Bone broth is a nutritious and flavorful beverage that contains collagen, a protein that is made up of essential amino acids for rebuilding bones, connective tissue, and skin. But just because you consume collagen doesn't mean your body will use it to build bones. The best bone broths are rich in gelatin, which is extracted from the collagen found in the connective tissues of joints and bones. Gelatin is an easy to digest protein that supports the health of the intestines, skin, bones, and joints.
It also gives bone broths a silky mouthfeel and a gelled and elastic structure once they cool down. As mentioned, bone broth and collagen have advantages and disadvantages alike. It's important to understand these so you can use them properly. Swanson's chicken bone broth is the top choice in their range. It has significantly more protein than other Swanson varieties, with 8 grams of protein and 35 calories per cup, plus 350 milligrams of sodium.
Tomato paste is also included in the ingredients list to add umami flavor. For a rich bone broth with plenty of nutrition, it's important to use enough bones. If too few are used, the resulting broth will be weak and boring with little nutrition compared to its competitors. To get the most out of the bones, they should be simmered for a long time at low heat. This allows them to fully release their nutrients, giving you a delicious bone broth that is full of collagen, a protein matrix that supports bone, joint, intestinal, and skin health while helping regulate sugar levels in the blood. While there's nothing better than making your own bone broth at home, there are some store-bought brands that use the same techniques and quality ingredients as you would use at home without cutting corners or using cheap additives or flavor enhancers.
Most store-bought bone broths are made from chicken bones which contain only two types of collagen. If you're looking for an easy-to-use product that's low in sodium but still provides all the benefits of bone broth, you may prefer a powdered bone broth supplement such as beef collagen from Vital Proteins. Collagen is the main source of protein found in bones, tendons, and ligaments so drinking bone broth provides amino acids that can help joint health. While there is limited research on the health benefits of bone broth specifically, it is rich in glycine and arginine which have anti-inflammatory properties. Dozens of packaged commercially prepared bone broths are available at health food stores and online. Freshly frozen broth has a rich flavor and excellent nutrition without concentrates, preservatives or shortcuts and is gluten-free or dairy-free. Bone broth powder is also a great option if you prefer a lighter beverage but want abundant flavor and nutrition.
If you drink bone broth daily it may be cheaper to buy it in bulk and store it in the pantry or freezer. What makes bone broth protein so different from a typical collagen supplement is that it contains a family of compounds known as glycosaminoglycans including glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid. Ask any wellness expert and they'll tell you that people can't consume enough bone broth and collagen supplements right now. USDA's gluten-free organic broth is made from free-range chicken bones so you know you're getting the highest quality nutrition.
