You've heard the hype around bone broth for a while now. There is so much information out there telling you that it's THE best way to improve your gut health and contributes to your overall well being. You've even heard it can improve the look of your skin.
But if you're someone who is very particular about what you put into your body and who really wants to know all the facts before you jump on board, then we have what you're looking for.
Sure, you know bone broth is excellent for you, but we're here to tell you exactly why that is. So, put on your lab coat and let's get scientific on our dive into the nutritional profile of bone broth!
The Components of Bone Broth
Collagen
Collagen is a protein which, when cooked, transforms into gelatin. Gelatin yields several amino acids that are of high importance to the health of your body - glutamine, proline, glycine, and arginine.
Glutamine
Glutamine is a potent amino acid that is very involved in maintaining the function of your gut wall. It helps protect and heal the mucosal lining of your digestive tract, and can even prevent and heal leaky gut. This is important because leaky gut syndrome is when the barrier between gut and bloodstream is compromised. That means that toxic, harmful substances can leave your gut and get into your bloodstream. When this happens, the results lead to inflammation and several other, more severe conditions1.
Drinking bone broth is ideal for people with digestive issues such as leaky gut, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Crohn’s Disease.
Proline, Glycine, & Arginine
Proline and glycine both help your body in building connective tissues like tendons and ligaments which connect muscle to bone, and bone to bone. Glycine and Arginine are also powerful anti-inflammatory agents which contribute to gut health and overall health. Glycine works together with glutamine to suppress the inflammatory hormones known as IL-6 and TNF-a2. They also help suppress the activity of free radicals which can cause significant damage to the structure of your cells.
Argine especially helps fight chronic inflammation that leads to inflammatory diseases like diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, arthritis, and severe cancers.
In addition, Glycine can help improve your sleep hygiene because it encourages natural relaxation3. Glycine supplements have even helped individuals:
- Fall asleep faster
- Maintain deep sleep
- Wake up fewer times during the night
Studies show that glycine also helps reduce daytime sleepiness and improves memory and mental function4. Consistent, good quality sleep helps soothe digestive ailments and decreases the chances of developing chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease.
Skin Health
Collagen is a hot topic when it comes to the aging (or anti-aging, rather) of skin. The proline derived from collagen in combination with hyaluronic acid (also naturally present in bone broth) are two major league players when it comes to reducing the effects of skin aging5. Not to mention the suppression of free radical activity that we mentioned earlier working to protect the health of your cells, keeping them fresh and strong.
Cartilage
The collagen found in bone broth is derived from the bones, tendons, and ligaments of the animal. This is why, as we learned earlier, the amino acids that come from reducing the collagen help build your own connective tissues into a strong musculoskeletal system.
But it's within the cartilage - the soft bone tissue on the surfaces of joints in the body - where we extract the nutrients we need for healthy joints. Cartilage is what fortifies your bones at the joints and gives them the ability to resist pressure.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are both natural compounds found in cartilage. As part of the makeup of bone broth, they are the very same components found in your own body. They work to support the strength and function of the bones and tissues around your joints. Both of these compounds help decrease joint pain and lessen osteoarthritis symptoms6.
The Best Bone Broth
Now that you know more about how bone broth nourishes your body, it's time to analyze the best option for your health needs based on the goals you envision for your body.
It’s difficult to get an accurate measurement of each nutrient in a serving of bone broth because there are a number of factors involved such as:
- Which animal the bones came from
- How long each batch is cooked
- The component used to extract the nutrients
- How much bone/connective tissues are included in the recipe
The Difference in OWL Broth Elixirs
So, what sets our Broth Elixirs apart from the rest? Several reasons.
First, we are very conscious of where we get our bones. Only the best make it into our recipe. Free-range and cage-free farming practices guarantee that the animal lived a healthy, happy life. The animal more than likely experienced very little stress and anxiety, meaning it was able to absorb maximum nutrients.
Second, we use only grass-fed and finished animal bones which means that the animals ate plenty of nutrient dense food. This will transfer into the broth itself when these nutrients are extracted from the bones. That’s why we source our bones from local farms with ethical and sustainable farming practices.
Third, each batch is simmered in apple cider vinegar (and in small batches) for over 24 hours. That’s how we assure the most nutrients are extracted from each component in the recipe.
Additionally, we infuse our Elixirs with medicinal herbs, roots, and veggies such as:
- Lavender
- Cilantro
- Sage
- Thyme
- Turmeric
- Fennel
- Swiss chard
- Carrots
- Celery
- & Ginger
Each of these contributes to your health in multiple ways, either through adding to the vitamin and mineral content, anti-inflammatory properties, antiviral and antibacterial properties, digestive support, immune support, or gut soothing abilities. What’s better is that these additions replace the gamey, meaty flavor of most broths with an herbal, sippable, tea-like quality.
And finally, our Elixirs are free of common allergens such as onion and garlic. These ingredients can actually aggravate digestive issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. There are no upset stomachs after enjoying a mug of OWL Broth Elixir.
The Difference Is How You Feel
Nourishing your body while also healing it is the most beautiful gift you can give yourself. The results include better brain function, more energy, and a happier gut. A happy gut means a healthier life made specifically for you.
Sources:
- Leaky gut: mechanisms, measurement and clinical implications in humans - PubMed (nih.gov)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25156668/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2006.00193.x
- Glycine ingestion improves subjective sleep quality in human volunteers, correlating with polysomnographic changes - YAMADERA - 2007 - Sleep and Biological Rhythms - Wiley Online Library
- The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials - PubMed (nih.gov)
- Effects of glucosamine in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC (nih.gov)
Julie Weller
Julie is a self-made writer on a forever journey of fitness and health. As a high school music teacher, she has seen and experienced the challenges of maintaining good health while simultaneously balancing a career and healthy relationships.
Julie has always lived a healthy and active lifestyle. She loves the outdoors, hiking, and camping. Over the years she has continued to learn smarter and better ways to take care of her body while continuing to do the things that make her smile. Naturally, all of her teacher friends wanted to know how she did it - what was her secret?
Julie found herself explaining over and over everything she'd learned in her research, and sharing her experiences through trial and error. Her friends would take her advice, try some new things, and then come back to ask how to take it to the next level.
"You should charge for this kind of information!" Became a constant phrase, and so began her career of writing to share her knowledge with the world through health and wellness companies looking to spread healing and healthy habits within their communities. Now Julie gets to combine two of the things she enjoys most - writing and wellness - and use them to affect change in a real way.
When not making music with her kiddos, or writing wellness tips for a higher quality of life, you can find her reading, hiking, drumming, and fitnessing