Nobody enjoys not feeling well and unless you have some crazy strong immune system, chances are you have been sick once or twice. Catching the common cold or any illness really can be quite uncomfortable putting a pause on your life until you are feeling better. Having a strong immune system is important to fight off bad bacteria and germs that can cause you to get sick, but how does one strengthen their immunity? 

High-quality bone broth is as delicious as it is nutritious and has been used for centuries to help boost the immune system! Many refer to it as a superfood calling it the ‘elixir of life’ for its incredible list of health benefits. Bone broth can be found dating back to ancient china when physicians would prescribe it to their patients to help treat conditions like the common cold or irritable bowel syndrome. Immune system boosting bone broth is an all-natural product that can help you from getting sick, but which is best? 

Bone Broth

Bone broth is made by simmering the bones, meat, ligaments, tendons, and joints of an animal slowly over the course of 12 to 48 hours. The goal is to extract all of the nutrients into an easily digestible liquid of amino acids, gelatin, and minerals. Some of the immune system boosting benefits of bone broth are:

Reduces inflammation

Leaky gut syndrome is one of the most common digestive issues found in many people all around the globe. Leaky gut is undigested food particles that seeps through any small openings within the weakened intestinal lining entering into the bloodstream. When this happens, the immune system detects the particles and becomes hyperactive. This increases inflammation leading the immune system to release high levels of antibodies which can cause an autoimmune-like response and attack healthy tissue. Like we mentioned earlier, bone broth has been used for years as it has been found to be extremely beneficial to help restore gut health, therefore supporting immunity and healthy inflammation response as well!

Supports gut health

Many refer to the stomach as the second brain of the body. When your gut is not feeling well, your whole body tends to follow. This is because 80% of all immune system cells live within the digestive tract meaning when you heal your gut, you are also boosting your immune system! Bone broth contains glycosaminoglycans, also known as GAGs, which works to restore the intestinal lining when weakened. 

Fights pathogens

One of the main roles of the immune system is to track down pathogenic cells and destroy them. Bone broth contains amino acids such as arginine, glutamine, and glycine which are essential for liver and immune system function helping your body to keep illnesses away. 

Different Types of Bone Broth

Bone broth has many benefits, but not all products are created equal! If you are looking to boost your immune system by drinking this powerful superfood, then it is important to understand the different types.

• Perishable bone broth is gelatinous and thick with a jell-O like consistency. If made correctly, it can last about one week in the refrigerator or up to six to twelve months in the freezer. 
• Shelf-stable bone broth have a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature outside of the refrigerator. To make shelf-stable bone broth, it must be heated at a very high temperate before getting transferred into a can, which unfortunately tends to destroy the fragile gelatin. This sometimes makes it less effective and is not as easily absorbed by the body.
• Homemade bone broth is a great option because you can control what ingredients are used when making your broth! The only issue is that it can be quite tedious, time consuming and difficult to find the high-quality ingredients needed to make your bone broth the best it can be. 

If you are looking to boost your immune system, then look no further because bone broth is right up your alley! We suggest sticking with a perishable bone broth because real food should not last real long! Although canned bone broth may seem like an easy solution, we recommend reaching for products made from high quality whole foods to help you avoid getting sick this flu season!