Bone broth is a powerhouse of nutrition and has so many health benefits for humans as well as their dogs. We often think of eating broth when we are sick, but as we understand more about the benefits of bone broth, more and more people are incorporating it into their regular diets. And the same trend is happening for dogs.
The first thing to understand is what bone broth is and is not. It is not a bouillon cube or instant mix which has no real food and is loaded with salt, sugar and preservatives. The bone broth we are referring to is a rich broth that has been achieved by slow cooking meat bones with water, vegetables and apple cider vinegar which extracts the minerals and collagen from the ligaments and bones.
Bone broth has been shown to:
- support joint health
- help detox the liver
- support digestive health and soothe a compromised gut
- provide nutrients for a sick dog
- help boost the immune system
- offer relief from food and environmental allergies
- benefit an upset tummy
- tempt picky eaters
Bone Broth Is Good for Joints
The health of your joints depends upon the health of the collagen in your ligaments, tendons and on the ends of your bones. Collagen is a structural protein and is the glue that holds the body together. When you slow cook tissue that contains collagen, you get gelatin-like liquid. The cartilage from the bones contain collagen which provides proteoglycans that act as a natural joint lubricant and shock absorber. It also provides glucosamine and chondroitin which provide cartilage elasticity, repair and maintenance.
Bone Broth Helps the Liver Detox
The liver is the master organ of detoxification. A dog’s liver is under assault daily as the poor dog lies on carpets and floors treated with chemicals, walks on grass that’s been treated and sprayed with poisons, consumes foods with toxic and synthetic ingredients, and suffers through toxic dewormers, flea and tick preventives, drugs, antibiotics, vaccines and more. The liver was never meant to suffer this onslaught of chemicals, and its capacity to detoxify is limited by the availability of the amino acid glycine. Bone broth has tons of glycine!
Bone Broth Promotes a Healthy Gut
The lining of the intestines contains millions of tiny holes that allow the passage of digested nutrients to enter the body. Stress, poor diet and bacterial overgrowth can cause more holes to open or to become bigger. This condition is called leaky gut.
The problem with those big holes is that things can pass through that aren’t meant to, including undigested food matter, toxins and yeast. The body will notice those undigested food particles as foreign invaders and start to attack them. This is how allergies and food sensitivities develop. Bone broth is loaded with gelatin, a gooey substance that can plug up those leaky holes.
Bone Broth Is Great Nutrition for Sick Dogs
Have you ever had a dog with terrible diarrhea and had trouble getting him back on solid food? Or a dog who is convalescing with loss of appetite but you know he needs more nutrition? Bone broth to the rescue!
Studies conducted in the 1800’s showed that when there is plenty of gelatin in the diet, the body’s need for protein from meat sources can be reduced by as much as fifty percent! Bone broth is also an excellent source of important minerals and can bolster the immune system (think chicken soup)!
Bone broth is also loaded with glycine, which aids digestion by helping to regulate the synthesis of bile salts and secretion of gastric acid.
New Bland Diet Products with Bone Broth
This blog is brought to you by Under the Weather®, makers of award-winning freeze-dried bland diets, including two new formulas with BONE BROTH. These bland diets are made with 100% human-grade ingredients sourced and manufactured in the U.S.A. We’ve also added electrolytes to help maintain healthy hydration levels at a time when your dog could become dehydrated. No preservatives, dyes, flavorings, soy or corn. Only wholesome goodness when your dog needs a bland diet to get through a bout of digestive upset.
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