There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about a pot of bone broth simmering on the stove. Long before bone broth became a wellness trend, people understood the value of using the whole animal and turning bones, connective tissue, cartilage, and marrow into something nourishing.
Today, we have a better understanding of some of the nutrients that make bone broth valuable. It can provide amino acids such as glycine, proline, glutamine, arginine, and hydroxyproline, along with minerals and gelatin derived from collagen-rich tissues.
And from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, bone broth has long been considered a deeply nourishing food associated with the Kidney system, bones, marrow, Qi, and Jing.
For both people and pets, I think of bone broth as a nutrient-dense food that can complement a healthy diet—not as a magic cure or a replacement for a balanced diet.
What Exactly Is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is made by slowly simmering animal bones, joints, cartilage, connective tissue, and sometimes small amounts of meat in water. The cooking process breaks down collagen and connective tissue, releasing gelatin, amino acids, peptides, and other compounds into the liquid.
The length of cooking and the types of bones used can influence the nutritional composition. Knuckles, joints, feet, necks, and other cartilage-rich bones tend to produce a broth that becomes naturally gelatinous when chilled.
That "jello" texture is a good sign that collagen-rich connective tissue has been extracted.
One analysis of beef, chicken, and turkey bone broths found measurable amounts of numerous amino acids, including glycine, proline, arginine, glutamate, lysine, and hydroxyproline. The researchers also found that the amino-acid profile varied depending on the animal source.
This is one reason I like to think of bone broth as more than just flavored water. It is a food that can provide a variety of nutrients in a very simple form.
The Nutritional Benefits of Bone Broth
Bone broth is best thought of as a whole-food source of nutrients, rather than a supplement with one specific active ingredient.
Depending on the bones and connective tissues used and how the broth is prepared, it can provide:
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Collagen-derived amino acids, including glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline
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Gelatin and peptides released from collagen during cooking
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Other amino acids, including glutamine, arginine, and lysine
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Minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and zinc
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Moisture, which can be especially useful for pets
Collagen and Connective Tissue
Collagen is one of the body's major structural proteins. It is found in cartilage, tendons, ligaments, skin, bones, connective tissue, and the gastrointestinal tract.
When we slowly cook joints, feet, necks, knuckles, and other connective-tissue-rich parts, collagen breaks down into gelatin, peptides, and amino acids.
That makes bone broth an interesting food-based way to add collagen-derived nutrients to the diet.
Amino Acids and the Digestive Tract
Bone broth also provides amino acids that are important to normal gastrointestinal function.
Glutamine, for example, is an important fuel source for intestinal cells, while glycine and other amino acids participate in numerous processes throughout the body.
This is one reason the relationship between bone broth and digestive health has become an interesting area of research.
A Gentle Way to Add Nutrition and Hydration
One of the simplest benefits of bone broth is also one of the most practical: it adds moisture to the diet.
For pets, a little bone broth poured over food can make a meal more appealing while increasing fluid intake. It can be especially useful when a dog is reluctant to eat dry food or simply needs some extra encouragement to eat.
For people, bone broth can be used as a warm beverage, soup base, or ingredient in meals.
Minerals—But Don't Think of Bone Broth as a Calcium Supplement
Bones contain minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, and some of these minerals can enter the broth during cooking.
The 2025 review of bone broth specifically identified calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and zinc among the minerals of interest.
However, the mineral content of homemade bone broth can vary considerably. The type of bones used, cooking method, water-to-bone ratio, cooking time, acidity, and other factors can all influence how much of these minerals ends up in the finished broth.
So while bone broth can contribute minerals to the diet, I would not use it as a substitute for a properly formulated calcium source in a homemade pet diet.
This is especially important for puppies, kittens, and animals eating homemade diets, where the balance of calcium and phosphorus is critical for proper growth and development.
Think of bone broth as a nutritious addition to the diet—not a replacement for the carefully calculated mineral balance a complete and balanced homemade diet requires.
What Does the Research Tell Us About Bone Broth?
The nutrients in bone broth are interesting on their own, but research is helping us understand how they may actually benefit the body.
Bone Broth and the Gut
One of the most promising areas of research involves the gastrointestinal tract.
A 2025 review in Digestive Diseases and Sciences examined the nutrients found in bone broth and their potential effects on the intestinal lining. The authors focused on amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, and proline, as well as minerals found in bone broth.
The review discusses how these nutrients may help maintain the gut's protective barrier and support normal digestive function.
Think of the intestinal lining as a protective security system. It needs to allow nutrients to pass through while helping keep unwanted substances from getting where they don't belong.
This research helps explain why bone broth has traditionally been viewed as a soothing and nourishing food.
Collagen Peptides and the Intestinal Lining
Researchers have also studied collagen peptides directly.
In a 2017 laboratory study, collagen peptides helped protect intestinal cells from damage and helped maintain the connections between those cells that are important for a healthy intestinal barrier.
Another study published in Marine Drugs found that specific collagen peptides had protective effects on the intestinal lining in laboratory testing.
Together, these studies help us understand why collagen-rich foods may be useful for providing nutrients that support the tissues of the digestive tract.
The Nutrients in Bone Broth Are Absorbed
We also know that the amino acids in bone broth don't simply pass through the body unused.
In a 2019 human study, researchers gave healthy men a 300 mL serving of bone broth and measured amino acids in their blood afterward. They found measurable changes in several amino acids following consumption.
This shows that bone broth provides amino acids that can be digested and absorbed—including amino acids associated with collagen.
Bone Broth and Inflammation
Researchers have also looked at the relationship between bone broth and inflammation.
In a 2021 study, researchers gave bone broth to mice in a laboratory model of ulcerative colitis. The mice receiving bone broth had less damage to their intestinal tissue and changes in several markers associated with inflammation.
The findings add to the growing interest in how the nutrients found in bone broth may interact with the digestive tract and inflammatory pathways.
For pet parents, I think the takeaway is simple: bone broth provides nutrients that are involved in maintaining healthy tissues and normal digestive function, and research is giving us more insight into why those nutrients may be valuable.
Bone Broth Through the Lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Now let's talk about one of my favorite aspects of bone broth: food energetics.
Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at food differently than conventional nutrition does. Instead of looking only at calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals, TCM also considers the energetic qualities of food—whether it is warming or cooling, nourishing or draining, and how it interacts with different organ systems.
In TCM, the bones are associated with the Kidney system.
The Kidney system is considered the foundation of our constitutional energy and is associated with the bones, marrow, aging, development, reproduction, and Jing, often translated as "essence."
That makes bone broth particularly interesting as a traditional food for nourishing deep reserves.
TCM food-therapy resources describe bone broth as a warming, nourishing food associated with the Kidney system and with supporting Qi and the digestive center, or Middle Jiao.
This traditional perspective is quite different from saying, "Bone broth contains calcium, therefore it strengthens bones."
TCM is looking at the whole food and its energetic relationship with the body, rather than reducing the food to one nutrient.
Bone Broth and Jing
In TCM, Jing represents a deep form of constitutional essence or vitality.
Bone broth made from bones and marrow is traditionally viewed as a way of nourishing this essence because bones themselves are associated with the Kidney system.
This is one reason bone broth has traditionally been used as a restorative food for:
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Growing individuals
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Older individuals
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Those recovering from periods of weakness
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Convalescence
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General nourishment
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Supporting the body's reserves during times of increased demand
These traditional uses should be understood as TCM food-therapy concepts, not as modern medical diagnoses or treatment claims.
Bone Broth and the Middle Jiao
TCM places tremendous importance on digestion.
The Spleen and Stomach are considered central to the transformation of food into Qi and nourishment. Warm, cooked foods and soups are often considered easier on digestion than large quantities of cold or raw food, particularly for individuals with patterns of digestive weakness.
Bone broth fits beautifully into this philosophy.
It is warm, cooked, hydrating, and concentrated. It can be served by itself or incorporated into a meal.
From a TCM perspective, bone broth is considered warming and Qi-nourishing, making it particularly appealing for individuals who tend toward coldness, low energy, or digestive weakness.
But Warming Foods Aren't Right for Everyone
This is an important part of TCM food energetics: there is no single "best" food for every individual.
Because bone broth is considered warming and nourishing, it may not be the ideal choice in every TCM pattern.
For example, an animal showing signs that a veterinarian or veterinary acupuncturist associates with an excess-heat pattern may need a different nutritional approach.
The same is true when considering the amount of fat in a broth. Marrow-rich broth can be quite rich, and some pets do not tolerate high-fat foods well.
This is why I always encourage people to look at the individual animal rather than simply following the latest food trend.
Bone Broth for Dogs and Cats
One of the easiest ways to incorporate bone broth into a pet's diet is simply to use it as a topper.
A small amount can be poured over a meal or mixed into food.
For healthy pets, homemade broth can provide additional moisture and a source of collagen-derived amino acids and other nutrients.
You can make broth from chicken, turkey, beef, or other appropriate animal sources. Connective-tissue-rich bones, such as joints, feet, necks, and knuckles, are particularly useful when your goal is a gelatin-rich broth.
Always strain the finished broth thoroughly. Never feed cooked bones to your pet.
And when making broth specifically for dogs or cats, avoid ingredients that are unsafe for them, including onions and chives.
What About Pets With Food Sensitivities?
This is where individualization becomes particularly important.
Some pets may not tolerate a particular protein source, so choose bones from an animal that fits the pet's current diet.
There is also an interesting consideration around histamine. A shorter cooking time and avoiding vinegar when making bone broth for dogs that have demonstrated sensitivity to histamine is recommended. Longer cooking can result in a higher histamine load.
This is not something every pet needs to worry about, but it is worth keeping in mind when a dog seems to react poorly to traditional long-cooked bone broth.
Check out Dr. Judy’s Lower Histamine Bone Broth recipe.
How Much Bone Broth Should You Feed?
Think of bone broth as a food or topper—not a complete meal.
The appropriate amount depends on the size of the animal, the rest of the diet, calorie needs, and individual tolerance.
Start with a small amount and increase gradually if your pet does well with it.
If you are feeding a homemade diet, remember that bone broth does not automatically make a recipe complete and balanced. A properly formulated homemade diet still needs the appropriate balance of protein, fat, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
Homemade Is Often the Best Option
One of the things I love about making bone broth at home is that you control the ingredients.
You can choose high-quality bones from animals raised in ways that align with your food philosophy, avoid unnecessary additives, and control the amount of salt and fat.
A simple broth can be made with bones, water, and pet-safe vegetables or herbs if desired. Some recipes use a small amount of apple cider vinegar during cooking, although it is not essential.
Check out Dr. Judy’s Bone Broth recipe.
For pets with suspected histamine sensitivity, a shorter cooking method may be preferable.
After cooking, strain the broth carefully, cool it, and refrigerate it. Any excess fat can be removed after chilling. Freeze portions that will not be used within several days.
Why I Love Bone Broth for the Whole Family
One of the things I love most about bone broth is that it brings together traditional food wisdom and modern nutrition.
Our ancestors didn't need a scientific paper to tell them that a long-simmered broth made from bones and connective tissue was nourishing. They observed it for generations.
Today, research is giving us some insight into the nutrients responsible for that nourishment.
We know bone broth can provide collagen-derived amino acids, gelatin, peptides, minerals, and moisture. Research is exploring how these nutrients interact with connective tissue, the digestive tract, the intestinal barrier, and inflammatory pathways.
And TCM has its own explanation: bone broth is a warming, nourishing food that helps support Qi, Jing, bones, marrow, and the Kidney system.
I don't think we need to choose between these perspectives.
Modern nutrition helps us understand what is in the broth. Traditional Chinese Medicine helps us understand how this food has traditionally been viewed within the body.
Together, they give us a fascinating picture of why a simple pot of broth can be such a valuable addition to the diet.
The Bottom Line
Bone broth doesn't need to be a miracle food to be an excellent food.
It provides a combination of nutrients that the body can use, including collagen-derived amino acids, gelatin, peptides, minerals, and moisture. Research is particularly interesting around the relationship between these nutrients and the health of connective tissues and the digestive tract.
For pets, bone broth can be an easy way to add moisture, enhance the palatability of meals, and provide additional whole-food nutrients.
And from a TCM perspective, it offers something that modern nutritional analysis doesn't fully capture: the traditional concept of nourishing Qi, Jing, bones, marrow, and the Kidney system.
That combination is why bone broth has remained a treasured food across generations.
Sometimes the simplest foods really are some of the most nourishing.
A pot of bones, connective tissue, and water simmered slowly for hours may not look very exciting—but what comes out of that pot is a wonderful example of how traditional food wisdom and modern nutrition can meet in the kitchen.
A Note About Bone Broth and Health
Bone broth is a nutritious food, but it should not be considered a treatment for disease or a substitute for veterinary or medical care. Pets with kidney disease, pancreatitis, significant gastrointestinal disease, food sensitivities, or other medical conditions may need an individualized diet. When in doubt, work with your veterinarian or a qualified veterinary nutrition professional.