Why Bone Broth Is Bad for You: Potential Risks (2024)

  • Potential Risks
    • What are the potential risks of bone broth?
  • Bone Broth Protein
    • What is bone broth protein?
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Bone broth has become trendy in modern wellness culture, with many people claiming that it has amazing health benefits. Made by slowly simmering animal bones and flesh for hours, bone broth is purported to be full of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals such as calcium and magnesium

Proponents of bone broth claim that it has health benefits such as:

  • Promoting healthy hair, skin, and nails (due to the collagen content)
  • Reducing joint pain
  • Helping digestion
  • Strengthening the immune system

However, bone broth may not be as nutritious as you may think. Not only is the protein content quite low, but there is also no evidence that the collagen obtained from bone broth actually helps the body in any way.

What are the potential risks of bone broth?

Bone broth, if not prepared with standard manufacturing protocols, may contain heavy metals and harsh chemicals that can harm the body.

Added lead

Lead is a heavy metal that may settle on vegetables and plants grown on lead-contaminated soil, and cattle may graze on such contaminated vegetables or plants. Therefore, there is a danger of lead contamination in several varieties of bone broth, as well as a risk of lead poisoning. Lead is stored in the bones and may leach into the bone broth.

Glutamic acid sensitivity

According to some studies, bone broth may be high in glutamate. Glutamate may cause adverse effects such as anxiety, restlessness, low energy, mental exhaustion, sleeplessness, and concentration problems, although there is no scientific evidence to prove this.

Other side effects

What is bone broth protein?

Bone broth protein is a dietary supplement that claims to provide your body with the health benefits of bone broth and protein in the form of a convenient powder.

It is made by boiling animal bones, ligaments, tendons, and other nutrient-dense animal components under high pressure and continuous heat, then later dried at lower temperatures and concentrated into powder.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no scientific research regarding the effects of either bone broth or bone broth protein. When it comes to overall health, nothing can replace a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

Why Bone Broth Is Bad for You: Potential Risks (2)

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References

Essential and toxic metals in animal bone broths: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5533136/

The Surprising Truth About Bone Broth: https://foodrevolution.org/blog/bone-broth-benefits/

Why Bone Broth Is Bad for You: Potential Risks (2024)

FAQs

Why Bone Broth Is Bad for You: Potential Risks? ›

Therefore, there is a danger of lead contamination in several varieties of bone broth, as well as a risk of lead poisoning. Lead is stored in the bones and may leach into the bone broth.

Are there any negative effects of drinking bone broth? ›

While bone broth is generally safe for most people, overconsumption may potentially expose you to unhealthy levels of toxic heavy metals. To enjoy bone broth while reaping its health benefits, sip it warm, use it as a base for soups, stews and sauces, or add it to homemade salad dressings.

What does Mayo Clinic say about bone broth? ›

Bone broth is a good choice to include in your diet along with all the other foods that fight inflammation. Organic chicken or beef bone broths (or make your own) have many beneficial nutrients that will help improve bones and joints, along with all the other benefits.

Is bone broth hard on your liver? ›

Bone broth can also be great for cleansing and detoxing the body due to its high mineral content. Its rich source of amino acids helps to support healthy liver function, while its collagen content supports a healthy digestive system and helps combat inflammation in the gut lining, healthy gut function and digesting.

Is bone broth bad for your heart? ›

Improves Heart Health

The health benefits of bone broth will keep your ticker in tip-top shape. The essential amino acids it provides help lower your risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and have even been found to reduce the size of heart attacks. Try making heart-healthy recipes, too.

Who should avoid bone broth? ›

The sodium in bone broth may not be an issue for the average healthy person, Zumpano says, but it could be risky for people who have high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease. Always talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

What is the healthiest bone broth to buy? ›

The healthiest bone broth on the market is the Organic bone broth made by Bluebird Provisions because it is the highest protein with 12 grams with 300 mg potassium and no added filler ingredients. It is also low in sodium and tastes absolutely delicious.

What do doctors think of bone broth? ›

Are There Any Health Benefits in Bone Broth? Experts say many of the claims are overblown. “There is no research to support the use of bone broth on its own as a health panacea or to promote health benefits in general,” Amaral says. Still, many nutrients found in bone broth can contribute to overall health.

Is store-bought bone broth healthy? ›

The bones used to make commercial broth may contain high levels of heavy metals, which could make their way into the broth. However, homemade or store-bought bone broth levels are very low and unlikely to cause health problems.

What happens when you drink bone broth every morning? ›

Gut Wellbeing

Feeding your gut with bone broth first thing in the morning will have a soothing effect, so if you struggle with digestive discomfort, the benefits of bone broth in the morning can be a great add-on to support your digestive system.

Why do I feel weird after drinking bone broth? ›

According to some studies, bone broth may be high in glutamate. Glutamate may cause adverse effects such as anxiety, restlessness, low energy, mental exhaustion, sleeplessness, and concentration problems, although there is no scientific evidence to prove this.

Is bone broth hard on your kidneys? ›

Oxalates: many vegetables contain oxalates (looking at you, spinach!), and the glycine in bone broth can convert to oxalates in the body. There are some people who may have high levels of oxalates in the body, which can bind to calcium and contribute to kidney stones and other symptoms.

Is bone broth inflammatory? ›

Reduced inflammation

Some studies suggest that bone broth can help reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with a host of conditions, including arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. The amino acids in bone broth may work to counteract inflammation-causing compounds in your body.

Is there anything bad about drinking bone broth? ›

“While bone broth can be a nutritious addition to the diet and is generally considered safe to consume, there are some concerns that should be noted,” Wohlford says. These include the risk of consuming too many heavy metals, which can seep into the broth from the animal bones during the cooking process.

Can bone broth raise blood pressure? ›

Bone broth does not raise blood pressure. It actually lowers your blood pressure because of the natural collagen found in it. Collagen is shown to reduce your blood pressure according to a new review of a Japanese study.

Does bone broth raise cholesterol? ›

Bone broth helps regulate cholesterol levels. It acts to lower the rate of cholesterol in the blood. Not to mention protects the vessels blood vessels by providing them with essential elements. This significantly reduces the risk of stroke.

Is bone broth high in cholesterol? ›

One cup of Swanson's Chicken Bone Broth provides 35 calories, 8 grams protein, <1 gram carbohydrates, <1 gram total sugars, and 350 milligrams sodium. It is free of fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. It also provides 2% of the daily recommended amount of iron and 8% of the daily recommended amount of potassium.

How much bone broth is too much? ›

There's really no such thing as too much bone broth, but you can tailor your bone broth consumption for your specific health goals. For muscle gain and weight loss drink 2-6 cups daily. For gut health, try at least 2 cups of bone broth each day. For skin conditions and/or joint health, drink 2-4 cups per day.

References

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