Bone Broth Benefits and How to Make it at Home

By Susan Dickson

Bone Broth Benefits and How to Make it at Home thegearhunt.com

When we first heard of bone broth, we have to admit that the thought wasn’t an appealing one. Plus, we always thought that chicken broth was made out of chicken bones anyway, isn’t it? Evidently, that’s not the case and bone broth not only has a whole lot more benefits than just making chicken soup to feed to someone with a cold, but it’s a little bit harder to make as well. Not much harder, and certainly better than the almost six dollars a quart we found it to be when we decided to try it from the local grocery store in the area. Much better to make it from scratch at home. But first, we wanted to know what the health benefits were of bone broth as opposed to the traditional chicken soup our grandmothers swore by when we were growing up. What we found out might surprise you. Bone broth is simple and is a way of going back to basics for many of the health benefits that people today find somewhere else, not only at a higher price but with a ton of chemicals and additives added in as well. Who wants to give their family stuff like that, especially when what you’re trying to do is actually keep them healthy?

That’s why in this blog, we’re going to go into the many, many health benefits of bone broth, and any side effects that have been reported that we found, and then go into a little bit on how you can make it from scratch at home, (don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as you might think.) So, if you’re ready to find out the benefits and how to make bone broth at home, grab your spoon and your big stew pot and let’s get started so that we can learn all of this together. What do you say?

What is Bone Broth?

By definition, bone broth is a liquid that contains connective tissue and brewed bones. The thing that surprised us is that it can be made from not only chicken bones but from cow, and even fish bones as well. A word of caution here, you need to be careful when using fish bones, as they are a very real choking hazard if swallowed. So, that’s what bone broth is, but what are the health benefits of making and drinking it at home and is it flavorful as well? Let’s move forward to find out.

Top Benefits of Bone Broth Revealed

So. as we said before bone broth takes you back to a simpler time and it’s not that hard to make, and even if it was the health benefits make it worth the time it takes to whip up a batch for you and your family. Let’s go into a few of those benefits below.

Chicken

It’s Extremely Nutritious

Since bones themselves are packed with calcium, vitamins, nutrients and many other things that do the body well, it stands to reason that bone broth would be packed with these as well, and highly nutritious. Connective tissue contains many of these same things as well, so making a broth out of all of it, ends up being very good for you. However, it does depend on the type and quality of the connective tissue and bones you use, as to how high the nutritional value is, so you need to choose carefully. A few of the nutrients that bone marrow is high in are included below for your perusal.

Vitamin A

Vitamin K
Fatty acids
Iron

Selenium
Zinc
And Magnesium

Your body needs all of these nutrients to be fit and healthy, and this way you can get them all in one place.

It Boosts Your Immunity

Bone broth is full of amino acids, which aids in boosting your immunity and strengthening your immune system. What many people don’t know is that a variety of health conditions are caused by a low immune system. So, if your immunity is compromised, it stands to reason that you will get sick easier. A good bone broth can help you boost your immune system, something all of us need at one time or another, especially during cold and flu season.

It can Heal Your Leaky Gut

Collagen and gelatin can be found in bone broth, which are proteins that aid with healing digestion problems and leaky guts. If you have leaky gut syndrome or a sensitivity to certain foods, then it is possible that drinking bone broth will help you.

Reduces the Symptoms of the Common Cold and Bronchitis

There are solid scientific reasons behind the old wives’ tale that chicken soup is good for the soul and helps to relieve the symptoms of the cold and flu. Bone broth, also known as a form of chicken soup, helps to alleviate colds by opening respiratory airways, clearing out mucous, and being easy to digest. So, everything you heard from your granny about chicken soup is good for what ails you is true.

Helps to Fight Inflammation

Bone broth is also said to be good for fighting inflammation, making it a good broth to drink for those who have an infection or even suffer from joint problems such as arthritis. It is also said that one of the reasons chicken soup works so well for the common cold and flu is that the broth has anti-inflammatory properties.

Strengthens Bones and Teeth

Not only does a cup of bone broth take care of the above, but it is also said to be able to strengthen the bones and teeth as well. So, bone broth when combined with a good diet of the right kinds of veggies and fruits can help you keep that smile you love and strengthen your bones at the same time.

Helps to Promote Weight Loss

One of the biggest things to recommend bone broth for many people is the fact that it promotes weight loss. There are many different theories out there as to why this works well, from the bone broth eating away bacteria that causes weight gain to the fact that drinking it right before a meal fills you up and cuts down on the calories you consume. No matter, what the reason, it has been proven to help with weight loss and that is all some of us need to know to give it a try. How about you?

Is Said to Improve Hydration

Bone broth is said to add electrolytes and carbohydrates back to your body, especially when it is made out of veggies. In fact, many studies have shown that drinking bone broth can actually hydrate you faster and better than drinking water alone can. This isn’t to say that you need to stop drinking water and just drink bone broth to hydrate. Water is still important for your health and fitness to continue to be good.

Is Said to be Able to Improve Your Mood

It’s important to note that your diet affects the bacteria in your gut and, of course, that affects your brain and how you feel, meaning that if you’re sick, you’re not going to be in a good mood. Since bone broth is said to have a host of health benefits, it stands to reason that drinking it is going to improve your mood, wouldn’t you think?

We have talked about a few of the top benefits of bone broth here in detail. Below, we will add a list of additional benefits that you might want to check into to make sure that bone broth is the right choice for you.

Other Bone Broth Benefits to Consider

Healthier, stronger nails
Anti-tumor
Anti-aging

Helps relieve the pain of arthritis and joint problems
Helps improve sleep
Helps control certain kinds of bleeding

Helps to regulate and normalize stomach acids
Is said to help protect cells
Helps to build muscle

Helps to promote exercise

The reality is that bone broth seems to be good for a lot of things. However, as with anything else in the world, it comes with its own set of side effects. We will list a few of those below as well.

Side Effects of Bone Broth

Could be contaminated with lead

Could cause seizures
Has been reported to cause brain fog
Could contain harmful additives

It’s not vegan-friendly
It’s not vegetarian-friendly either

These are a few of the side effects and possible effects of drinking bone broth that has been reported by frequent drinkers. However, that doesn’t mean you will have the same side effects. The best thing to do is do your research before you decide if this is the best course of action for you.

This sums up our sections on bone broth benefits and side effects. Now, we will move into the section on what you need to know to make this healthy broth at home in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Tips for Making Your Own Bone Broth

As previously stated, bone broth is not cheap if you purchase it at your local market. It’s easier and cheaper to make it yourself. Below we will go into a few of the things you need to know about making your own bone broth.

Best Places to Get the Bones for Your Broth

First, you need to know the best places to source the bones you need to whip up a healthy broth. Those places are listed below.

Save the bones from when you cook a chicken, turkey, duck or goose to use for your bone broth
Buy them from your local butcher

At your local farmer’s market for from a farmer that raises grass-fed animals
There are some companies online that sell bones for bone broth as well, just be sure to do your research, so you know they are reputable and selling only the best quality bones.
If you raise chickens, use the bones after butchering

Once you have the right bones for your bone broth, then you will want to follow the tips below for the healthiest and tastiest batch possible. The best way to ensure you’re doing it the right way is by avoiding the mistakes listed below.

Chicken Bone Broth Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t skip the blanching step of the process. This removes all of the impurities from the bones and is an essential step if you want it to taste good.

Don’t skip roasting the bones. This steps browns and caramelizes the bones, which gives the broth that great, flavorful taste when it is done.

Don’t add a bunch of extras to the broth. It’s great on its own with just a few additions, such as salt, pepper, garlic, and a few onions. You can add a few carrots to the mix, however, as they add a sweetness that enhances the flavor.

Never use a small stockpot to cook down the bones. You don’t want the bones to be floating in a sea of water, but you want to be able to put enough that they are covered and allowed to simmer into the flavorful broth you’re looking for.

Not letting the bone broth simmer long enough is one of the main reasons that yours might not be tasting as great as you would like. The longer you simmer the better it is, and the smell is amazing as well.

The fact is that bone broth can carry you back to the very basics of life when things were simple, and foods were all-natural. Try it and see how it works out for you and your family.

This concludes our blog on the benefits of bone broth and how to make it at home. Until next time, happy sipping, everyone.