Unlocking Your Health: What are the benefits of eating bone?

October 16, 2025 •

4 min read

Bone broth, made by simmering animal bones, has seen a resurgence in popularity, celebrated for its rich flavor and numerous health benefits. So, what are the benefits of eating bone, and how can you safely incorporate these valuable nutrients into your diet? This nutritional deep dive explores how prepared bones can support your joints, gut, and overall wellness.

Quick Summary

Simmering animal bones extracts beneficial nutrients like collagen, minerals, and amino acids into a digestible broth or gelatin. This supports joint mobility, improves gut health, enhances skin elasticity, and provides a dense source of vitamins and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Key Points

Collagen Boost: Bone broth and marrow are rich in collagen and gelatin, which support skin elasticity, joint function, and stronger hair and nails.
Mineral-Dense: Bones and marrow contain essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron for robust bone density and overall health.
Gut Healing: The gelatin in bone broth can help repair and strengthen the gut lining, potentially alleviating symptoms of 'leaky gut' and promoting better digestion.
Anti-Inflammatory: Compounds like glycine found in bone broth have anti-inflammatory effects that can help reduce inflammation associated with chronic diseases.
Immune Support: Bone marrow provides vitamins and minerals like zinc and vitamins A and B12 that play a crucial role in a healthy immune system.
Safe Preparation is Key: Direct ingestion of hard bones is dangerous; instead, safely consume nutrients through slow-simmered bone broth or cooked marrow.

A Traditional Practice with Modern Health Benefits

For centuries, cultures around the world have utilized every part of an animal, including the bones, to create nourishing stocks and broths. This practice, now embraced by modern nutritional science, reveals that a slow simmer effectively extracts a wealth of compounds from bones that are difficult to obtain elsewhere in the diet. While eating raw, hard bones is unsafe and should be avoided due to the risk of choking and internal injury, consuming their prepared components is a different story.

The Power of Collagen and Gelatin

One of the most touted benefits comes from the high concentration of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, which is extracted during the simmering process and becomes gelatin. This powerful protein provides a structural framework for your skin, ligaments, tendons, and bones. As we age, our natural collagen production declines, which can lead to reduced skin elasticity and joint pain. Regularly consuming collagen-rich bone broth or bone marrow can counteract this process, supporting skin hydration and strengthening connective tissues.

Mineral-Rich Marrow: Nature's Superfood

Beyond the bones themselves, the marrow found inside is a nutrient powerhouse. This fatty, nutrient-dense tissue is a source of healthy fats like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, along with important vitamins and minerals. When simmered, these nutrients infuse the broth, adding a rich, savory flavor and a host of health benefits. Bone marrow is known to contain vitamins A, B12, E, and K2, as well as minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium, and calcium. This unique nutritional profile aids in a variety of bodily functions, from supporting the immune system to enhancing brain health.

Supporting Your Joints and Reducing Inflammation

Bone-derived nutrients are a boon for joint health. Collagen and gelatin provide amino acids that are crucial for building and repairing cartilage, the flexible tissue that cushions your joints. Additionally, bone broth contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, compounds often sold as supplements to treat joint pain and osteoarthritis. The anti-inflammatory properties of compounds like glycine, also found in bone broth, can help reduce overall inflammation in the body, which is linked to a variety of chronic conditions.

Nurturing a Healthy Gut

For those with digestive issues, bone broth and marrow offer a soothing solution. The gelatin and amino acids, particularly glutamine, have been shown to help repair and strengthen the mucosal lining of the digestive tract. This can help heal a condition known as "leaky gut," where damage to the intestinal wall allows substances to leak into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation. A healthy gut lining is fundamental to proper nutrient absorption and overall immune function.

Comparison of Bone Broth and Bone Marrow

While both offer significant benefits, bone broth and bone marrow differ in their primary nutritional focus.


Feature	Bone Broth	Bone Marrow
Preparation	Long, slow simmering of bones with water, vinegar, and aromatics.	Can be roasted and scooped directly from the bone, or simmered to release into broth.
Nutrient Profile	High in collagen, gelatin, amino acids (glycine, proline, glutamine), glucosamine, chondroitin, and minerals (calcium, phosphorus).	High in healthy fats (omega-3s, omega-6s), vitamins (A, B12, E, K2), and minerals (iron, zinc).
Taste & Texture	A savory, rich liquid that can gel when cooled, depending on the collagen content.	Rich, buttery, and fatty taste with a creamy texture.
Primary Benefits	Strong emphasis on joint support, gut healing, and skin elasticity.	Boosts immune system, brain function, and provides a concentrated source of fats and vitamins.

Potential Risks and Safety

It is crucial to prepare and consume bones safely. The biggest risk comes from consuming hard, brittle bones directly, which can cause choking, cracked teeth, or serious gastrointestinal damage. The safest methods involve extraction via simmering for broth or enjoying the soft, fatty marrow after roasting. Sourcing bones from healthy, grass-fed animals can also minimize concerns about heavy metal accumulation, which is a potential issue with bone meal supplements.

Conclusion: A Nutritious and Flavorful Addition

Incorporating bone-derived products like bone broth and bone marrow into your diet can provide a profound nutritional boost, especially for those seeking to improve joint, gut, and skin health. This traditional practice, now supported by modern health enthusiasts, offers a flavorful and holistic way to reap the benefits of nutrients often missing from modern diets. By understanding the proper, safe preparation methods, you can unlock a powerhouse of collagen, minerals, and vitamins that contribute to your overall well-being. For a deeper dive into the science, a review of collagen's role in bone strength is available from Osteoporosis International.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

The safest and most effective way for humans to consume bones for their nutrients is by making bone broth or by roasting and consuming the marrow. The long simmering process of making broth extracts collagen and minerals into a digestible liquid. Eating hard, cooked bones is not safe and can cause serious injury.

Bone broth is typically simmered for much longer than regular stock—often 24 to 72 hours. This extended cook time breaks down collagen and connective tissues, resulting in a liquid that is richer in protein, gelatin, amino acids, and minerals compared to a standard stock.

No. While bone meal is a mineral supplement, it carries risks due to potential heavy metal accumulation, including lead, and concerns about pathogens like BSE ('mad cow disease'). Bone broth, made from ethically sourced bones, is generally considered a safer way to get bone-derived nutrients.

Yes, large animals can accumulate heavy metals like lead over their lifetime, which is a concern particularly with concentrated supplements like bone meal. However, studies have shown the levels of toxic metals in bone broth are usually too low to cause health problems.

Bone marrow is a rich source of healthy fats (omega-3 and omega-6), vitamins A, B12, E, and K2, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and selenium. It also contains collagen, which is beneficial for joints, skin, and bones.

Bone broth contains collagen, gelatin, glucosamine, and chondroitin, which are key components of cartilage. Consuming these nutrients can help support and repair joint cartilage, reduce inflammation, and alleviate joint pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis.

For a nutrient-rich broth, use a variety of bones, including joint bones (knuckles, chicken feet) for high collagen content and marrow bones (from beef, lamb, or pork) for a richer flavor and fat profile. Sourcing from grass-fed or pastured animals is recommended for higher quality.