Why bone broth might not be right for you
You've probably heard of bone broth as the new superfood. For most people, broth is very healthy. It’s rich in minerals and amino acids, and boasts a long list of health benefits, including immune, skin and gut health.
So, why is broth not right for some people?
Broth is high in glutamate, which is basically the same as the amino acid glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid, which means that our bodies can make glutamic acid, and we don’t need to obtain it from food. It’s important for digestive, immune and brain health.
Normally, the amount of glutamate allowed into the brain is regulated. But with a leaky blood-brain barrier, excess glutamate may be able to enter the brain.
I’ll leave it up to Dr Amy Nett to explain:
“…it may be that in the setting of inflammation, we have a leaky BBB, which allows more glutamate to enter the brain than normal. Moreover, since some people have a genetic predisposition to glutamate sensitivity, it may be that a combination of excess glutamate in the diet, combined with chronic low grade inflammation, and an associated leaky BBB, contribute to symptoms.”
If you notice any symptoms like fatigue or brain fog after drinking broth, this may be why.
What’s the alternative?
Try shorter cooked meat stocks instead, which will still give you nutritional benefits without the high levels of glutamate. This involves cooking meat on the bone in water until it is cooked (around an hour for chicken and around 3 hours for beef). Strain the broth and drink or add to soups and stew.
Have you noticed any symptoms after drinking broth? Hop on over to the comments and share!
