Bone Broth for Runners and Triathletes: A Great Training Aid for Hard Workouts

Bone Broth for Runners and Triathletes

Reading time 5 min

Whether you’re training for your first 5K run or you’re a seasoned triathlete, you need to fuel your body with food that help you withstand heaving training and support recovery. That’s a big reason why trainers, marathon winners, and serious athletes recommend bone broth for runners and those who put in hard workouts. Let’s take a look at why bone broth is becoming so popular and how it can be one of your top training aids, too.

What Is Bone Broth and Why Is It So Good for Your Body?

Bone broth is actually one of the most ancient foods known to mankind. Ever since the advent of fire for cooking, humans have made bone broth by slowly simmering the bones and other parts of animals. The resulting broth may have herbs and flavorings added, so it can be sipped or consumed as soup. Or, it can also become an ingredient for sauces, gravies, and other dishes.

One of the reasons bone broth is such an excellent source of nutrients is it concentrates elements found in poultry and beef bones. These bone components are a superior source of protein collagen, that gelatinous layer that you may have seen appear when you make homemade soup from leftovers. Collagen protein is wonderful for the entire body, as it’s one of the building blocks that make up your skin, hair, nails, and connective tissue. Bone broth contains different types of collagen proteins.

How Can Bone Broth Help Athletes in Training?

The late NBA star Kobe Bryant, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, was given bone broth after what could have been a devastating ankle injury. Dr. Cate Shanahan, director of the Lakers’ nutrition program, made sure he was given soup made from bone broth the night of his terrible sprain. Instead of being out of the game indefinitely, Bryant only missed two games. Bone broth protein became a dietary staple for Bryant and the other Lakers, and Shanahan still touts its benefits today.

While sipping bone broth may seem like a novelty for modern athletes, it’s actually a training and race aid that’s been used for nearly 100 years. When American Gertrude Ederle swam the English Channel in 1926, her companion boat supplied her with bone broth throughout the crossing. She attributed her endurance to sipping the soup during her grueling 35 miles in the water.

What Are Some Other Advantages of Bone Broth?

Bone broth isn’t just a great addition to the athlete’s diet for muscles and joints.

Other benefits of bone broth include:

• More natural and palatable than capsule supplements
• Very easily absorbed by the body
• Makes up for nutrients not present in common dairy-free diets, like Paleo
• FODMAP diet-friendly
• Supports immune system function
• Can support during fasting or dietary eliminations and resets
• Not expensive and easy to order online for high-quality products
• Uses the whole animal without waste
• Simple to add to diet plans and cooking recipes

How Can You Incorporate Bone Broth into a Training Diet?

Bone broth is super easy to meld with a training diet because there are so many ways to use this golden liquid. The easiest way to consume bone broth is to sip it like tea or clear soup on days when you’re training. Have a cup of bone broth, work out, and then have another cup. The first cup will give you a good feeling and motivation; the second serving contributes to the recovery and building of your muscles.

You can cook with bone broth by adding it to soups, stews, spaghetti sauce, and similar recipes. It adds fantastic flavor to everything, and it’s healthier than using plain stock or highly processed bouillon that tends to contain artificial ingredients. In fact, you can replace the flavor packet that comes with ramen noodles or store-bought rice mixes with bone broth. Or, make your own rice pilaf casserole by cooking rice in bone broth, along with some seasonings, leftover cooked chicken or turkey, and veggies, such as broccoli and carrots.

Are you a coffee fan or smoothie aficionado? You can use unflavored bone broth in your drinks to get the same great benefits without altering the taste.

Don’t forget to take advantage of available bone broth during races and sports competitions as well. It’s the perfect alternative to those sickeningly sweet sports gels and drinks when you’re craving something more savory and salty at the end of the day, close to the finish. Bone broth will help you rehydrate to prevent cramping, dizziness, vomiting, or “bonking,” when you hit a wall and feel like you can’t go on any further.

During races and other types of athletic competition, you need to adjust the volume of bone broth you take in to the amount of sweat you’ve lost, as it is fairly high in sodium (salt). On a hot summer day or in a dry climate, you’ll probably need more, versus a cold weather event or competition in a humid area. If you drink bone broth routinely during training, you’ll have a better idea as to how much is right for you and your rehydration needs under various conditions.

What Is the Best Bone Broth for Athletes?

The best bone broth if you’re an athlete is the one that’s most natural and of the highest quality. This is true for anyone seeking to add bone broth to their diet, but it’s particularly essential for athletes, whose bodies need to be in pristine condition.

When you order BABS Bone Broth, you’ll find a number of advantages that you don’t get with most other brands:

• Free of MSG
• Non-GMO
• Uses fresh, local ingredients
• Made from pasture-raised animals
• Sustainable process that uses every animal part
• Organic options
• Transparency about ingredients and origins
• Dedication to people and the planet first

We have reasonable prices on all our products, and you can order in bulk for convenience, so you’re always stocked up. BABS also has a loyalty program to reward our frequent shoppers.

Even if the other members of your household don’t train as hard as you do, we’re sure they’ll enjoy our bone broth products, too. And when you share them with your team or training buddies, you’ll start a trend in your circle that echoes what elite athletes do to be their best.

We’re here to answer all your questions about bone broth so that you get the right product for your needs. Reach out anytime for more information, and be sure to browse the website for our helpful resources on nutrition and how it affects the body.

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Babs Bone Broth nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

What is gelatin?

What Is Gelatin and Is It Healthy?

Something for every lifestyle

Reading time 3 min

Even if you don’t know what gelatin is, you’ve probably eaten it without even realizing it. It’s often sitting in the background of many delicious foods.

Of course, you can’t really taste gelatin, so you might not know it’s there, but it’s probably creating just the right texture for that dish you’re eating. And it’s definitely improving the meal’s nutritional value.

If you’ve ever had Jell-O, gelatin is what gives it that wonderfully jiggly texture. However, bone broth is where gelatin truly shines. Not only does the gelatin help thicken the broth, but it’s what makes it so hearty. It’s filling and chock-full of nutrients that are great for your body. And hey — it doesn’t hurt that a cup of bone broth is downright delicious.

What Is Gelatin?

Gelatin is a type of protein that comes from animals. But, it doesn’t come from the meat of the animal as you might expect. Instead, gelatin comes from the parts of the animal that you’re less likely to eat at your table. Namely, the gelatinous bits that you’d find around the bones, the skin, connective tissue, and the like.

Now, that may sound a bit unpleasant, but it really isn’t! In fact, gelatin itself is mostly colorless and flavorless. So you really wouldn’t taste it in whatever you’re eating. When it comes to cooking, gelatin works as a natural thickener. It works so well because of how little an effect it has on food aside from improving the texture.

Of course, there is one other way that gelatin affects food. It adds plenty of nutritional value and potential health benefits. Adding some gelatin to your diet can lead to improved digestion and better joint, bone, and skin health. It could even improve your sleep! You’re probably wondering how, so we’ll get right to that.

What Is Gelatin Made Of?

As we just mentioned, gelatin comes from animal parts, but that’s not as important as what makes up gelatin. On its own, gelatin is almost entirely protein. However, it also includes a long list of amino acids that are fantastic for your body. Most importantly, though, is that gelatin contains a relatively high amount of glycine and proline. These amino acids are non-essential because your body can make them on its own, but consuming more of these amino acids is beneficial.

Glycine and proline are crucial because they’re building blocks for collagen. Collagen is another protein found throughout our bodies, supporting our bone and joint strength and keeping our digestive system healthy. Glycine is also important for removing toxic substances from our bodies, while proline aids in a whole host of chores, including the formation of new cells.

In short, gelatin is a beneficial substance because of its high protein content and its unique composition of amino acids.

How Is Gelatin Made?

Factories process gelatin from animal remains. Gelatin can take the form of either granules, sheets, or dissolvable blocks through the manufacturing process. Those are what you’d buy from stores, and you can easily add them to whatever you’re cooking.

If you don’t want to buy processed gelatin, the best way to get it at home is by buying or making bone broth. The process of simmering bones in water for hours easily breaks down that gelatin along with the delicious flavors of the meat. Then, add in some veggies, spices, and herbs, and you’re in for a real treat.

How Much Bone Broth Should You Have?

Adults should consume 46 – 56g of protein daily. Because of the gelatin in the bone broth, it’s a fantastic source of your daily protein. Of course, gelatin doesn’t have all the nutrients different proteins have to offer. It would be best if you consumed a variety of different proteins from other sources, such as meat or legumes. A warming cup of bone broth a few times a week would be a fantastic way to improve your diet.

If you don’t want to go through all the effort of making your own broth, there are many fantastic sources of bone broth on the market, including our own. We also have a few of our favorite recipes to share with you so you can enjoy your broth in a variety of ways.

What Else Is Gelatin In?

Although we think it’s the best way to get some gelatin, bone broth isn’t the only food you’ll find it in. Gelatin is used in plenty of foods and dishes to give them the right texture. In case you didn’t know, here are some fairly common foods you’re likely to find gelatin in:

• Marshmallows
• Candies (such as gummies)
• Yogurts
• Icings
• Cough drops

If you’re curious whether or not something contains gelatin, all you need to do is check the label, as it should appear listed in the food’s ingredient list.

Of course, you can also just buy gelatin at the store to use in whatever you want. That way, you can add the benefits of gelatin to your food even if you don’t have bone broth. For example, many soup stocks from stores these days don’t have gelatin in them, so adding some that you bought or made is a quick way to improve any soup. Not that soup is your only option for adding gelatin. It’s common to add it to desserts to get that jelly texture, but you can also add gelatin to foods like smoothies for the resulting health benefits.

Conclusion: Is Gelatin Healthy?

On its own, yes. Gelatin itself is a fantastic source of protein. It’s also a great way to consume more glycine and proline, which are both beneficial and necessary for many reasons. Your body will thank you for eating more gelatin.

But, what foods you’re eating the gelatin in also matter. You can easily get gelatin from sugary snacks, but that’s not going to be very healthy for you. There’s just not enough gelatin in candy to counteract the negative effects of all that sugar.

Instead, we’d suggest getting your gelatin from a warm, delicious mug of bone broth. There’s no better way to spend an evening than curled up under a warm blanket sipping from that comforting cup of broth while reading a good book or watching your favorite show.

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Babs Bone Broth nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

What is bone broth?

What is Bone Broth?

Tradition & Innovation

Reading time 5 min

Whether you’re watching food influencers online or dining at a hip bistro, you’re sure to find bone broth featured prominently in delicious recipes. But if you’re not yet familiar with bone broth and its many benefits, this post was created just for you. Learn about the history of bone broth and why foodies, athletes, and people with chronic health conditions have embraced this liquid gold that packs a big punch in just a few ounces of warm goodness.

Is Bone Broth a New Trend?

While it may seem like bone broth is a hot new trend, it’s actually been around since the Stone Age. Before pots were even invented, humans added hot stones from the fire to the abdominal pouches of animals they raised and hunted to make a type of soup containing meat, bones, and fat with added grains, herbs, and water. Even then, people knew animal bones contained dense nutrition for nourishment and flavor.

Fast-forward to the start of the Industrial Revolution in France. In 1765, a man named A. Boulanger served soup to Parisian workers to help revitalize and fortify them for their arduous toil that kept the great city running. Above his door was a sign advertising the “restaurants,” or restoratives offered within, along with the words, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will restore you.”

Boulanger’s establishment became the root of a word we all know today: “restaurant,” a place where one can obtain food for refreshment and restoration. If you’ve ever craved soup to reenergize or help you recover from an illness, you know about the restorative power of this ancient dish. Bone broth is the basis for this reputation, and its popularity continues in the 21st century.

Why Is Bone Broth So Popular Now?

Our current timeline is filled with challenges to the body, whether it’s the physical stress of work and intense athletics or the psychological pressures of our modern world. As people turned to natural food solutions to replenish energy and promote healing, bone broth became a key ingredient. Although we have always known that bone broth was good for us, now we have the science that demonstrates why this is true.

We’ll talk more about the benefits of bone broth ingredients below — especially collagen protein — but first, let’s look at a few other advantages of bone broth:

• A cost-effective and savory way to add collagen and protein to the diet
• Can be sipped on its own or added to recipes
• Easily portable for lunches at work, snacks, or post-workout revival
• Compatible with low FODMAP and IBS eating plans
• Ideal for fasting, pre-colonoscopy, or post-bariatric surgery regimens
• Supports immune function and speeds healing
• A conscientious way to consume animals without waste

Protein and collagen in Bone Broth

Bone broth is naturally an excellent source of protein. You can see proteins as the building blocks of your body. Among other things, they are important for the composition of your bones and contribute to the maintenance of muscle mass. In addition, proteins are good for the recovery of your muscles after exercise. Bone broth also contains a specific protein, namely collagen. Collagen is a body’s own protein that occurs in, among other things, your hair, skin, tendons and cartilage.

How Can You Buy the Best Bone Broth?

Because of its resurgence as a dietary staple, there are a lot of bone broth brands available on the market these days. However, you want to make sure you’re getting bone broth that is made with integrity, organic ingredients, and the proper methods to ensure high-quality nutrients.

When you purchase BABS Bone Broth, you can be confident you’re getting the best bone broth. We use only fresh, local ingredients and make our broth from animals that have been pasture-raised. You won’t find any MSG or GMO products in our bone broth, and our dedication to people and the planet makes us committed to complete transparency about what we sell.

You can order different types of bone broth on our website, and our bulk options and loyalty program make it easy to stay stocked up. When you’re ready for a mug of steaming nourishment or the perfect ingredient in your recipes, check out our selection. Then you’ll know why people around the world have made bone broth so incredibly popular again today!

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Babs Bone Broth nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.