The Difference Between Bone Broth and Collagen

So much of our health starts in our gut! We can attribute the health of our digestive system, immune system, mental health, hormonal health and more, to our gut. What Happens When the Gut Lining Is Damaged? Damage to the gut lining can occur as a result of inflammation, indigestion, and dysbiosis. Prolonged periods of any of these symptoms reduces the production of digestive enzymes, increases the potential of other digestive disturbances, and overtime causes physical damage to the intestinal walls. When the intestinal barrier weakens, food particles, hormones, and toxins leak through into the body. If these particles pass through, they are identified as invaders and can trigger further systemic disruption. How Bone Broth Repairs the Gut Bone broth is an amazing example of gut supportive nutrition! It is made by slowly simmering animal bones in water to extract nutrients into easily digestible and absorbable nutrition. This amino acid-rich broth assists the regeneration and repair of the tissues lining the digestive tract due to a high collagen and gelatin content. Collagen is a protein that is rich in 19 easily absorbable amino acids, most prominently; proline, arginine, and glycine. These amino acids are vital for maintaining the integrity of the digestive tract. Bone broth also contains the amino acid, l-glutamine. L-glutamine is especially good at rebuilding proteins and repairing the intestinal barrier, and is often supplemented on its own for this exact reason. Bone broth is known for it’s high l-glutamine content. The nutritional profile doesn’t stop there! Bone broth is rich in gut supportive nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium and zinc, as well as vitamins A, C and E. And it contains natural compounds, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, which contribute to gut health by supporting the health of your microbiome. Bone broth is a great way to take in these nutrients due to its concentrated liquid form. And it is a clean source of protein, the essential macronutrient for cell regeneration! Choosing the Right Bone Broth Organika provides 3 delicious ways to support gut health. Our bone broths are clean, nutrient-dense and deliciously flavoured. Beef Bone Broth Organika beef bone broth comes in Original and Ginger flavours. It is a high protein, collagen-rich, low sodium alternative to regular beef broth. Always free of antibiotics and hormones, our beef broth comes from grass-fed cows in Sweden. We simmer the animal bones and connective tissues to extract the important gut supportive health benefits so that you don’t have to! 2. Chicken Bone Broth Our chicken bone broth comes in Original, Ginger and Turmeric flavours. It is a clean, single-ingredient broth powder sourced from cage-free USA chickens that are exclusively fed organic grain and are tested regularly for hormones, antibiotics, heavy metals or pesticides. It is a higher protein and collagen-rich alternative to regular chicken broth! As with our beef broth, it is rich in glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin, compounds that reduce inflammation and joint pain, as well as support the repair of the digestive lining. 3. Veggie Broth For vegetarians and vegans, we have our veggie broth that is packed full of real organic vegetables, adaptogenic tremella mushrooms and nutritional yeast! Nutritional yeast is a source of complete protein. Protein is an essential macronutrient vital for enzyme and hormone production, as well as the repair and regeneration of every cell in the body. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, you may be low in B vitamins. These water-soluble vitamins aren’t stored in the body and must be consumed on a regular basis. Our veggie broth is rich in B vitamins, vital for energy production, antioxidant action, and the building and repairing of DNA. Just like our other formulas, veggie broth also contains the gut supportive amino acid, l-glutamine, to maintain and support a healthy gut barrier! Heal Your Gut with Bone Broth Consuming this nutrient-dense, amino-acid rich product in a variety of dishes, on a daily basis, can help reduce inflammation, digestive disruptions and allergies, and thoroughly nourish your body in one quick scoop! Shop Broths About our Guest Author Alison Dowling HBA, NNCP Certified Alison is a Toronto actor and nutritionist. Through movement training and a love of food, she found holistic nutrition. When she's not writing or working with clients at the Clara Clinic in east Toronto, you'll find her catching up on auditions or brushing up her Shakespeare!

7 Reasons to start sipping on bone broth You may have heard about the plentiful benefits of bone broth, or that it is a highly nutritious source of protein, or that it is your ticket to gut health. Yes, to all the above. Bone broth is so much more than a comforting soup. It is a versatile accompaniment to recipes and the start to whole body health. If you have heard about it but are not sure if you should or need to have it in your pantry, let’s stir on that. What is bone broth? Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones and connective tissues for extended periods of time; typically made with cattle or chicken bones. Through the process of simmering, bones release beneficial nutrients such as collagen, gelatin, and amino acids (such as glycine, glutamine, and proline, to name a few). Alongside those nutrients are many key minerals, including protein, that aid tissue, gut, skin, and joint health. BONE BROTH NUTRITION FACTS Bone broth contains 19 easily absorbable amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Protein is the essential macronutrient needed in the body for cell regeneration. Not only does it help with muscle growth, but it also prevents muscle wasting and breakdown (which occurs naturally as you age). There is another incredible group of nutrients found in bone broth known as Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). GAGs play a key role in building strong ligaments, cartilage, nails and skin firmness. Two of these includes glucosamine and chondroitin, both of which are well-studied natural compounds that help to decrease joint pain and inflammation. Bone broth also contains hyaluronic acid (another GAG) which helps with collagen production and helps to lubricate joints, tissues, including the skin and gut lining. 7 Bone broth benefits — Why you should drink it. Strengthens your joints and connective tissues As a natural source of collagen (type 1 for beef bone broth type 2 for chicken) bone broth helps to restore your connective tissues as well as repair joint health. A key component of bone broths is gelatin, which is the cooked form of collagen. Gelatin is easily digestible and provides protection from wear and tear to the joints. It’s also been shown to improve joint pain in people with osteoarthritis. Fights inflammation Amino acids such as glycine, glutamine and arginine, all found in bone broth, have all been considered to play a strong role in decreasing inflammation in the body. Arginine has been helpful in fighting ongoing inflammation, which can lead to several conditions and health concerns over time. This includes metabolic syndrome, heart disease and others. Glycine, a main amino acid in collagen, plays a role in producing an antioxidant that helps improve cell health and prevent inflammation (in the liver and gut). Glutamine has also been shown to block the production of nitric oxide which causes inflammation in the body. Together these amino acids in bone broth can provide your body with less pain by blocking inflammation. Helps heal your gut Because bone broth’s nutrient profile helps to decrease inflammation, it does that throughout the body including the digestive tract lining. Glycine improves the integrity of your digestive tract and plays a vital role in the absorption of nutrients found in our foods, potentially helping with several conditions. Because bone broth has collagen which supports tissue health, this also encourages strength in the tissues lining the gut, making it stronger and more resistant (no more “leaky gut”). Improves immunity There is a reason why warm broth or “chicken soup” has been touted as a remedy for cold and flus. Because of its immense nutrient profile, bone broth fights inflammation and supports gut health as you just read. In turn, when the digestive tract is healthy, it feeds to your overall health and boosts the immune system. Sipping bone broth has been linked to improving symptoms of respiratory tract infections, soothing sore throats and stomachs. Boosts skin health Collagen helps form elastin and other compounds within skin that are responsible for maintaining skin’s textures, buoyancy, elasticity and glow. Because of bone broth’s composition being rich in collagen, it’s no surprise that skin health is inevitably a big benefit. In addition, the hyaluronic acid component supports collagen production, as well as retains moisture within the skin tissues and its cells to provide a more “plump” appearance to the skin. Helps in detoxification Because bone broths (as we’ve seen) support your gut health, decreases liver inflammation and improves the body’s use of antioxidants, it also is helpful in supporting the body carry out toxins. In addition to potassium and glycine, both of which support cellular health, bone broth provides glutathione. This has been studied to help remove fat-soluble compounds and heavy metals from the body and increase the use of antioxidants to help your liver function better. Boosts metabolism Bone broth has a high protein amount (12g or more in Organika’s Chicken and Beef Broth Powders). The complete protein profile includes all the amino acids that help the body to repair muscle tissues, increase bone health, boost nutrient absorption and maintain tissue health everywhere. It also helps the body to convert its glucose stores into usable energy. Protein, specifically amino acids like glutamine, helps the body maintain energy and increase nutrient uptake by cells. These play key roles in increased metabolism and why you may find yourself feeling “satisfied” after sipping on a whole cup of bone broth. Bone broth made simple. Traditionally, bone broth is made by simmering animal bones for hours (sometimes days!) to extract every single nutrient from the bones. Organika has made it easier with powdered bone broths. Organika’s bone broth powders are extremely easy to use as well as digest. Simply add water or stir it into soups, sauces and more! Try these recipes featuring our Bone Broth and Veggie Broth powders... Creamy Carrot and Dill Soup – Organika Health Products Healthy Homemade Pizza Recipe – Organika Health Products Vegetarian Ramen Recipe - Blog - Organika Health Products Veggie Keto Cracker Recipe – Organika Health Products Bone Broth Stuffing - Blog - Organika Health Products

What is Collagen? Collagen is the most abundant form of protein in our body. It provides strength, elasticity, and tone. Although we may think of collagen only in our skin, it can also be found throughout our bodies: from muscle fibres and bone matrix to our blood vessels. Collagen is the protein responsible for strong and flexible connective tissues. The collagen in our skin plays the role of improving our skin's moisture, suppleness and elasticity, and a healthy amount of collagen will give an overall youthful appearance. Our body produces its own collagen, using 3 amino acids as key "building blocks"; they are Glycine, Proline, and Hydroxyproline. Collagen formation in our body involves complex enzymatic reactions, and providing the building blocks is crucial in the process. WHY SHOULD I SUPPLEMENT WITH COLLAGEN? As we age, our collagen formation naturally decreases: starting at 1% every year in our twenties, and up to 50% by the time we hit 45. Poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking, can further decrease the collagen formation rate in our body. Less collagen leads to a loss of elasticity, strength, and tone throughout the body. You may notice this through signs of ageing, such as: Fine lines/wrinkles Brittle nails Cellulite Sagging skin Loss of moisture Weak ligaments Aching joints Arthritis Cartilage injuries There are ways to bring the collagen formation rate up again, such as providing enough "key building blocks." These amino acids are abundant in collagen-rich food, such as bone broth and chicken feet. Unfortunately, most people don't get enough collagen in their diet. Hence, collagen supplementation is beneficial for most people! It helps reduce the signs of ageing, keep the strength, tone and health of our connective tissues, and even improve the digestive tract. There are so many benefits to collagen other than beautiful skin, hair, and nails! THE MAIN TYPES OF COLLAGEN Let's break down the three most common types of collagen that you'll see in our bodies: Types 1, 2, and 3. Supplemental collagen is mainly found as Type 1, as well as a combination of Types 1 and 3. Generally, sourcing plays a role in the type of collagen that is extracted. For example, bovine collagen is sourced from the hides of cattle and is naturally high in Type 1 collagen. Here is a chart of the most common types of collagen supplements and how they are sourced. Now that you are ready to start supplementing with a Collagen powder, which source should you use? What is the difference? Is there a price difference between them? Here is a breakdown of the characteristics and benefits of bovine, marine, and poultry-sourced collagen: Bovine Collagen Naturally sourced from the hides of cattle (be sure it is sourced from the hides), this kind is very high in collagen Types 1 and 3 and contains a high amount of protein. In fact, it contains almost double the amount found in marine collagen. With a large amount of glycine (a functional amino acid), bovine collagen is excellent for hair, skin, nails, as well as our connective tissues and digestive health. In most cases, bovine collagen will give you a better bang for your buck. Marine Collagen Naturally sourced from the scales and/or skins of marine species (usually cold water fish like cod or salmon), marine collagen is very high in Type 1 collagen, which is known to increase tightness, tone, and skin elasticity. It is very beneficial for skin, hair, and nail health, and is referred to as the fountain of youth. If you are a pescetarian or prefer fish-based products, marine collagen is the one for you. Poultry Naturally sourced from chicken sternum cartilages (very high in Type 2 collagen), it is high in Hyaluronic Acid and Chondroitin Sulfate, which are essential for healthy and strong cartilages, joints and ligaments. BioCell Collagen contains a potent amount of hydrolyzed collagen which stimulates collagen production in the skin, supports the health of our joints, and keeps the moisture in our skin and lubrication around our joints. What Can Collagen Do for Me? Collagen is highly beneficial to our body for many health reasons. Mostly known for its anti-ageing effects, collagen has been researched and shown to improve more than just your skin's texture and tone. So, what are the benefits of collagen supplements? Here are a few proven benefits from collagen: Increased moisture within the body (skin & joints) Improved digestive health (leaky gut) Immune support Improved mood Stable blood sugar/weight management Connective tissue health (joints, cartilage and ligaments) Reduction in inflammation within the body Improved bone health The amazing thing about collagen is that it is a very versatile and functional supplement for all lifestyles and ages. It is also an easy supplement to include in your daily routine: add it in your morning smoothies, yogurt, coffee, and even to your baking! Organika's Enhanced Collagen Enhanced Collagen from Organika goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the modern-day health enthusiast. Stress, energy, cognitive function, etc. are all symptoms that can be addressed through Organika's collagen - hence the name "Enhanced"! Whether you are in a time crunch or need a convenient way to get some much-needed nutrients, Enhanced Collagen can help you make an event out of your morning cup, or give your baked goods a nutritious boost. It is super simple to find a product that works for you! Organika has a variety of formulas created just for your modern, on-the-go lifestyle and all can be mixed in water, smoothies, coffees, even baked goods! So find which one works best for you! Check out this handy cheat sheet. Conclusion: With over 300 various collagen supplements on the market, choosing the collagen that is right for you can seem overwhelming and confusing. When choosing a collagen supplement, always make sure to ask or research a few important details before making your decision. Wondering what makes a great collagen supplement? Find out here in this blog. Do you still have questions about Collagen? Download our e-book to learn more about the different types of collagen and which one is for you!