How Bone Broth Entered the CPG Mainstream
Bone broth, often referred to as the “original superfood,” traces its origins back to the dawn of human history. Anthropologists suggest that our ancestors, as early as prehistoric times, brewed liquids infused with bones and other animal parts over fires, utilizing every part of their hunt. This practice of using the entire animal resonates across cultures worldwide, where people make bone broth from locally available animals.
Homemade broth gained popularity during the Industrial Revolution when rising fuel costs made it impractical to simmer broth for hours. So, as people worked longer hours and traveled more, inventors created convenient alternatives like broth powders and bouillon cubes.
Today, there’s a growing rejection of mass-produced, commercially processed foods in favor of organic, locally sourced options. Health-conscious consumers are turning to slow cookers and farmers’ markets to make their own broth or purchasing from trusted companies that use high-quality ingredients, like Kettle & Fire.
The bone broth trend has been significantly influenced by health and wellness influencers who have championed its benefits and versatility. Notable figures and brands have played pivotal roles in bringing bone broth into the spotlight:
How did the Bone Broth Trend Start?
Bone broth has seen a surge in recent years, thanks in part to the influence of the Paleo community and innovative entrepreneurs like Justin Mares.
Primal Influence: The Paleo diet movement, championed by figures like Robb Wolf and Mark Sisson, significantly contributed to the rise of bone broth. This diet emphasizes consuming foods available to our Paleolithic ancestors (from around 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago), including fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds. Paleo advocates endorsed bone broth for its health benefits, driving its popularity among health-conscious consumers.
Innovative Impact: Justin Mares, co-founder of Kettle & Fire, was a pioneer in bringing Regenerative Certified bone broth to the market. Early on, his brand adopted regenerative agriculture practices, focusing on sustainability and soil health throughout its supply chain. A long-time Paleo diet advocate, Mares launched Kettle & Fire in 2015 while seeking convenient, gut-friendly foods to support joint health. The goal was to create a high-quality, shelf-stable one broth free from preservatives and additives.
What is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is a nutrient-rich liquid derived from simmering animal bones and connective tissue. Typically, it utilizes leftover bones that may otherwise be discarded. The terms “bone broth” and “stock” are often used interchangeably, as both involve simmering animal bones (and sometimes meat) in water.
Stock Vs Bone broth
Bone broth is simmered for a prolonged period (10-12 hours). This extended cooking time allows for the extraction of nutrients from the bones into the broth, giving it a richer flavor and more robust nutritional profile. Bone broth is also notably higher in protein than stock.
Stocks are thicker and denser, with little flavor. Broths are more liquid in nature and are seasoned with herbs and spices.
Consumer Appeal & Health Benefits
Bone broth appeals to modern consumers for its natural composition and simple ingredients, which are becoming increasingly important as more people seek to avoid ultra processed foods.
Collagen for Healthy Aging
Bone broth is renowned for its rich content of collagen, a vital protein that serves as a building block for various tissues in the body. Collagen stands as the most abundant protein in humans, providing structural support and elasticity to bones, tendons, skin, cartilage, and joints.
Consuming collagen-rich foods like bone broth is believed to support the body’s collagen levels, potentially promoting skin health and joint function.
A Glutamine Supplement
Bone broth is a rich source of the amino acid, glutamine, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of the tissues lining your gastrointestinal tract. Glutamine, the most abundant amino acid in the body and a vital building block of protein, is becoming increasingly popular among consumers as they become more knowledgeable about amino acids.
Glutamine Benefits
Gut Health: glutamine helps protect the mucosa, the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, and may reduce inflammation throughout the gut. This makes it especially beneficial for individuals with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, who may have insufficient glutamine levels.
Stress Response: While the body typically produces enough glutamine for its regular needs, during times of extreme stress, such as fasting, heavy exercise or injury, the body’s demand for glutamine can exceed its production capacity.
Waste Removal: Glutamine is important for removing excess ammonia, a common waste product in the body, supporting overall metabolic health.
Immune and Brain Function: This amino acid is also critical for proper immune system function and may be needed for normal brain function and digestion.
Protein Boost
Bone broth is relatively high in protein, making it an excellent addition to consumers looking to boost their protein intake (check out the previous blog on protein!).
One serving of chicken broth = one gram of protein
Natural Gatorade (Electrolyte)
Bone broth contains essential electrolytes, which are minerals that support fluid balance in your body. These electrolytes include → sodium, potassium, and calcium, all of which play critical roles in maintaining various bodily functions.
What’s Trending in Bone Broth Right Now?
The bone broth trend continues to evolve, with new uses and products emerging to meet diverse consumer needs. Some of the latest trends include:
Bone Broth for Cats and Dogs. Bone broth is gaining popularity as a supplement for pets, improving joint health, skin and coat health, hydration, and natural detoxification of the gut. Some brands include Brutus Bone Broth and Open Farm.
Bone Broth Protein Powder. Brands like Ancient Nutrition offer bone broth protein powder, with one serving providing 20 grams of protein in just 90 calories. Another notable brand, Naked Nutrition, sources its protein powder from premium European beef bones. This convenient form of bone broth makes it easier to boost protein anytime.
Bone Broth Fast. Also known as a bone broth cleanse or detox, this practice involves consuming bone broth and not much else for a short period of time, typically one to three days. The goal is to give your digestive system a break while taking in added nutrients.
During his 86-hour “water fast,” Dana White singled out Kettle & Fire as “the cleanest broth available.”
Ways to Enjoy Bone Broth
Bone broth is incredibly versatile, making it easy to incorporate into your diet. Some of these ways include:
Sip on Warm Bone Broth: Drink bone broth like a cup of tea. Simply heat it up and sip it slowly, savoring its rich flavor and health benefits.
Cook Whole Grains: Use bone broth instead of water to cook whole grains like rice, quinoa, or barley. This adds a depth of flavor and boosts the nutritional value of the grains.
Homemade Soups and Stews: Incorporate bone broth as a base for homemade soups and stews. It enhances the taste while providing added nutrients.
Smoothie Boost: Add bone broth or ice cubes made from it to your smoothies. This addition can increase the protein content and nutritional profile of your smoothie without altering its flavor significantly.
PYP Call to Action
Looking to make a bone broth and in need of suppliers and manufacturers? Pick Your Packer is a free search engine tool that can connect you with the services you need to make your nutrient rich product.
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