Thursday, December 4, 2014

What Is Bone Broth—And Why Are People Suddenly Into It?

What Is Bone Brothâ€"And Why Are People Suddenly Into It?

Acai berries and kale better watch their backs.

First, Gwyneth Paltrow made gluten-free eating seem sexy. Then, it was conscious uncoupling. And now, Gwyneth is part of the momentum behind another trend: drinking bone broth—a simple stock made from the bones of animals—for health benefits. The actress included bone broth as an ingredient in Goop's Winter Detox Mag, but it's not the only place the food is popping up: A bone-broth subscription service called Bone Deep and Harmony opened in August, and there's even a food stall in New York called Brodo that sells primarily broth. Proponents of the food say it's full of healthy vitamins and minerals and that it even helps get rid of wrinkles and ease GI problems. The claims sound great, but are they true?

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Not exactly, says Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet. "When cooked to make broth, the bones can provide some calcium, some vitamin D, and some collagen, among other nutrients," says Gans. "But we don't know how much—and it's not to say that all of a sudden, this is a new superfood that we should be drinking all day."

How is the broth even made? Gans explains that the process is really simple: You put the bones in boiling water, add some veggies if you want (she’s partial to parsnips, parsley, celery, and carrots), then let it bubble away. The longer it cooks, the darker and more flavorful the broth gets.

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You can just drink the resulting liquid, but you can also use it for more creative purposes, like sautéing vegetables, says Gans. "It can be a nice addition to your diet, but it's really just another component," says Gans. In her research, she hasn't seen any studies that suggest bone broth has the potential to be anything more than part of a well-balanced diet.

If you're not into the idea of making your own but want to try bone broth out anyway, there are tons of pre-prepared versions you can pick up on your next grocery trip. Gans just warns to be aware of a few things on the ingredient label.

"If you're going store-bought, watch out for the amount of sodium," she says. "It really shouldn't have much added salt, if any. I'd say get one that has fewer than 150 grams of sodium per serving. And definitely look out for brands that offer options without any MSG."

Whether you’re whipping up a broth-based variety or otherwise, ’tis the season for soups! Check out these recipes to get your fill (but still keep off winter weight gain in the process).

RELATED: 6 Ways You're Ruining Superfoods

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