What does terrific broth do?

Terrific broth is a nutrient-rich broth that provides many health benefits. It is made by simmering animal bones, meat, and vegetables for an extended period of time to extract nutrients like collagen, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. This results in a flavorful, gelatinous broth that can be consumed on its own or used as a base for soups, stews, gravies, and sauces. Here is an in-depth look at what terrific broth does for your health.

Table of Contents

Provides Collagen

One of the key components of terrific broth is collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is found in muscles, bones, skin, tendons, and ligaments. It provides structure and elasticity to tissues and joints. As we age, collagen production starts to decline leading to common signs of aging like wrinkles and joint pain. Consuming collagen from animal parts like bones, skin, and connective tissue may help counteract diminishing levels. Studies have found benefits like improved skin hydration, reduced joint pain, and decreased wrinkling from taking collagen supplements. The collagen in terrific broth comes from long simmering bones and connective tissues from animals like chicken, beef, and pork.

Contains Amino Acids

Terrific broth delivers a variety of amino acids that play many critical roles in the body:

Glycine – Precursor for glutathione, neurotransmitters, creatine, and protein. Supports gut, immune, and brain health.
Proline – Major component of collagen. Needed for healthy joints, skin, and connective tissue.

Glutamine – Key nutrient for gut health and immunity. It is the most abundant free amino acid in the body.
Alanine – Assists in glucose production, immune function, and antioxidant activity.
Arginine – Helps remove ammonia from the body. Important for wound healing.

Serine – Needed for proper cell membrane function and fat metabolism.
Aspartic acid – Helps increase stamina and boost the immune system.
Lysine – Supports calcium absorption and collagen formation.

Leucine, isoleucine, valine – Branched chain amino acids help regulate blood sugar and provide energy.

Consuming a variety of amino acids is vital for overall health. The long simmering process of broth making helps break down proteins from animal bones and tissue into an easily digestible source of amino acids.

Provides Electrolytes

Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus help regulate fluid levels, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, blood pressure, and pH balance. Making broth using mineral-rich bones helps transfer these essential electrolytes into the liquid. This makes terrific broth a great way to replenish electrolytes lost through sweat, illness, or diarrhea. It also helps prevent low mineral levels in people eating restricted diets.

Contains Vitamins

Simmering meat, bones, and vegetables for hours extracts valuable vitamins into terrific broth:

Vitamin A – Found in carrots and supports immune function and eye health.
B Vitamins – Derived from meat. Help convert food into energy and develop red blood cells.

Vitamin C – Provides antioxidant activity. Found in vegetables and prevents illness.
Vitamin K2 – Assists with calcium metabolism and bone health.

Having a balance of vitamins is important for things like energy levels, immunity, circulation, cell growth, brain function, and calcium absorption. Terrific broth made with a variety of ingredients helps provide broad spectrum vitamin nutrition.

Promotes Gut Health

The collagen, amino acids, and electrolytes in terrific broth support intestinal health in multiple ways:

Glycine helps repair damaged cell walls in the gut lining.
Glutamine assists with tissue regeneration and minimizing leaky gut.

Minerals like potassium, sodium, and magnesium aid hydration and fluid balance.
Collagen supports the protective mucus layer in the GI tract.
Bone broth is easy to digest, allowing the gut to rest and heal.

Strengthening the gut is vital since 70-80% of the immune system resides there. Terrific broth helps heal and seal the gut lining, fight inflammation, and promote good gut bacteria. This leads to improved immunity, digestion, and nutrient absorption.

Boosts the Immune System

The nutrients in terrific broth all work together to support a healthy, functioning immune system:

Amino acids are needed to build antibodies that fight infections.

Collagen provides the infrastructure for immune cells.
Vitamins A, C, D regulate immune responses.
Zinc, selenium, magnesium assist immune cell production.

Glutamine prevents chronic inflammation.
Glycine balances inflammatory cytokines.

With its high concentration of amino acids, collagen, and antioxidants – terrific broth gives your immune cells the raw materials they need to work effectively. This helps ward off colds, flus, viruses, and chronic disease.

Joint Support

The collagen, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in terrific broth promote joint health in a variety of ways:

Collagen strengthens cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
Glycine forms connective tissues needed for joint stability.

Glucosamine provides building blocks for healthy cartilage.
Chondroitin lubricates joints and prevents cartilage breakdown.
Sulfur-containing amino acids enhance cartilage regeneration.

Vitamin C synthesizes collagen to maintain thick cartilage.
Magnesium, calcium, phosphorus prevent bone mineral loss.
Anti-inflammatory nutrients reduce joint swelling and pain.

Consuming terrific broth provides the nutrients required for building bone matrix, cartilage synthesis, and connective tissue repair. This can help prevent and treat common joint problems like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and injuries.

Promotes Sleep

Certain amino acids and minerals in terrific broth can help improve sleep quality:

Glycine triggers neurotransmitters that induce relaxation and sleep.

Tryptophan boosts serotonin and melatonin levels.
Magnesium relaxes muscles and calms the nervous system.
Calcium promotes deeper sleep phases.

Potassium aids muscle recovery during sleep.
Broth is easy to digest and won’t disrupt sleep.

Drinking a cup of hot broth before bedtime provides bioavailable compounds that help you fall asleep faster and get better rest. This leads to more daytime energy, better cognition, and less illness.

Supports Liver Function

The liver filters toxins, processes nutrients, manufactures proteins, and regulates cholesterol. Terrific broth contains key nutrients that protect and optimize liver function:

Glycine helps flush out harmful toxins.
Taurine neutralizes free radical damage.

Glutamine metabolizes and eliminates ammonia.
Potassium assists with proper fluid balance.
Vitamin A supports metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins.

B Vitamins aid with energy production reactions.

Protecting liver cells from oxidative damage and waste accumulation is crucial for detoxification, fat burning, blood sugar regulation, and hormone balance.

Boosts Metabolism

Several attributes of terrific broth help rev up your metabolic rate:

Protein requires more energy to break down than carbs/fat.
Amino acids are needed for all metabolic reactions.
Collagen synthesis increases calorie burn.

Minerals like potassium and magnesium activate enzymes.
Bone broth helps regulate appetite hormones like leptin.
Anti-inflammatory nutrients prevent metabolic dysfunction.

Having a faster metabolism makes it easier to maintain a healthy body weight and prevent metabolic diseases like diabetes. Sipping on broth supplies key metabolites and substrates to keep your cells efficiently burning calories and fuel.

Alleviates Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is at the root of most modern diseases like autoimmunity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Terrific broth contains anti-inflammatory and gut healing compounds that help dampen inflammation:

Glycine decreases inflammatory cytokines.

Arginine raises nitric oxide to improve blood flow.
Sulfur-containing amino acids enhance glutathione levels.
Collagen repairs damaged intestinal lining.

Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals.
Minerals balance electrolyte levels.

Controlling inflammatory responses in the body reduces pain, swelling, fatigue, and cellular damage. This allows your cells to function normally and restores health.

Strengthens Bones

Maintaining bone mass and strength is important as you age to prevent fractures and osteoporosis. Terrific broth provides the nutrients needed for optimal bone health:

Calcium incorporated into bone matrix.
Phosphorus composes mineralized bone.

Magnesium required for calcium and vitamin D absorption.
Zinc, boron, manganese support mineralization.
Vitamin D enhances calcium and phosphorus absorption.

Vitamin K2 directs calcium to bones instead of arteries.
Amino acids form bone collagen proteins.

Sipping on bone broth delivers bioavailable forms of bone-building nutrients that increase bone mineral density and prevent deficiencies.

Improves Exercise Performance

Here’s how terrific broth can enhance athletic performance and recovery:

Electrolytes balance hydration status.
Collagen strengthens connective tissues.

Amino acids delay fatigue and rebuild muscle.
Glycine boosts creatine production.
Glutamine removes lactic acid buildup.

Minerals activate energy production.
Protein provides slow-burning fuel.
Nutrients repair exercise-induced muscle damage.

Consuming bone broth provides key compounds to increase endurance, maintain muscle, and speed up recovery. This allows you to workout harder, longer, and more frequently.

Supports Healthy Skin

Terrific broth is fantastic for glowing, youthful skin because it:

Provides collagen to smooth out wrinkles.

Contains amino acids to form skin proteins like elastin.
Has vitamin C to support collagen synthesis.
Reduces inflammation that accelerates aging.

Provides electrolytes to keep skin hydrated.
Delivers zinc, copper, silicon for healthy skin.
Increases blood flow and oxygen to skin cells.

Loading up on bone broth collagen and antioxidants helps firm skin, minimize wrinkles and inflammation, and protect against sun damage. This restores a radiant, supple skin tone and texture.

Supports Healthy Hair and Nails

Hair and nails primarily consist of keratin, a protein rich in the amino acids glycine, proline, and glutamine – all found abundantly in terrific broth. Consuming broth provides raw materials to build strong hair and nails. Broth also delivers biotin, zinc, and vitamin C which are needed for hair growth and shine. The collagen helps thicken hair strands while the amino acids prevent breakage and split ends. So drinking terrific broth regularly can help you achieve fast growing, healthy hair along with strong nails.

Protects Brain Health

The brain requires key amino acids and vitamins to function optimally that terrific broth amply provides:

Glycine produces neurotransmitters and antioxidant glutathione.
Tryptophan synthesizes serotonin to elevate mood.
Arginine improves blood flow and circulation.

B vitamins prevent neurodegeneration and dementia.
Vitamin A maintains myelin and nerve cell health.
Minerals balance electrolyte levels.

Getting these vital nutrients helps nourish brain cells, prevent free radical damage, optimize neurotransmitters, and support good mood and cognition.

Protects Heart Health

Terrific broth contains minerals and amino acids that are great for cardiovascular health:

Magnesium relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

Glycine combats inflammation and oxidative stress.
Arginine improves nitric oxide and vascular function.
Taurine decreases cholesterol and blood clotting.

Vitamin K2 prevents calcium buildup in arteries.
Potassium balances electrolyte levels.

This nutrient profile makes terrific broth highly beneficial for lowering blood pressure, reducing plaque buildup, improving circulation, and preventing heart attacks and stroke.

Conclusion

In summary, terrific broth made using meat, bones, and vegetables that are simmered for hours delivers a powerful dose of nutrition to heal and optimize your entire body. It provides collagen, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that support gut health, immunity, joints, skin, hair, nails, heart health, brain function, sleep, exercise performance, metabolism, inflammation levels, and much more. Consuming homemade or store-bought terrific broth on a regular basis is a nourishing and easy way to improve overall wellbeing.