The last time you had a cold or the flu, it’s likely someone suggested that chicken soup might help you feel better. It turns out that there’s a lot of truth in that seemingly old-fashioned idea!
Health Benefits of Bone Broth
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Healing Nutrients
When we’re sick or stressed our bodies are fighting hard, which can cause us to deplete our reserves of key nutrients.
While bone broth can’t eliminate cold and flu viruses, it naturally contains several minerals and other substances—calcium, chondroitin, glucosamine, magnesium, and zinc—that exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory properties to support healing.
These same nutrients may also help relieve symptoms associated with autoimmune disorders like asthma and psoriasis.
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Bone Strength
It goes without saying that bone broth supports bone health. Packed with bone-repairing calcium and magnesium, broths made from animal bones help maintain and replenish the body’s reserves of these important minerals and keep chronic health conditions like osteoporosis at bay.
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Healthy Digestion
During the cooking process, cartilage and connective tissue present in bones are reduced to gelatin, which coats the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.
The collagen in bone broth also supports the lining of the small and large intestines, which may help ease symptoms of “leaky gut” including food intolerances. In addition to the collagen, bone broth contains minerals and protein, all of which help support digestive-tract healing, according to Kellyann Petrucci, MS, ND, the board-certified naturopathic physician who wrote Dr. Kellyann's Bone Broth Diet.
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Hydration
Bone broth's water content keeps you hydrated, says physician associate and culinary medicine specialist Jessica DeLuise, MHS, founder of The Wellness Kitchenista. Staying hydrated when sick helps keep the body functioning properly. Another benefit of the steaming liquid is that it can help ease congestion.
Choosing a Bone Broth
While you can certainly make your own bone broth, if you’re pressed for time, or just not a natural in the kitchen, you might want to buy pre-made bone broth or bone broth powder.
Avoid products that contain MSG or high amounts of sodium.
