Is Chewing Bones Good for Humans? Understanding the Risks and Safe Alternatives

While popular for pets, a surprisingly high number of emergency room visits are linked to ingested bone fragments. This raises a critical question: is chewing bones good for humans, or does it pose serious health risks to our different physiology?

Quick Summary

Unlike pets, humans face significant dangers from chewing bones, including severe dental damage and potentially fatal internal injuries from splinters. Safer methods like bone broth provide the nutrients.

Key Points

• Significant Risks: Chewing bones is extremely dangerous for humans, risking cracked teeth, gum damage, and serious internal injuries from swallowed fragments.

• Cooked Bones are Most Dangerous: Heat makes bones brittle and prone to splintering into sharp shards, increasing the risk of internal perforation or obstruction.

• Ineffective for Nutrients: Chewing solid bone is an ineffective way to absorb nutrients like calcium and collagen, as the human digestive system cannot break them down efficiently.

• Bone Broth is a Safe Alternative: The best and safest method to obtain bone nutrients is by simmering bones for an extended time to create bone broth, which leaches beneficial compounds.

• Marrow Can Be Extracted Safely: Nutrient-rich bone marrow can be safely extracted from bones after cooking, like roasting, without needing to chew the bone itself.

• Seek Medical Help if Swallowed: If a bone fragment is swallowed and causes choking, pain, or discomfort, immediate medical attention is necessary due to the risk of internal damage.

• Safe Chewing Alternatives Exist: To satisfy a chewing urge or strengthen the jaw, healthy and safe options like crunchy vegetables, nuts, or sugar-free gum are recommended.

The Serious Risks of Chewing Solid Bones

Unlike carnivores with robust dental structures, the human body is not built for chewing and ingesting large, hard bone fragments. The potential risks are severe and far outweigh any perceived benefits. From immediate dental trauma to life-threatening internal complications, the practice is a dangerous one.

The Danger to Your Teeth

Dentists are vocal in their opposition to chewing solid bones due to the high risk of dental damage. Human teeth are designed for grinding and tearing softer foods, not for withstanding the immense force required to break down hard bone. The act of gnawing on a bone can lead to:

• Cracked or chipped teeth: The immense pressure can cause fractures, some of which may be hairline cracks (craze lines) that eventually lead to a full break.
• Enamel erosion: Abrasive chewing can wear down the protective enamel, making teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity.
• Jaw problems: The excessive force can cause or exacerbate problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to pain and dysfunction.
• Gum injury: Sharp bone edges can cut and lacerate the gums, creating entry points for bacteria and increasing the risk of infection.

Internal Injury and Digestive Complications

Perhaps the most perilous risk of chewing bones is the potential for internal injury from swallowing fragments. Bone shards can become lodged in the throat, but more dangerously, they can cause serious harm as they travel through the digestive tract. These fragments can lead to:

• Perforation: A sharp bone piece can puncture the intestinal wall, leading to internal bleeding, infection, and peritonitis.
• Obstruction: Larger fragments can cause a blockage in the bowel, which may require emergency surgery to resolve.
• Fistula formation: In rare cases, a bone fragment can create an abnormal connection between two parts of the intestine or other organs.

A Warning About Cooked Bones

Cooking bones makes them particularly hazardous for consumption. The heat causes bones to become brittle and prone to splintering into needle-sharp shards. While a raw, soft bone from a small animal might pass, cooked bones pose an even greater threat of internal damage and should never be chewed or ingested.

Debunking the Nutritional Myth

For many, the idea of chewing bones is linked to the pursuit of nutrients like calcium and collagen. While bones are rich in these compounds, chewing them is a highly ineffective and dangerous way to acquire them. The human digestive system is not equipped to break down and absorb the minerals from solid bone fragments.

Nutrients Are Not Easily Accessible

• Mineral encapsulation: The calcium and phosphorus in bone are locked within the rigid structure, which the human stomach cannot dissolve in the short time the bone passes through.
• Inadequate digestion: Our digestive acids are not powerful enough to fully process large or dense bone fragments, unlike some specialized animals. The risk of passage problems is far greater than the likelihood of mineral absorption.

A Look at Bone Marrow

Bone marrow, the fatty tissue inside bones, is a nutrient-dense food rich in healthy fats, collagen, and vitamins. However, this is not obtained by chewing the hard bone itself. Marrow is extracted through cooking methods or by a butcher's preparation and can be safely enjoyed when prepared correctly.

Safe and Effective Ways to Consume Bone Nutrients

There are several risk-free methods for extracting the nutritional benefits from animal bones without the danger of chewing them directly. These include time-tested culinary techniques that make the compounds bioavailable.

• Make bone broth: The most popular method, bone broth involves simmering bones for an extended period (12-24 hours for beef bones). This process leaches valuable nutrients like collagen, gelatin, and minerals into the water, creating a nourishing liquid.
• Roast bone-in cuts: Cooking meat on the bone, especially in slow-cooking preparations, allows the bone marrow to melt and flavor the surrounding meat. This safely incorporates some of the nutrients into your meal.
• Use marrow as an ingredient: Roasted bone marrow can be scooped out and used as a spread for toast or to enhance the flavor and nutritional value of other dishes.
• Eat cartilage and soft ends: Some people enjoy the softer, cartilaginous ends of cooked bones, such as on a chicken drumstick. This is generally safer, but caution must still be exercised to avoid ingesting hard, splintered pieces.

Comparison: Chewing Bones vs. Consuming Bone Broth

Feature	Chewing Solid Bones	Consuming Bone Broth
Nutrient Absorption	Ineffective and minimal due to digestive limitations.	Highly effective, as nutrients like collagen and minerals are leached into the liquid.
Dental Risks	Extremely high risk of cracked teeth, enamel damage, and gum injury.	No dental risk from bone material.
Digestive Risks	High risk of internal injury, perforation, and obstruction from splinters.	No digestive risk, as the bone material is strained out.
Nutritional Source	Primarily limited to surface tissue and marrow (if extracted).	Extracts beneficial collagen, gelatin, glycine, and minerals from the bone and marrow.
Safety	Highly dangerous for humans.	Safe and beneficial.

Safe Alternatives for the Chewing Habit

For those who enjoy the act of chewing or seek jaw strength, many safer alternatives exist that offer a healthy crunch without the risks of bone.

• Crunchy vegetables: Raw carrots, celery sticks, and bell peppers are excellent, healthy options for satisfying a desire to chew.
• Hard nuts: Almonds and walnuts can provide a good, controlled crunch while delivering healthy fats and protein.
• Sugar-free gum: A long-lasting option that can stimulate jaw muscles without the risk of dental damage.
• Dental chew toys: For those with an unconscious chewing habit, specialized, non-toxic chew products designed for adults can be a safer alternative.

What to Do If You've Swallowed a Bone

If you believe you have swallowed a piece of bone, especially if it is sharp or causing symptoms, it is important to take immediate action.

If you are choking or have difficulty breathing, call for emergency medical help immediately.

If the bone seems to have passed but you feel discomfort:

1. Monitor your symptoms: Keep an eye out for severe pain, fever, chest pain, or bloody stools, which could indicate a perforation.
2. Eat soft foods: Some sources suggest eating soft, fibrous foods like bread or drinking water to help protect the digestive tract as the bone passes.
3. Contact a doctor: If the sensation of something being stuck persists for more than 30 minutes, or if any severe symptoms develop, seek medical evaluation. A doctor can perform imaging and determine if a bone is lodged somewhere, potentially requiring removal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, chewing solid animal bones is not good for human health due to serious and well-documented dental and digestive risks. The human body is not anatomically suited for this practice, and safer, more effective methods exist to extract the nutrients contained within bones. While the nutritional value of bones is real, it is best accessed through safe culinary techniques like making bone broth or extracting bone marrow. By understanding the dangers and embracing safer alternatives, you can protect your health while still benefiting from bone-derived nutrients.

For more information on the dangers of ingested foreign bodies, consult medical literature, such as resources from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't humans chew bones like dogs or other carnivores?

Humans have different dental structures and digestive systems than carnivores. Our teeth are not designed to withstand the force needed to break down hard bones, and our stomachs cannot efficiently digest large, sharp fragments.

What are the specific dental risks of chewing on bones?

Chewing on bones can cause cracked or chipped teeth, wear down protective enamel, damage the temporomandibular joint, and lacerate gums with sharp edges.

Is there any nutritional value in bones for humans?

Yes, bones contain valuable nutrients like collagen, gelatin, and minerals. However, these are not safely or effectively obtained by chewing and swallowing the solid bone itself. The best method is to make bone broth or consume cooked bone marrow.

Are cooked bones safer to chew than raw bones?

No, cooked bones are actually more dangerous. The heat makes them brittle and prone to splintering into small, sharp shards that can cause severe internal damage if swallowed.

What should I do if I accidentally swallow a bone fragment?

If you experience choking, severe pain, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical help. If only mild discomfort, eat soft, fibrous foods and monitor for symptoms of internal injury. Consult a doctor if the sensation persists.

What is the best way to get collagen from bones for human consumption?

The most effective and safest method is to create bone broth by simmering bones for many hours. This process breaks down the collagen into gelatin and releases it into the liquid.

What are some safe alternatives if I like the feeling of chewing on hard objects?

Safe alternatives for a healthy chew include crunchy vegetables like carrots or celery, hard nuts, or sugar-free gum. Specialized chew toys designed for adults are also an option.