K, Mg, Zn) bone broth enhances gut health by fortifying the intestinal barrier and it’s function, while also alleviating inflammation. It also promotes nutrient absorption.
#2 Brain health
Contains glycine, which helps neurotransmitters function better to promote brain development. In a study, adults consuming glycine also showed “lessened daytime sleepiness and improved performance of memory recognition tasks.”
#3 Immune support
The nutrients found in bone broth are essential for maintaining gut integrity and supporting the formation and function of immune cells produced in the bone marrow.
#4 Joint health
Provides collagen and amino acids that support joint health and cartilage repair.
#5 Skin health
70% of skin is collagen; bone broth, helps to maintain skin elasticity and hydration to promote youthful, healthy skin, and recovery from damage.
#6 Natural sleep aid
Some studies on glycine suggest that the amino acid promotes relaxation which will help with sleep quality, especially when consumed closer to bedtime.
The variables that complicates things:
Nutrient density is hard to measure, especially when you consider the variety of ways bone broth can be made. From the quality and specific areas of the bones, to the salt content, to the other ingredients added, all of these differences will impact the nutrient density of the bone broth.
Nutrient absorption is highly subjective. Even if you’re drinking “liquid gold”—the finest quality of bone broth— the nutrients and minerals your body absorbs is highly dependent on your body’s condition at the moment of drinking.
Not enough peer-reviewed scientific studies that directly prove the claims made online about bone broth. Some of the studies used to support the magic of bone broth were done on isolated ingredients.
Either way, nutrition is hardly ever a precise science.
Even in controlled environments, our bodies are unique and constantly changing. Nature itself is a variable—no two apples have the same exact calorie count, and neither will it ever be absorbed the same in two different bodies.
No matter how convincing the claims, there’s never one magic superfood that’ll solve all health problems because that’s not how our bodies neither nature works.
Bodies aren’t only unique between individuals—each person’s condition fluctuates throughout different seasons of life. Whether you’re sleeping well, eating properly, or managing stress, every shift impacts how your body absorbs nutrients and responds to stimuli.
Health reflect the collective compound of what you do most days, not only the temporary concentrated efforts of healthy living.
Like your mood, your body can behave like a happy toddler or throw tantrums—it all depends on how well you’ve been treating it.
While our brains crave concrete predictability, nutrition and wellness remain beautifully, and frustratingly imprecise—because that’s exactly how nature is.
What are some of your daily habits to keep yourself healthy?
Further reading, if you’re interested:
How to Make Bone Broth, Plus Health Benefits | Healthline
“Is bone broth really ‘liquid miracle’? Here’s what science says., by Stacey Colino | National Geographic
Bone Broth Benefits: How it’s nutrients fortify gut barrier in health and disease | National Library of Medicine
Analysis of the Anti-Inflammatory Capacity of Bone Broth in a Murine Model of Ulcerative Colitis | National Library of Medicine