Collagen

The health and function of our joints is reliant upon mainly the health of the collagen in our ligaments, tendons, and on the ends of your bones. Collagen also gives our skin its ability to move, stretch, and rebound into shape. These collagens aren’t limited to only the skin; they’re everywhere, imparting strength to all our tissues. Collagen is what keeps us looking and feeling youthful.

 Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

Collagens are made of a large family of biomolecules, which include glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These are very special molecules that have the primary role to maintain and support collagen, elastin and turgidity (bounce) in the cellular spaces and keep protein fibers in balance and proportion. Or in other words they help keep our joints healthy. Glucosamine is one of the members of this, joint building, GAGs family. Once glucosamine passes through the digestion process and gets into your bloodstream it “somehow” knows where to go. Glucosamine has been shown to stimulate the growth of new healthy collagen and help repair damage joints.6

Low amounts of Collagen or Low Quality Collagen

All collagens are made from chains of amino acids coiled around each other in sets of 3 to form a triple helix. The longer they are, the more strength they give to the tissue they’re in. Collagen varies in length and number of attached GAGs bangles, allowing for all sorts of variations in strength flexibility, water retention, and lubrication. The lesser amount or lesser quality collagen holding us together, the faster our tissues start pulling apart and separating over time. This is exactly what causes wrinkling,7 arthritis,7 and even circulatory problems.8

How Bone Broth can help?

Bone broth can help us get back what our bodies are missing and provide an immense amount of other health benefits. This is because, as Chris Kresser makes clear in this comprehensive guide.9 Bone broth provides us with; collagen, gelatin, GAGs, glycine, proline, glutamine, bone marrow, and is full of minerals. Which help many different parts and functions of our bodies including; skin health, metabolic and cardiovascular health, muscle and performance, bones and joints, gut health and digestion, liver and kidney health, eye health, brain health, and even immune function.

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2549857
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9461529
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9796076
  4. https://chriskresser.com/the-bountiful-benefits-of-bone-broth-a-comprehensive-guide/

 

No sweat recipe of the week

Beef Bone Broth (using slow-cooker)

Ingredients

  • 3-4 lbs of mixed beef bones (oxtail, knuckles, neckbones and/or short ribs)
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 3 celery stalks
  • 2 medium onions
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 10-12 cups water

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  2. Place the bones in a single layer on a baking sheet or roasting pan
  3. Roast for 60 minutes, flipping each bone over half way through cooking time
  4. Roughly chop the vegetables (don’t even bother peeling them) and place them, along with the bay leaf and apple cider vinegar into a 6 quart slow cooker
  5. Add the bones as soon as they come out of the oven and then fill the pot completely with water
  6. Set the slow cooker on low, cover and cook for 18 to 36 hours or possibly longer, or until the broth has reached a deep brown color
  7. Carefully remove the larger pieces with a slotted spoon and place them in a strainer set over a large bowl to collect the excess broth
  8. Strain the broth that’s still in the crockpot through a fine meshed sieve, or through a strainer that’s been lined with cheesecloth.
  9. Transfer the bone broth into jars and refrigerate promptly (The fat will float to the surface and form a protective barrier that will prevent air from getting in contact with your broth)