Bone broth is the latest health craze, popping up on nearly every store shelf, even finding a place in the supplement aisle sold as bone broth protein powder. While it might seem like a trendy item, bone broth has been around for hundreds of years and is often a staple in culinary kitchens where it is commonly referred to as stock.
However, this may be more than just a craze. The popularity of bone broth can be attributed to its many health benefits, like supporting optimal gut health, the home of nearly the entire immune system! Many illnesses and inflammation can be traced back to the gut, making gut health the foundation for optimal health.
A healthy gut is comprised of a healed gut lining and an optimal balance of beneficial bacteria and fungi. When there are holes in the gut lining, also referred to as “leaky gut”, toxins and undigested foods seep into the system, causing a myriad of health issues, like: auto-immune conditions, inflammation, asthma, and food allergies to name a few. An overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi in the gut, or dysbiosis, can lead to chronic inflammation in the body, a precursor to many more serious illnesses.
Bone broth can help repair the gut lining as the cooking method extracts nutrients from the bones like collagen and L-glutamine, an important nutrient for the cells of the gut lining. Bone broth also helps reduce inflammation which can aid in supporting tired muscles and achy joints. It is also full of countless vitamins and minerals so it is excellent for hydration as well.
Bone broth’s unique and comforting flavor makes it easy to sip on throughout the day or an excellent addition to any recipe that not only adds flavor but gut-healing nutrients as well, helping maintain a strong and healthy immune system.
-Carley Smith, AKA Fairy Gutmother®, is a Nutritional Therapist, Certified GAPS Practitioner, and Registered Yoga Teacher. Carley became interested in health and nutrition after being diagnosed with Lyme disease and using food as medicine emphasizing gut health to help heal. Carley is adamant about promoting the gut health lifestyle as it is more than a diet, rather, a combination of food and environment that play a role in the health of the microbiome. Carley has been a featured guest on The Dr. Oz Show and is a frequent guest for Colorado’s Own Channel 2 News, and the popular iHeart Radio show Modern Eater. Her articles have been published in major worldwide publications including MindBodyGreen, Yoga + Life Magazine, and Paleo Magazine to name a few.
