Exactly how does real bone broth help heal "leaky gut"?

Experience constipation, diarrhea, or bloating? Do you suffer from fatigue, headache, or confusion? Do you have widespread inflammation or mysterious rashes?

These are the symptoms of lots of different conditions… but the root of the problem might be “leaky gut”.

Leaky gut is a condition where the intestinal lining becomes inflamed and damaged. This allows toxins and bacteria to leak through the walls of the intestines into the bloodstream.

In a healthy gut, your intestines are permeable. They are supposed to allow helpful substances to pass into the bloodstream (proteins, nutrients, etc) while also blocking harmful substances (partially digested food particles, certain proteins, toxins, etc).

In an unhealthy “leaky” gut, your intestinal permeability is increased beyond what is healthy. This typically results in a cycle of inflammation and changes to gut microbiology, which can lead to a number of symptoms that can lower your quality of life.

Many mainstream medical professionals do not recognize leaky gut as a real medical condition. Maybe it’s because there’s no one magical pill to heal your gut…?

So, if you’re seeking support, you may need to find a naturopath or a gut health specialist who is familiar with the condition and validates your symptoms and desire to heal. There are also plenty of great resources out there to help you learn and try to heal on your own.

Most solutions to healing your gut are holistic and involve reducing stress, exercising more, sleeping better, and getting better nutrition.

In your leaky gut research, you’ll likely find lots of discussion around bone broth. Why? The answer is collagen!

A quality bone broth is very gelatinous, like the consistency of jelly out of the fridge (it liquifies when heated). What makes bone broth jelly-like is the incredible amount of gelatin, a type of collagen. 

Collagen is abundant in all humans and mammals. It’s found in all connective tissues, skin, and bones. It is made of lots of amino acids, which are essential for good health.

Collagen comes from the Greek word “kólla,” which means glue. This is why the gelatin in bone broth is excellent for sealing and healing your gut.

In addition to collagen, bone broth also contains lots of essential and bioavailable vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. This helps your body easily get what it needs to heal.

When it comes down to it, bone broth is just awesome. In my opinion, it should be a pantry staple in every home. I always have some in the freezer.

If you have a lot of time or have a tight budget, you can make bone broth at home. Or, save your time and buy pre-made bone broth.

Whichever you choose, it’s extremely important to make sure your bone broth is high quality. This means that the animals were raised outdoors, without stress, eating a chemical-free and natural diet. This also means that the broth was made with vinegar to extract all the nutrients and simmered for at least 24 hours until very gelatinous.

Bone broth is delicious on its own. I call it “bone tea”. You can also use it in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, rice, and more.

Is bone broth a part of your life? Do you make it or buy it pre-made? How do you consume it?