5 Amazing Benefits of Bone Broth for Eczema Sufferers

Right now it is winter here in Australia, so this article is giving me a reason to get jiggy in the kitchen with this hot tasty recipe, and inspiration to share this goodness with you.

If you’ve not heard about bone broth yet and how it’s benefiting eczema sufferers the world over, then it’s time to book a one-way ticket on the broth train to tasty-town!

This stuff is not only delicious, but is also packed to the hilt with some really incredible advantages for people suffering from gut issues, eczema, and inflammation. As these ailments are often linked, then bone broth can be a very holistic antidote.

What is Bone Broth?

So what is bone broth exactly? It is essentially a soup/stock which can be drunk on its own, or added to soups and stews.

It is made from animal bones, meat (including fat, connective tissues, and organs), as well as vegetables, herbs, and spices for added flavor and nutrition.

This mixture is cooked gently and slowly anywhere from four hours up to three days. The longer the duration, the more nutrients are said to be extracted from the meat, bones, and connective tissues of the animal.

Traditionally used by folks wanting to utilize all parts of the animal to get the most out of what food was available, especially when meat was more of a luxury. This hearty meal has kept generations of humans well satisfied, warm, and healthy.

Only since the 1950’s has the popularity of bone broth reduced (no pun intended) in favor of instant soups which are often loaded with MSG, sugar, and other potential eczema triggering ingredients.

Thankfully there is a movement emerging (think health bloggers and Pinterest!) promoting a return of this super-food, and we couldn’t be happier.

WHY IS BONE BROTH SO BENEFICIAL FOR ECZEMA?

There’s a reason chicken soup is the ‘ye olde’ method for helping cure a common cold, but only now we have actual evidence to back up this claim and explain the hype around why certain people with eczema are seeing improvements in their skin after drinking bone broth.

In fact, bone broth is one of the main foods used in the GAPS Protocol, which is specifically designed to help heal the gut and ultimately reduce or even eliminate many inflammatory health issues such as eczema.

*I recommend researching the GAPS diet, if for no other reason than to learn a bit more on how the digestive system is connected to food intolerance's, leaky gut, and inflammation within the body.

The cooking process leaches nutrients from the bones into the water, which is readily utilized by the body when consumed, giving us a nutritious and perhaps ones of the heartiest drinks in the world!!

So with no further ado, here are the 5 amazing benefits of bone broth for eczema sufferers:

GLYCINE

Glycine is an amino acid found in bone broth which is responsible for helping the body synthesize collagen, as well as helping produce glutathione.

Glutathione is a very strong antioxidant that also helps manage our immune system, regulating the body to not attack healthy cells, as is seen in eczema.

Also responsible for the synthesis of our DNA and RNA, as well as many proteins within our bodies, Glycine plays a strong role in our skin health and wound healing, as well as providing a calming effect, which is great for those who may have trouble sleeping. 

Great for addressing auto-immune and inflammation issues, as well as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). 

ARGANINE

Here is another amino acid (gosh they get around!) which receives a lot of attention on account of its huge health benefits, including that of wound healing as well as helping maintain the immune and hormone functions.

Arganine is an anti-inflammatory amino acid, as seen in its use for helping treat a condition known as sepsis, which is inflammation affecting the entire body arising from infection.

Additionally, arginine can be very useful for helping inhibit viral infections such as cold and flu, which is probably why the South American proverb tells us that a “Good broth with resurrect the dead.”

MINERALS

While low in vitamins, bone broth does offer some important minerals that are readily and easily absorbed and are said to help strengthen the body and assist in helping reduce inflammation. The most common of which are calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sulphur, potassium, as well as many trace minerals.

It might be worth noting that a comprehensive analysis of mineral content for traditionally prepared bone broth has not been performed since the 30’s, and at that time, high levels of these minerals were not observed.

These minerals are certainly present and very beneficial for helping skin issues like eczema, but traditional bone broth is not as ‘mineral rich’ as many sources might suggest. Depending on what you add of course, because certain vegetables and herbs can provide supplementary vitamin and mineral content.

GELATIN

Extracted from the marrow and bones of the animal, gelatin is known to help promote healthy growth of skin, hair and nails, as well as assisting in the healing and sealing of the gut - crucial for people who suffer from Leaky Gut Syndrome, commonly associated with many inflammatory conditions including eczema.

Gelatin is a hydrophobic colloid, which in layman’s terms means that it absorbs and holds liquid including digestive juices. This aids our digestion by helping move food through the digestive tract much easier.

Another benefit of gelatin for eczema is that it is a source of dietary collagen, which is very important for skin health and healing. It keeps our skin strong, protected, youthful, and healthy as it is the ‘cement’ that holds it all together.

It should be explained here that while topical collagen is often promoted in skin products, it is not actually able to penetrate the skin. Dietary collagen is the only way to get this protein into our bodies and gelatin is a great way to do it.

There are some decent companies out there which offer a premium product, chocked full of gelatin, such as this one. Word to the wise however, gelatin is quite often missing from cheaper store-bought broth products. 

HOME-MADE BONE BROTH

While keeping your house a little warmer in winter, bone broth can be super-dooper cheap to make and such a cost effective way of providing another delicious addition to your repertoire of eczema-healing foods.

You can certainly buy your bone broths pre-made from reputable retailers and organic sellers, but you will pay a premium and with the amount a family can go through, it is far FAR more cost effective to make it yourself. Plus I really do think you get a better end-product when you make it yourself.

That being said, I have listed below some tips to keep in mind when making your own bone broth.

PICK THE BEST BONES FOR YOUR BROTH

It doesn’t really matter what animal bones are used, however the typical and most easily sourced bones are those from chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, or fish. But the best and most ‘cleanest’ parts come from organic raised and free range animals, and even wild game because their diets are ‘evolutionary correct’ and thus, more evolutionary correct for us.

I have mentioned in a previous article, ’11 Worst foods for eczema’, the subject of meat and how consuming it can potentially trigger eczema inflammation. For this reason, I personally prefer to stick to organic and free range chicken bones as they seem to have the least amount of issues in terms of potential eczema-aggravators.

Everyone is different however, and some people might be totally fine with the bones and connective tissues of a cow or other animals, but the only way to know this is by taking it out of your diet for a period, then reintroducing.

TYPE OF BONES

If you can find a local organic butcher, then you are very lucky and should be able to find cheap packs of off-cut bones and bags of chicken frames which are all perfect for broths. If you cannot find them, then ask the butcher as they may be sitting out the back, or simply out of stock for a period.

These types of bones are usually picked up pretty cheap and if you are taking larger bones from a cow for example, the butchers can also cut them into smaller pieces for you if you ask. The smaller the better! Most will be aware of bone broths and cut them accordingly for you at no charge.

Buying nice ‘jointy’ parts are important as they help produce a nice gelatin containing gel. This includes parts like chicken feet or necks and knuckles for example, which are all very cheap as no one seems to want them - great, more for us!

SCRAP SAVING

If you and your household eat a lot of meat with bones that get thrown in the bin, pop them in a container instead and freeze them until its time to make your broth. This includes the carcasses of chickens, bones from your steak/chop, and even those bits of gristle that are sliced off and thrown away.

The same goes for the scrap ends of certain vegetables like the top leafy parts of celery, the stalks of parsley or coriander, and the tops and ends of carrots.

AFTER COOKING

Once the broth is done, all of the solids can either be discarded, or what some people choose to do is blend up a small amount of the solids (meat, veges, and certain bones) as long as they are soft enough for a blender.

This will add further nutrients to your mixture, though it will change the taste somewhat. As for these particular bones, it will probably only apply to chicken bones and only after being cooked until they are soft enough, possibly for days.

If you have a carnivorous pet (dogs and cats), the meat and certain vegetable components can be saved and added to their daily meals, as long as the broth didn’t include garlic, onion, leek, salt, or anything else they shouldn’t be consuming (do your research). Obviously chicken bones should be avoided unless they have been cooked for days and are soft, as mentioned above.

Bone broth, and other saved parts, can all be frozen in jars and containers for longevity, as it really only keeps well in the fridge for a few days. For this reason, don’t throw away your glass jars when you’ve finished with their contents – scrub out those skerrick’s of jam or honey and save them for broth-day!

If you cannot wait to naturally accumulate the correct containers for the job, these little babies are heat proof and perfect for this tast. 

CAUTIONS

While many people are adding bone broths to their eczema healing protocol, it may not be for everyone.

Lots of people are seeing a benefit for their eczema when drinking bone broth, however there are occasionally people who find it worsens their eczema and this could be possibly due to it's high histamine level, or simply on account of the inflammatory factors in certain meats for example. So if you are aware of issues with histamines or meat in general, then either avoid bone broth, or test the waters very gently first. 

For me personally, I couldn’t tolerate bone broth at all during the worst period of my topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). This was at a time when I couldn’t handle any meat at all, be that organic or otherwise, as it created such an obvious and consistent flare of my inflammation. Unfortunately I had to wait until I was out of the worst of my TSW before I could introduce weaker meat broth first before taking proper bone broth.

When you are trying new foods, it is always important to monitor your symptoms and diet closely and if you find your body and skin reacting negatively, then try stopping for a good month (if you're able to) before introducing again to test whether the eczema flare repeats itself.

HOW TO MAKE HEALING BONE BROTH FOR ECZEMA

So if you’ve read to the bottom of my article and you’re considering making a batch to try for yourself, then you’re probably wondering what the best recipe is for this delicious drink.

I have tried a few in my time and in all honesty, the best broths are the most simple because they are as tasty as they are quick to make! And no, it’s not laziness, its efficiency 😉

Because of this article, I thought it would be a good idea to start a recipe page as I have a bunch of simple recipes which have helped improve my TSW and eczema symptoms over the last few years. Plus I just really want to share them with you because, well, food!

So if you want an awesome and simple bone broth recipe, then click below and follow in my footsteps. Also, feel free to comment and share your experiences or tell us about any changes you make which improved the recipe.

Drink up, buttercup!!

• I WILL BE UPLOADING THE RECIPE SOON - WATCH THIS SPACE