Here's Why You Should Start Drinking More Bone Broth

It isn't often that soup is trendy, but look at any health or fitness forum and you're bound to come across someone singing the praises of bone broth. A go-to staple of the paleo diet, you might know it better as soup base or stock (via Health). Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones and connective tissue with vinegar and seasonings for up to twenty-four hours.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, there isn't a lot of research or evidence to back up the purported health benefits of bone broth. However, the anecdotal evidence is fairly compelling. People credit bone broth with all sorts of miraculous benefits. It's said to be good for your bones, skin, immune system, and gut health. But how much of that is true?

Even without strong scientific support for specific outcomes, the benefits of bone broth are baked — or boiled — right in. The soup contains amino acids and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet (via Health).

Several benefits to bone broth do have a basis in science. For example, studies referenced in Harvard Health Publishing indicate that bone broth does help reduce inflammation and clear nasal passages. The glucosamine in the broth can help protect and strengthen joints, and the collagen may aid skin health, as well as digestion (via Shape).

Bone broth is also high in calcium, magnesium, iodine, and chondroitin, a naturally-occurring compound found in cartilage (via Healthline). The marrow in bone broth also contains vitamin A, K2, omega fatty acids, and minerals including boron, iron, zinc, and selenium. Because of the popularity of drinking bone broth as a replacement for coffee, it's a nutrient-dense way to replace your usual morning cup. And because it's a simple broth, it's easy for your stomach to digest, making it an ideal way to soothe digestive issues or a hangover (via Medical News Today).

Simple to make and wonderfully warming, bone broth can be incorporated into your diet in a variety of ways. As Shape suggests, you can reap the benefits by cooking it into grains, soups, or even adding it to your morning smoothie.