Over the last few years, many stars have raged that the secret to their glowing skin, youthful appearance and lack of wrinkles is their daily ritual of consuming the traditional remedy bone broth (no, it’s not botox!). Simple to make, part of many soul-warming childhood memories, and packed with incredible nutritional benefits, what exactly makes bone broth the latest “beauty elixir” and aging antidote?

What is bone broth?

Let start with what’s in both broth that’s essential for youthful and glowing skin! Bone broth contains a few fantastic nutrients for healthy skin, glowing appearance, and even healthy nails. The factor? Collagen! Collagen is the most abundant form of protein in our body, and is essentially the glue that holds our body together!

What is collagen?

There are over 15 types of collagen found in our body across our skin, ligaments, hair, muscle fibers and even our bones. And collagen has become the talk of the beauty world over the last few years, as it’s essential for the elasticity of our skin—think wrinkles and cellulite. It’s also what makes our nails strong and healthy, and our hair grow faster. Thousands of dollars are spent daily on collagen enhancing skin creams, products and even collagen itself in the form of injections; however, could the secret to collagen production lie in bone broth and oral collagen supplements?  Let’s break it down.

Bone broth for beauty

Bone broth has been tested and shown to contain a high amount of collagen—93% (14.9g in a 16g serving!) when using Organika Chicken Bone Broth Protein Powder Original (heavy-metal tested, GMO-free, and made from cage-free chickens)—a significantly  high amount of protein (an essential building block for every cell in our body), as well as an influential group called glycosaminoglycans, or GAGs, which are chondroitin, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid.

GAGs are often found in arthritis supplements as they are amazing at reducing pain and inflammation in our joints, ligaments, and cartilages, as well as increasing fluid around our joints and even in our skin. Hyaluronic acid is often found in expensive skin care products to improve the moisture content of our skin—another reason many use bone broth for their anti-aging regime. As you can see, bone broth is not all talk when it comes to beauty applications, and it also packs an incredible punch when it comes to other health benefits.

Bone broth for overall health

Bone broth is especially essential if you suffer from:

• Poor digestion
• Leaky gut
• IBD
• Recurring sickness
• Headaches
• Various skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis, eczema, acne)

Bone broth contains over 17 different amino acids that help improve your digestive tract, seal and heal the intestinal wall, increase your immunity, and improve skin conditions linked to gastrointestinal disorders and food allergies. Bone broth is particularly high in glycine, an amino acid known to not only heal our digestive tract, but to improve our sleep and cognitive function. Naturally rich in essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium, bone broth is an excellent full body nutritive tonic that benefits not just our skin, but our entire body!

Bone broth contains collagen, which is essentially the glue that holds our body together

Bone broth vs. collagen supplements

Collagen in supplement form is a secret that’s gone mainstream as more and more people experience the numerous benefits collagen has to offer. Perhaps the most well-known benefit is to our hair, skin, and nails, which contain type 1 and type 3 collagen so supplementing boosts their health

Collagen itself contains an amino acid profile similar to bone broth and is packed with a high amount of protein as well as high amounts of hydrolyzed collagen peptides, which are essential for absorption.   Collagen contains a high quantity of glycine, like bone broth, as well as proline, which is known to increase collagen production in our body by up to 50%. Collagen therefore plays an important role maintaining a healthy digestive tract, and strong joints and ligaments.

To summarize, the main “features” of bone broth and collagen are:

Bone broth:

• High in protein
• Chicken is high in type 2 collagen; beef is high in type 1 & 3 collagen
• Contains GAGs
• High in essential minerals

Collagen:

• High in protein
• Very high in types 1 & 3 collagen
• Most absorbable form of protein
• 100% hydrolyzed collagen peptides offer optimal collagen production
• High in hydroxyproline, which is essential for collagen production in the body

Did you know…?

Hydrolyzed means that the collagen is broken down in hot water using enzymes (all natural process) that break down the large collagen protein molecule into smaller molecules called peptides. It’s an optimal form because the small peptide molecules are easier to digest and easier to mix in your hot or cold drinks.

Which is right for you?

Both bone broth and collagen have very similar benefits—however, bone broth has more added nutritional components, providing more support in our bodies. Ideally though, I like to recommend both—they’re very versatile so should be easy to add to your diet. You can typically use anywhere from 1 to 6 tablespoons daily, hot or cold. They can be a great way to add more protein to your diet or replace whey protein powders.

When it comes to choosing the right collagen for you, take a look at this article. One important consideration is whether it comes from a good source! Look for grass-fed and pasture-raised bovine, and make sure that the product lists the amino acid profile on the label so that you can ensure you’re getting the essential amino acids described above. Organika’s Enhanced Collagen is an excellent collagen product and has been a staple in my diet for the last 3 years.

Written by Chelan Wilkins, Organika’s National Education Trainer

Chelan Wilkins is a busy mother of two, cooking enthusiast, sports junkie, and Organika’s National Education Trainer! She graduated with honours from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, with a designation of a Certified Nutritional Practitioner as well as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Chelan has a huge passion for food, life, and looks forward to inspiring optimal health for all.