Home/Blog/Benefits of Bone Broth + 30 Ways to Enjoy

Benefits of Bone Broth + 30 Ways to Enjoy

By Rachel Link, RD, MS

September 29, 2026

Savory, soothing and chock-full of nutrients, bone broth has been consumed by humans since prehistoric times. Hunter-gatherers cooked animal bones, scraps of meat and vegetables in a big pot of water over a fire. It's been part of the Traditional Chinese Method for thousands of years. And now this ancient food is popular again.

What are the main health benefits of bone broth? Considering it’s one of the best sources of collagen protein along with other joint-supporting compounds, bone broth benefits include promoting joint comfort and mobility, skin health, healthy gut function and a healthy immune system.

Of course, you should always consult your healthcare professional prior to beginning any new dietary or lifestyle regimen. 

What is bone broth? 

Bone broth is a nutrient-filled stock made from slowly simmered animal bones and connective tissues. There are many different types of bone broth, such as chicken, beef or fish broths.

Bone broth was a way our ancestors made use of every part of an animal. The bones and marrow, skin and feet, tendons and ligaments would be boiled and then simmered over a period of days.

This simmering causes the bones and ligaments to release helpful compounds like collagen, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, proline, glycine and glutamine that have the power to boost your health.

While it's easy to make bone broth at home, Ancient Nutrition's Bone Broth Protein is a powder sourced from real bone broth. It's considered a convenient and concentrated way to reap the many benefits of traditional bone broth on a regular basis, only without the big time commitment involved in making homemade broth.

Bone Broth Protein formulas are three times as potent as homemade broth (in terms of protein content), making it simple to support a healthy gut, joints and response to inflammation. Bone Broth Protein can be used solo with water, mixed into smoothies or even used in recipes. Flavors include pure, chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel and turmeric flavors.

Meanwhile, sipping bone broth is a great way to have a snack or consume before a meal, as it helps soothe the gut and make you feel full. Ancient Nutrition offers savory sipping broths, such as those with chicken, tomato basil or butternut squash flavors.

Main components of bone broth

What is bone broth good for? It all comes down to the beneficial amino acids and compounds found within real bone broth. These are also responsible for Bone Broth Protein's ability to support healthy skin, joints, gut function, nails and more.

The best bone broth features collagen protein and a range of important amino acids (the “building blocks of protein”), plus minerals and beneficial compounds including glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid.

• Amino acids: You’ll find 18 amino acids in every serving of Bone Broth Protein. Amino acids are involved in almost every biological process and aid in normal muscle growth, hormone production, healthy cognitive function, appetite control and more.

• Type II collagen: Type 2 collagen is found in your gut lining, joints and cartilage. It helps to build and promote healthy connective tissues, acting as the “glue” that holds the body together. Bone Broth Protein's type 2 collagen comes from chickens.

• Type I and III collagen: Bone Broth Protein also contains beef-based collagen types I and III, and provides support for healthy nails, gut, joints and skin.

• Joint-supporting compounds: Something unique about Bone Broth Protein is that it provides glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid, all of which help support your joints and cartilage in moving smoothly and absorbing shock. These compounds are hard to find in many protein sources, making Bone Broth Protein a valuable tool for supporting healthy aging and more.

Benefits of bone broth 

Bone broth has a long history of use in traditional diets around the world, valued for its rich flavor, comforting qualities and unique nutritional profile. It naturally provides collagen-derived proteins and amino acids, including glycine and proline, which the body uses to help build and maintain connective tissues.

Today, bone broth is commonly consumed as part of a nutrient-dense diet and is also featured in eating approaches focused on digestive health, such as the GAPS diet. Ancient Nutrition's Bone Broth Protein powders offer a convenient way to obtain many of the nutritional components of bone broth while providing a concentrated source of protein.

Potential benefits of consuming bone broth and products such as Bone Broth Protein include:

1. Supports joint health

Bone broth provides collagen and amino acids that help support healthy connective tissues, including those found in the joints. This is one reason collagen-containing products are often included among the best joint supplements.

2. Supports gut health

The amino acids and other nutrients found in bone broth can help support the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract as part of an overall gut-friendly diet and healthy gut microbiome.

3. Supports a healthy immune system

Bone broth provides protein and amino acids that contribute to normal immune function and help support a healthy inflammatory response.

4. Supports healthy skin

Collagen provides amino acids used to build the body's own collagen and other structural proteins, helping support healthy skin and skin elasticity.

5. Provides a convenient source of protein

Bone Broth Protein makes it easy to add protein and collagen-derived amino acids to shakes, smoothies, recipes or other foods and beverages. (Note that regular bone broth doesn't contain an adequate amount of protein.)

Ways to consume bone broth

There are plenty of ways to enjoy this delicious broth and take advantage of the many potential bone broth benefits.

Some prefer simply drinking a cup of warm bone broth as is. You can also add it to soups or stews for a simple way to squeeze some added nutrients into your meal. It's also a more beneficial version of broth, so add your bone broth instead to those recipes that call for it. See our list of high-protein soups that use bone broth.

Ancient Nutrition also offers a line of savory bone broths that mix easily with water: chicken soup, tomato basil and butternut squash. These can be enjoyed on their own or as part of a recipe.

Bone Broth Protein's main flavors include Pure, Vanilla, Chocolate, Salted Caramel and Turmeric. Again, you can simply mix (with a frother if possible or shaker cup) with 8 to 16 ounces of liquid, then consume. Or you can add to many different kinds of recipes.

Here are easy ways to add protein to your diet, aka 30 suggested recipes using Bone Broth Protein …

Smoothies with bone broth:

• Dark chocolate protein smoothie

• Gut support smoothie

• Pumpkin spice smoothie

Breakfasts with bone broth:

• Blueberry Dutch baby pancake

• Spinach goat cheese frittata

• Salted caramel overnight oats

Baked goods with bone broth:

• Oatmeal breakfast cake

• Apple cider donuts

• Salted caramel blondies

Protein bars with bone broth:

• Carrot cake protein bars

• Protein fig bars

• Lemon protein bars

Energy balls with bone broth:

• Almond butter energy balls

• Chocolate chip energy balls

• Pecan pie energy balls

Hot drinks with bone broth:

• Healthy hot chocolate

• Pumpkin spice latte

• Turmeric latte

Meals with bone broth:

• Homemade chicken pot pie

• High-protein chili

• Quinoa-stuffed peppers

Snacks with bone broth:

• Classic hummus

• Kale quinoa cakes

• Butternut squash queso

Soups with bone broth:

• French onion soup

• Meatball soup

• Acorn squash soup

Desserts with bone broth:

• Flourless chocolate cake

• Chocolate chip skillet cookie

• Salted caramel ice cream

Frequently asked questions

Is it okay to drink bone broth every day?

The amount of bone broth that you should aim to drink each day can range quite a bit, depending on both your nutritional needs and health goals.

When first getting started, you may want to start by drinking 1–2 cups per day as part of a balanced diet, then increase your intake gradually over time.

Later, you can try incorporating a few more servings into your daily diet (such as in a Bone Broth Diet Plan), up to three servings per day, while you enjoy bone broth alongside meals or as a flavorful and filling snack. Each serving of Bone Broth Protein (one scoop), depending on the flavor, provides 15 to 20 grams of protein, making it a filling addition to your diet.

You may even opt to try a bone broth fast, which involves drinking bone broth multiple times per day with limited amounts of fruits, veggies, healthy fats and protein foods permitted. However, be sure to talk to a trusted healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, and keep in mind that fasting is not advisable for children, adolescents, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and those with certain underlying health conditions.

How long does it take to see the benefits of drinking bone broth?

This depends on how often you drink bone broth, plus your general health. Everyone is different and will have a different experience when using bone broth. What matters most is consistency. 

You may start to experience joint, skin and nails benefits over time. It can vary from person to person. Some see benefits earlier than others.

Is it okay to drink bone broth before bed?

Bone broth can be enjoyed at any time of day, depending on what works best for you. Although some prefer starting their mornings with a hot cup of bone broth or a smoothie made with Bone Broth Protein, drinking bone broth before bed is perfectly fine as well. Some also enjoy a cup of bone broth in the afternoon to keep the munchies at bay.

The most important thing is to find what works for your schedule and stick to it.