What’s All the Hype About Bone Broth?

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Chances are you’ve heard about bone broth and its many benefits. Recipes, articles, and even cookbooks have been popping up to celebrate what looks like a new (and at the same time very old) miracle tonic. With sports stars like Kobe Bryant singing its praises, it’s easy to get caught up in all the bone broth hype. But is there any truth behind all of these reported bone broth benefits?

First of all you may be wondering; what is bone broth, anyway? Explained very basically, bone broth is a type of stock made from bones which have been boiled for a few hours, usually with other flavorings such as salt and pepper and onions or carrots. Technically, bone broth can be made from any bones, but it’s generally thought that using the bones from healthy, organically-reared animals is better.

While bone broth might seem like the trendiest superfood trend out there, it’s actually far from anything new. (Related: Here’s how to make these superfoods even healthier.) Bone broth has been purported to have be around for a very long time. Sally Fallon Morell, co-author of the book Nourishing Broth, stated that the use of bone broth actually goes all the way back to Stone Age cooking, and it’s even been suggested that Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, prescribed bone broth for patients experiencing joint pain.

What are the benefits of bone broth?

Bone broth has been purported to have many health benefits. It is rich in phosphorous, magnesium, and calcium, so it is great for promoting healthy teeth and bones, and is also said to have immune-system boosting properties. Bone broth is high in collagen, so it is also believed to promote healthy joints, skin, and hair. It’s even been reported to help improve the appearance of cellulite as its high collagen content helps to smooth connective tissues and reduce the appearance of ‘orange peel’ skin, although more research needs to be done on this topic.

Another of the many bone broth benefits is the fact that you can make it at home easily. Home-made bone broth is different from the prepackaged broth and stock you can buy at the grocery store, because it’s lower in sodium and is packed full of nutrients. So if you want to incorporate this nutrient-rich liquid into your diet, simply roast healthy animal bones (you can use organic poultry, beef, or fish) and then boil together with herbs and spices to make a stock. Simmer the broth for a few hours in order to give enough time for the bones to break down and release all the nutrient-rich goodness, then enjoy!