In many parts of the world, animal bone marrow has been recognized as part of a healthy diet for centuries. Other countries, such as the United States, have been slower to appreciate the benefits of bone marrow.
Over the last decade or so, however, there has been a growing awareness of the amazing benefits to be had by including bone marrow in the diet. In this article, I’ll reveal 6 impressive health benefits of eating animal bone marrow.
What is Animal Bone Marrow?
Marrow is the name we give to the spongy type compound that is found in the center of bones. Contained within the marrow are connective tissues and stem cells. These grow in white and red blood cells which are used to transport oxygen and nutrients around the body.
The bone marrow which is most usually consumed by humans is derived from cows and sheep. It is sold as a liquid, capsule, or powder and can be used as a stand-alone drink or added to soups. It can also be turned into a spread and put on bread or toast.
Ok, let’s drill down on the 5 key benefits of bone broth and bone marrow …
High in the Protein Collagen
Animal bone marrow is a rich source of nutrients and minerals. It is especially high in collagen, which is the most abundant protein in the human body. Maintaining a constant supply of collagen protein will provide many benefits, chiefly among which is to keep your skin rejuvenated and wrinkle-free.
Collagen also helps to prevent joint pain to promote mobility and joint health. It will also help preserve lean muscle mass and improve bone health.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is part of your body’s natural defense system. However, chronic inflammation is bad news for the body. In fact, it can lead to such potentially deadly conditions as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
One of the proteins that are found in animal bone marrow is the amino acid glycine. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound that has been shown to fight chronic inflammation in the body.
Animal bone marrow also contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has also been shown to help reduce chronic inflammation in the body.
Adiponectin is another protein hormone that is contained in the animal bone marrow. There is scientific evidence showing that it helps reduce the markers for chronic inflammation.
Skin Benefits
Adding animal bone marrow is one of the best things you can do for the health of your skin. This is largely due to the rich levels of collagen that are contained in the bone marrow. There have been many studies to show how beneficial collagen is to skin health. In one study, a cohort of 69 women who took 2.5-5.0 g collagen per day for two months saw significant improvement in the elasticity, smoothness, and overall health of their skin.
Boosts Immune Function
Animal bone marrow has the ability to help improve human immune function. That is because it contains the same stem cells that are used by humans to make white and red blood cells. White blood cells are especially important in fighting off toxins and keeping us disease-free.
Another immune-boosting compound contained in animal bone marrow is alkylglycerol. This is a lipid that has been shown to possess a number of immune-boosting properties.
Helps with Weight Loss
We have already mentioned that animal bone marrow contains the protein hormone adiponectin. Among its other benefits, adiponectin helps to break down fats in the body. It has been seen to lower the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
It has also been shown that individuals who are obese have very low levels of adiponectin, while leaner people have much higher amounts.
Nutrient Content
Animal bone marrow consumption provides a very rich source of beneficial nutrients. If you consume it daily, you will be covering a large proportion of your reference daily intake (RDI) of many key vitamins and minerals.
The following essential nutrients are well represented in animal bone marrow …
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B12
- Riboflavin
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Thiamine
How to Include Bone Marrow to Your Diet
There are a number of ways to make animal bone broth a part of your diet. One thing to keep in mind is that bone marrow is quite high in fat content so you do not want to take too much of it.
You should source your bone marrow from a butcher that you know and trust. It should be sourced from bones that are light pink. The animals from which the bones are derived should have been grass-fed and range-free.
I recommend getting your marrow from cows.
To remove marrow from animal bones, you should cook the bones on a simmer for 36-48 hours in a slow cooker. It can then be used as the base for a nutritious broth or soup.
You can also use bone marrow as an oil. Use a spoon to extract the marrow from the bone and add it to your frying pan just as you would any cooking oil. You may choose to add a little coconut or canola oil.
Bone marrow can also be used as the base for a sauce for meat dishes or a spread to go on bread and toast.
If you don’t want to bother with extracting the marrow from the bone yourself, you can buy animal bone marrow that is already extracted. Depending on your preference you can purchase it in the form of a capsule, a powder, or a liquid dietary supplement.
How Does Bone Marrow Taste?
Most people find the taste of bone marrow to be very pleasant. After bone marrow has been cooked, it takes on a similar texture to butter that is very soft. Bone marrow has a sweet, mildly tarty taste.
Conclusion
Adding animal bone marrow to your diet will deliver maximum health benefits. It will deliver a dense nutrient boost to your system that will enhance your immunity, improve your skin, promote, joint health, healthy bones, and help with weight loss. Just don’t go overboard with your use, as it is high in fat content which may lead to weight gain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it best to take animal bone marrow in its natural form or as bone broth supplements?
The difference between taking it in its raw state or as bone broth supplements really comes down to convenience. Many people prefer the ease of simply taking a capsule in the morning whereas others prefer to make their bone marrow right from the bone. The nutrition benefits are much the same in both cases.