Bone Broth For Leaky Gut: What You Need To Know

woman bone broth to heal digestive issues

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In addition to obvious external signs of aging, you may have noticed how your body is changing internally.  One part of your body that may start to get cranky is your digestive system. Did you know that you may be able to use bone broth for leaky gut?

Of course, you'll want to check with your functional doctor or healthcare professional to get their medical advice.

We'll dive into how bone broth can help heal a leaky gut, be a nice addition to a paleo diet and improve your gut health, so let's get going!

You may wonder where you can buy high-quality bone broth. We have reviewed the best bone broth for leaky gut available, so check out this article too.

bone broth amino acids collagen

Collagen, Amino Acids and Your Gut

The superfood bone broth is a combination of powerful amino acids, healing collagen along with other important minerals designed to support a healthy 

So let's find out more about collagen and amino acids are, how they are connected to your gut and how bone broth might be the answer to your cranky digestive system.

What is Collagen?

First, collagen happens to be the most abundant protein in your body. It's heavily concentrated in your skin. It can also be found in connective tissue, joints, bones, eyes, arteries and the gut.

Collagen's structure is a triple-helix protein strand made from 4 specific amino acids, along with required vitamins and minerals that synthesize it all together.

The result is a collagen protein strand that is not only strong but flexible too.

As a matter of fact, it's considered the building block, or 'scaffolding', that holds everything in your body together.

Not only can collagen help heal a leaky gut but you can also use collagen supplements to help lose excess weight or maintain your weight. It may also help soften wrinkles, improve joint pain, lighten scars, increase muscle mass and strengthen arteries.

How Does Bone Broth Heal Leaky Gut?

When you start out in life, your body has lots of collagen.

However, as you approach your 30s, your body produces less new collagen. Every year after that, your collagen deficit will grow.

Especially, the deficient grows especially during and after menopause.

Why does collagen matter for a healthy gut? One reason is, as we said, collagen appears everywhere in your body, especially your skin.

If you haven't ever thought of it, your stomach's lining is skin.

In other words, less collagen equals less protection in the lining of the stomach leading the lining to become more porous.

If the stomach lining has tiny holes, bacteria might 'leak' out and cause havoc with other parts of the body--including the brain.

Hence, the term 'leaky gut'.

What are Amino Acids?

As we mentioned here, proteins, especially the collagen protein, contains a unique combination of four amino acids.

Not only are amino acids the main component of collagen products, but they are also crucial for the complex, day-to-day operations of your body.

As a matter of fact, there is a study that showed that adding these four amino acids might help slow down the body's aging process.

Back in ancient, and not so ancient times, humans used all parts of an animal, tip to tail as they call it, in their diet.

Animals' bones, joints and skin are rich in amino acids. Since our ancestors used these animal parts in their diet, they ate a lot of amino acids.

Today, modern society doesn't use all parts of the animal. That means you don't get as many amino acids as your body could use.

Furthermore, the 4 main amino acids in collagen protein cannot be made by the body. You must get these amino acids from the food you eat.

Let's dive deeper into each amino acid that makes up the collagen protein:

Glycine

The amino acid glycine is involved in the transmission of chemical signals to the brain, used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia, stroke and cystic fibrosis.

Also, studies show glycine can be your best friend if you have trouble falling and staying asleep. 

Proline

Proline is used in tissue repair, collagen formation, arteriosclerosis prevention and blood pressure maintenance.

Studies have shown proline along with glutamine can work to improve digestion and lower toxins in the digestive tract.

Alanine

Alanine is used for low blood sugar, diarrhea-related dehydration, fatigue and stress.

Glutamine

Gluatamine is heavily present in your muscles and also helps protect your gut lining.

There is no other protein source that has a unique combination of amino acids that are contained in bone broth.

More Reasons Your Gut Gets Cranky

In addition to aging and diet, these factors can negatively affect the healthy functioning of your digestive system:

  • Eating processed foods and too much sugar
  • Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Prescription drugs, including antibiotics
  • Overeating since the stomach cannot accommodate as much food (decreased elasticity)
  • A slowdown of the stomach to empty food into the small intestine due to aging
  • Not enough exercise and physical activity
  • Stress
  • Less sleep and poorer quality of sleep
  • Reduced collagen protein in the body
  • Not drinking enough water

The above factors can result in:

  • 'Leaky gut' (when the lining of the digestive system becoming porous which allows bacteria to leak out to other parts of the body)
  • Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome (possibly linked to  Alzheimer Diseasedementia, diabetes, autoimmune diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Chrone's)
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Acid reflux/GERD
  • Intolerance of dairy products (due to lower lactase levels)
  • Chronic inflammation
bone broth to help heal digestive issues

Bone Broth: A True Superfood?

Is bone broth the ultimate super food?

Some say it is and this is why.

Bone broth is exactly as it says: simmering the bones, joints and connective tissue from animals  in water for a long period of time.

The simmering of these animal parts brings out the amino acids that are the building blocks of collagen protein and are crucial for our well being.

Actually, it's these amino acids that work their healing magic within your body to help reduce inflammation, boost your immune system and help your gut stay healthy.

(In addition, bone broth also contains collagen protein.)

As a matter of fact, a study on chicken soup showed the anti-inflammatory and healing properties of using the whole chicken to make a nutritious, delicious and comforting soup.

When making bone broth, the concentration of amino acids increases the longer the bones are simmered.

Amino acid comparisons between long and short simmered bone broth

It also happens that bone broth tastes good, is versatile, comforting and filling.

Although bone broth contains some collagen protein, the power in bone broth is from the high concentration of amino acids that your body doesn't make naturally.

Bone Broth Recipe For Leaky Gut

You can get bone broth right from your kitchen!  It's easy to make bone broth or gelatin (gelatin is condensed bone broth).

First, go to a local butcher shop or grocery store and get ingredients such as beef, lamb or chicken feet, bones and joints. We strongly recommend grass-fed, organic bones and joints.

Second, follow this recipe to prepare and simmer bones in water in a pot on the stove or slow cooker, with other ingredients like apple cider vinegar and sea salt for at least 24 hours.

Although making bone broth at home is easy, it's time-consuming and may not always be convenient to make.

Therefore, you may want to supplement your homemade version of bone broth with ready-made or powder.

How Much Bone Broth To Drink For Leaky Gut?

As we mentioned, bone broth has been studied for its anti-inflammatory power, which may translate to a healthier gut and smoother digestion.

Plus, as we review, collagen, which is found in bone broth, can also help strengthen the lining of the GI tract to protect developing what's known as a leaky gut.

Bone broth is a comforting, calming delicious way to help heal your gut.

Drinking two cups of bone broth per day, along with anti-inflammatory foods and natural herbs and spices should go a long way to help support a healthy gut.

Did you know your favorite furry friend (dog or cat) can also get all the benefits of bone broth too? Check out this review of the best store bought bone broth for dogs.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There is a strong interest by researchers and scientists to explore the relationship between gut health along and other health ailments.

The ability of bacteria to 'leak out' of the intestinal lining into other parts of the body is of particular interest.

One of the reasons people may experience a 'leaky gut' is a lack of collagen and vital amino acids.

Bone broth can help heal leaky gut with its important amino acids and healing collagen.

You can easily make delicious and comforting bone broth at home. Although it's an easy process, it's a time-consuming process.

Therefore, many people also have ready-made broth or bone broth powder on hand to stay on track with their healing.

In closing, if you think bone broth might be right for you, definitely add in this superfood to your daily routine.