The Healing Ingredients of Bone Broth

 

Not all bone broths are the same, in Nutraviva Bone Broth we ensure the extraction of the full nutritional goodness by slowly simmering select bones rich in gelatin gently for between 24 to 48 hours. Most other broths and stock has only been cooked between 2 to 4 hours, under very high temperatures beyond boiling point, in pressure vessels. This excessive heat can denature the medicinal benefit of proteins, minerals and amino acids.

Let’s dive into the science of what makes broth so amazing for our immune system. The key players are collagen (in the form of gelatin), amino acids and minerals that improves the production of cytokines.

Every day our bodies make millions of new blood cells to replace older ones that die. Our bodies make proteins called cytokines to signal the production of immune cells that develop as neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils and basophils. Cytokines are cell signalling molecules that aid cell to cell communication in immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of inflammation, infection and trauma.  

 

Collagen

Collagen tightens and closes wide junctions that contribute to leaky gut. If our junctions are tight in our gut we can prevent our immune system from becoming hypersensitive to any foreign particles. Therefore, the body can remain stress-free and save its energy for pathogens that we really need to fight against. Cartilage found in bone broth activates the white blood cells in the body, particularly the macrophages whose job it is to destroy bacteria, viruses, toxins, and fungi.

 

Amino Acids

Amino acids are abundant in bone broth. There are over 19 amino acids in broth (building blocks of proteins) that our body needs to perform basic, everyday functions.  The most prevalent healing amino acids found in this superfood are proline, glutamine, glycine, and arginine.

Proline is an amino acid that plays a key role in building and maintaining the resilience of hair, skin and nails. It also improves the integrity of our gut lining, making it strong and healthy, thus up-regulating our digestive capacity.

Glutamine is essential for gut health. It promotes the finger-like villi in our intestines to repair and grow, giving us a more useable surface area to absorb ever-important nutrition. For those who suffer from ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, the glutamine in bone broth is an essential component for healing. It significantly impacts our immune system by increasing white blood cell production, stimulating the neutrophils in our body to fight bacteria, and increases macrophages to ingest waste products, which accelerates healing.

Glycine is another amino acid found in bone broth that aids in the cleansing and detoxification of pesticides and heavy metals like mercury, lead and cadmium. This in itself will allow the body to heal and perform tasks easily without being scummed up with waste and metals that block function. Glycine also helps to convert glucose into useable energy and decreases inflammation. When a scientist looked at glycine supplementation it was shown to decrease homocysteine levels which can decrease our risk of cardiovascular disease, premature aging, and cancer. Glycine also stimulates the production of stomach acid which allows us to digest and absorb foods, decreasing the symptoms of gastric reflux.

Arginine is another amino acid that can accelerate wound healing, repair muscle, and relax blood vessels by breaking down nitric oxide, which improves blood flow and artery relaxation, thus decreasing our blood pressure. Arginine production can significantly decrease inflammation and is essential for normal T-cell function, whose job is to scan the body looking for infections and destroy the bacteria or viral infected cells. 

 

Minerals

When our body is stressed and not receiving nutritionally dense foods (i.e. the modern Western style diet), it can become critically deficient of the nutreints needed to maintain a healthy daily living. 

Bone broth is full of electrolytes and minerals, primarily (but not limited to) calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus.  Bone broth is one of the most healing natural foods we can feed our body to support gut health and immunity. 

 

Check out our premium range of Beef Bone Broth powders.

 

Written by Bruno Rossitt, Founding CEO Nutraviva, BEd(PhysEd)