The testimonial healing power of broth ranges from ADHD
to cancer. Mickey Trescott, author of The Autoimmune Paleo
Cookbook, says bone broth “is an integral part of the Autoimmune
Protocol because it is a nutrient-dense, gut-healing food.”
But why is gut healing so essential to one’s health? Because
up to 85 percent of the immune system resides in the gut. What’s
more, 90 percent of all the cells in the body consist of of gut flora.
An unhealthy gut will have a disproportionate ratio of pathogenic
flora to good flora. When this happens, the body sets itself up for
disease because the immune system is compromised.
Bone broth has a direct healing effect on the gut and the
immune system. Broth heals the gut by feeding its cells sugars
called glycosaminoglycans, which help to rebuild the gut layer.
Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride, a neurologist, came to know how
important gut healing is through her knowledge of neurology and
nutrition. Her desire to learn about the gut turned personal when
her son was diagnosed with autism, and this led her to create the
dietary program known as GAPS, which includes the use of bone
broth to seal and heal the mucosal lining of the gut.
Bone broth is an essential component of a healthy diet because it heals the body by supplying it with four major amino acids:
PROLINE: One of the major
amino acids, proline helps
the body build collagen
and cartilage. Even
though proline is found in
animal protein, even some
Paleoites may still be low
in this amino acid because
the body doesn’t always
efficiently convert the proline
in protein into a usable form.
GLYCINE: The simplest of
the amino acids, glycine is
crucial for healthy blood,
energy for our cells, and for
digesting fat. This is why
bone broth is so helpful
in resolving bowel issues.
Glycine also plays a pivotal
role in wound healing. Many
attest to the fast recovery
from injury using bone broth.
GLUTAMINE: The amino
acid that heals the gut
and supports the immune
system. Gut cells prefer
feeding on glutamine to
any other amino acid.
Glutamine helps the villi
of the small