What is broth?

Broth is a liquid food preparation consisting of water in which bone, meat, fish, grains or vegetables have been boiled. Broth can be eaten on its own or with garnish.

Broth can be prepared in the kitchen when it is needed for use or its commercially prepared forms can be purchased. Commercially prepared broths are available for chicken broth, beef broth, and vegetable broth. Use of commercially prepared broths enables one to save time when cooking.

Broth is used as a basis for other liquid foods like soup, sauce, and gravy. It has been made for many years. In making the traditional bone broth, animal bones with meat or without meat are boiled in a cooking pot for a long period to extract flavor and nutrients from them. Gelatin is produced from collagen-rich joints when the bones are boiled for a long period. Minerals are also extracted from the bones when they are boiled for long. Bones may be roasted before boiling in order to give the broth a better flavor.

Benefits of broth

Drinking broth, especially bone broth, has the following benefits:

Healing properties

Bone broth helps one to recover more quickly from illnesses. Broth made from boiling chicken bones is in particular helpful in the case of colds and flu. Chicken contains cysteine, this is a natural amino acid which helps in thinning the mucus in the lungs thereby making it less sticky and easier to expel. Chicken soup also prevent the migration of neutrophils thereby lessening the symptoms of colds and flu. Freshly made chicken broth works best against colds and flu.

Healthy gut and digestion

Broth is easily digestible and in addition, it helps to heal the lining of the intestinal tract. Bone broth contains gelatin which is a hydrophilic colloid. It attracts and holds liquids, including digestive juices, consequently promoting proper digestion of food. Bone broth also contains glycine which supports digestion and promotes secretion of gastric juices.

Anti-inflammatory properties

Bone broth helps to fight inflammation. The amino acids in bone broth namely glycine, proline, and arginine have anti-inflammatory properties. Arginine in particular is helpful in curing sepsis, a condition which involves inflammation of the entire body.

Healthy bones

Broth is good for the bones, it helps to keep them strong and healthy. Bone broth contains high amounts of magnesium and calcium, these minerals are useful in the formation of healthy bones. Bone broth also contains other minerals like phosphorus and glucosamine which are good for the bones.

Healthy skin

Bone broth is good for the skin. The gelatin that is found in bone broth supports skin health. Proline contained in bone broth also supports the development of healthy skin. Proline plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen. Collagen in turn helps to support the skin, keeping it tight and healthy. Drinking bone broth can improve the elasticity of one’s skin.

Boosts mineral intake

Drinking bone broth increases the intake of bio-available minerals. Bone broth is very rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, silicon and sulfur. Drinking bone broth therefore increases one’s uptake of these minerals. Minerals are increasingly becoming unavailable in diets due to soil degradation and loss of important minerals. Bone broth is therefore a useful source of the minerals which are less available in diets.

Reduces joint pains

Bone broth helps to reduce joint pains. It contains broken down material from cartilage and tendon which help to reduce joint pains. These materials include chondroitin sulfates and glucosamine.

Healthy hair growth

The gelatin contained in bone broth helps to promote healthy hair growth.