Bone broth is rich in essential nutrients like protein and collegen as well as vitamins and minerals that keep you healthy. But the science is still out as to whether it’s really the "liquid miracle" that some claim. Can bone broth really relieve joint pain, improve gut health, and improve your skin? We asked the experts what they think.
December 26, 2024
Bone broth is having an extended moment in the dietary limelight. Often called “the liquid miracle” or “liquid gold” on social media, bone broth supposedly relieves joint pain, improves gut health, promotes skin elasticity, and more. It’s a staple in the paleo and keto diets, and you can now buy bone broth supplements (in capsule or powdered form). Bone broth is even popping up in high-end pet foods.
Trendiness aside, does bone broth deserve all the hype? The answer depends on what health benefits you’re looking for—and what you make of the scientific evidence that’s beginning to trickle in.
“Bone broth has seamlessly blended ancient tradition with modern values,” says food scientist Kantha Shelke, founder and principal at Corvus Blue LLC, a food science and consumer packaged goods development firm and a member of the Institute of Food Technologists. “For millennia, this boiled essence of bones has been a staple in traditional diets worldwide [and] revered for its nourishing and healing properties.”
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That said, many of the modern benefits attributed to bone broth are theoretical rather than backed by scientific evidence, and most of the studies on the health benefits focus on isolated ingredients inside bone broth. “I think it has more of a health halo than it deserves,” says Abbie Gellman, a registered dietitian and chef based in New York City. “Everyone wants a magic bullet or superfood. To me, it’s fruits and vegetables, not bone broth.”
But some claims are supported by science. In recent years, research in animals has shown that bone broth has anti-inflammatory properties that decrease symptoms of ulcerative colitis . And a study in a 2024 issue of the Journal of Food Science found […]
Is bone broth really a ‘liquid miracle’? Here’s what science says
