Are you currently trying to conceive and looking for ways to boost your fertility? If so, you may have noticed the growing popularity of adding bone broth for fertility into your daily routine. A Traditional Chinese Medicine practice that has been used for ages, cultures all over the world recommend bone broth as a way to boost fertility for both men and women!
You might be wondering though, does this holistic practice have scientific backing? Is there any evidence to support bone broth for fertility? Read on to get the inside scoop on bone broth for fertility. Plus, we share an easy homemade bone broth recipe to nourish your fertility journey!
Before we dive into bone broth for fertility, let’s start with the basics:
What is bone broth?
Bone broth is a liquid made from boiling animal bones and connective tissue. Many bone broths are seasoned and cooked down with vegetables to enhance the nutritional benefit of the broth. Most bone broths have at least trace amounts of several nutrients including:
- Protein
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Zinc
- Potassium
Every batch of bone broth is unique and will vary in the specific amounts of nutrients provided. One serving of bone broth typically provides:
- 6 grams of protein
- 3 grams of fat
- 8.5 grams of carbohydrates with only ½ a gram of sugar
The protein content in bone broth provides the largest quantity and benefit in terms of nutrient support. Bone broth can support your body as it builds bones, muscle, cartilage, skin and blood.
Because the nutrients found in bone broth appear in small amounts, it is unclear if the nutrients provided from bone broth are beneficial to the body. This might have you wondering, is bone broth good for fertility?
Is bone broth good for fertility?
Despite bone broth’s growing popularity and numerous medicinal claims, there is very little scientific research on bone broth for fertility. Traditional Chinese medicinal claims differ from the few scientifically-based studies out there. So let’s start by looking at some of the claims made by Traditional Chinese Medicine on bone broth for fertility.
Boosts blood health
Bone broth is believed to help women by nourishing their blood. Due to their menstrual cycles and hormones, women are more prone to experiencing blood deficiencies. Many nutrients in bone broth are linked to boosting overall blood health, including iron. Iron deficiency in particular may affect fertility status and is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Improves overall “Jing”
Many practicing acupuncturists and Chinese medicine clinics prescribe bone broth for enhancing fertility. It is believed to help build a healthy uterine lining and improve overall Jing. In Chinese medicine, reproductive potential is referred to as “Jing”. Jing encompasses foundation, life force, genetics, libido, fertility, memory, and brain function; it is believed that by nourishing Jing, you can increase egg quality in women and semen quality in men.
Provides an abundance of fertility boosting nutrients
Some of the main nutrients in bone broth that make it a popular medicinal supplement in Chinese culture include collagen, magnesium, potassium, gelatin, and amino acids. Collagen is the main protein in bones, tendons, and ligaments. In the human body, collagen aids in healthy joints, skin elasticity, bone, muscle, and blood health. It is one of the most abundant proteins in the body as it makes up connective tissue.
5 Benefits of bone broth for fertility
Bone broth is not a cure all for infertility, but it can be a great option for incorporating alongside a diet rich in vegetables, low-glycemic fruits, omega fatty acids, and whole grains to provide the body with nutrients needed to promote a healthy reproductive system. In this section we’ll be covering 5 benefits of bone broth for fertility.
Rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for fertility
While there is little scientific evidence on bone broth for fertility, there is evidence to support the nutrients found within bone broth to support fertility. Let’s do a deeper dive into the vitamins and minerals found in bone broth.
Bone broth provides vitamins and minerals such as:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Iron
- Protein
- Collagen
Bone broth alone provides small amounts of each of these essential nutrients, however, when combined with vegetables, this extracts greater amounts of each nutrient.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps balance fertility hormones, progesterone and estrogen. Bone broth provides magnesium, alongside other nutrients, that help to decrease inflammation which can help improve chances of implantation.
Calcium
By alkalizing the body, calcium can help promote a healthier environment for the sperm to fertilize the egg by reducing the acidity of the uterine environment. Calcium is also a nutrient important in the production of sperm for men.
Potassium
Potassium deficiency, also known as hypokalemia, can cause pregnancy complications. Hypokalemia affects both males and females reproductive health. In males, potassium is an element of seminal fluid and helps provide protection upon entrance of the female reproductive environment, which is highly acidic. Low potassium can lower sperm quality in men.
In females, potassium deficiency is considered to be one of the major factors contributing to the formation of ovarian cysts. Increasing potassium intake in both men and women trying to conceive can help to boost fertility, ultimately increasing chances of pregnancy.
A major component of one’s reproductive health is hormones. Next, let’s see how bone broth consumption may impact hormonal health.
Hormone regulation
Hormone imbalance can lead to digestive issues. Bone broth is easy to digest and provides gut healing properties that helps balance hormones and reduces unwanted digestive symptoms. By reducing these symptoms, you can inadvertently boost hormones, reducing potential fertility inhibitors.
Balancing your hormones is one of the best ways to help boost your reproductive system and can potentially heal fertility issues. Check out our posts on fertility smoothies and seed cycling to learn more about ways to balance your hormones through dietary applications and approaches. Incorporating some of these methods alongside the occasional incorporation of bone broth may help to boost egg production and quality in women, and sperm quality in men.
Are you ready to balance your hormones and fuel your fertility? Grab The Ultimate Guide to Fuel Your Fertility and Optimize Your Hormones today!
Efforts to heal hormonal imbalances tend to correspond with healing the gut. Improving gut health can help increase nutrient absorption and further boost the immune function of the body. That brings us to our next benefit of bone broth.
Boosts the immune system
Bone broth, alongside other broths, has been utilized as a curing mechanism for cold and flu symptoms for ages. It is believed to help boost the immune system in fighting pathogens and strengthening the gut lining.
Our immune system is directly linked to our digestive health. When one is impacted, so is the other. In fact, 70% of the body’s immune cells are found in the gut, and bone broth can help maintain a healthy immune system.
Heals the gut lining
Bone broth can help keep our gut microbiome healthy, fighting inflammation, and improving overall digestion. Bone broth is believed to repair gut lining due to its gelatin content.
Gelatin can help repair intestinal lining and reduce overall inflammation in our digestive system. Gelatin contains the amino acid, glutamic acid, which in the human body is converted to glutamine. Glutamine helps to maintain the intestinal wall of the gastrointestinal tract and can help prevent or heal conditions such as “leaky gut” (a GI disorder affecting the lining of the gut), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and Crohn’s disease.
Blood sugar regulation
Maintaining your insulin and blood sugar levels is essential when battling with infertility. Hyperinsulinemia (high levels of insulin in your blood; insulin resistance) impacts reproductive health in women by inducing early responses to luteinizing hormones causing anovulation (hindered or lack of ovulation). To learn more about the luteal phase and ways to prevent anovulation, check out our seed cycling post and 5 tips on how to lengthen your luteal phase naturally.
There is a relationship between bone marrow and insulin resistance or sensitivity. Glycine is a component of bone broth. Intakes of glycine can stimulate secretion of a hormone residing in the gut. This hormone release increases the effects of insulin on glucose removal from the blood, ultimately lowering blood sugar. With this being noted, bone broth has the potential to help maintain blood sugar levels and reduce insulin sensitivity which is an important component in fertility and reproduction.
Risks of bone broth while trying to conceive
It’s important to note that animal bones contain heavy metals, and bone broth may carry a risk for lead contamination, amongst other metal exposures.
One study found the risks associated with the ingestion of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium were minimal, with only a few micrograms provided per serving. The addition of acid to broth increased the amounts of metals extracted.
Based on the research, the health risks associated with the ingestion of toxic metals from one serving of bone broth is minimal. However, the consumption of large volumes of bone broth is not recommended while trying to conceive or during pregnancy.
Overall, bone broth consumption is not harmful in small quantities. Bone broth can provide small doses of essential nutrients and is easily digestible. This can aid in reducing inflammation in the body and provide nutrients important for fertility when consumed alongside a varied healthful diet.
Easy Bone Broth for Fertility Recipe
Bone broth is very simple to make and takes only a few ingredients. If you do not want to make your bone broth from scratch be sure to watch out for the sodium content, any unnecessary added ingredients such as added oils, animal fats (such as butter), or any added sugars.
You can make your own bone broth using a slow cooker, crock-pot, or simply do it the old-fashioned way on the stove top in a large pot. We recommend using a slow cooker to simmer the broth for a total of 48 hours, that’s right 48 hours. It’s a long process but takes minimal effort to produce in the end.
How to make bone broth
Ingredients:
- 2 – 4 lbs animal bones
- 2 – 3 cups vegetables: onions, carrots, celery
- Herbs to taste (rosemary, thyme, turmeric, and/or ginger)
- 1-2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1-2 gallons of water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Blanch the bones: boil bones over high heat for 12 – 15 minutes. Drain and rinse with water.
- Roast bones and vegetables together in an over at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes.
- Add your roasted vegetables, bones, herbs, apple cider vinegar, and spices into your crockpot, slow cooker, or stockpot. Cover ingredients with cold water. Cook over low heat for 24 to 48 hours.
- Strain and store for use. We recommend storing in glass mason jars.
- Refrigerate for up to 6 days. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Short on time? This is our go-to bone broth made from organic veggies and grass fed beef and chicken bones, that is free of additives and added sugars.
How to add bone broth into your diet to boost your fertility!
You may be wondering what are some of the best ways to incorporate bone broth into your diet. The answer to this question is ultimately up to you! Do you want to drink it, make a hearty soup, or utilize it in some of your favorite recipes?
Either way, bone broth is a great addition to add in some extra nutrients essential for fertility while eating a healthful and well-rounded diet.
Soups
Bone broth is most known for its use in soups. Check out our Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup recipe for some boosted fertility. You’ll want to share this recipe with your friends and family too! If you know anyone wanting to boost their fertility, pregnancy or postpartum journey we highly recommend this recipe.
You also can also simply utilize your homemade or store bought bone broth in place of any soup calling for chicken broth, beef broth, or vegetable broth.
Drink It Straight
With its growing popularity you may have seen people consuming it straight from their favorite mug. That’s right, you can simply drink it straight or make your own bone broth concoction for some added flavor and soothing benefits.
When opting to drink it straight, we recommend warming your broth over the stove top with some freshly squeezed lemon juice and grated ginger to brighten it up and turn it into more of a tea beverage. If you want to add some kick, try incorporating some cayenne pepper, turmeric, or black pepper for some added anti-inflammatory properties.
This Turmeric Ginger Bone Broth is a favorite over here!
Cook rice and other grains with bone broth
Have you ever cooked rice, quinoa, or other grains using chicken broth? It simply adds extra flavor while also adding extra nutritional value. You can do the same thing with bone broth! This method can help sneak in extra protein and nutrients, and incorporate a richer, more savory flavor to your meals.
Not only this, you can add bone broth to other recipes too! Add it to your marinade, dressings, stews, and more. The possibilities are endless for this health promoting concoction.
Share with us in the comments below your favorite way to enjoy bone broth for your fertility journey!
