Some call it bone broth, I call it liquid gold. And it’s the ultimate food when it comes to improving health, immunity, digestion and fertility in every aspect -- from preconception to conception to pregnancy as well as postpartum.
Literally every part of the pregnancy journey can be supported by this liquid gold. Why? Because bone broth is one of the most nutrient-dense foods we can consume. It’s loaded with every amino acid and mineral our body needs, along with high-quality fats, protein, and collagen.
INCREASING FERTILITY
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When it comes to fertility, you need to fully nourish your body to have healthy eggs (and sperm). If you want happy, well-developed embryos, you need to be eating plenty of the right nutrients and bone broth definitely packs a punch. Bone broth is a nutrient-dense, fertility-boosting concoction. It provides your body with plenty of amino acids and collagen which helps to soothe and heal gut and digestive issues. Gut and digestive issues are directly linked to many hormonal and fertility problems. However, as your gut heals, it’s then able to process the vitamins and nutrients you’re eating, so you’re able to fully nourish yourself. Bone broth is also loaded with other nutrients that help balance your hormones and make you more fertile. It’s also a great way to help to increase nutrient uptake which is incredibly important to prep for a baby. The minerals must be obtained from your diet, otherwise, they will be “borrowed” right out of your own stores putting the mother at risk of deficiencies. The collagen from bone broth works as an amazing tonic to not only improve a woman’s fertility when she’s trying to conceive but to hold her pregnancy once she does conceive.
NOURISHING PREGNANCY
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When nausea hits in the earlier weeks of pregnancy, it can be hard to keep food down. Because bone broth is very soothing and easy to digest, it can help to calm the stomach very quickly. Meat is also a pretty common food aversion, so consuming bone broth is an excellent way to provide your body with those essential nutrients that are particularly high in meat, but in a much more stomach-friendly way and without a meaty overwhelm.
Here are some of the other health benefits bone broth provides:
Assists the immune system in fighting pathogens and supports the immune system by strengthening the gut lining
Helps to keep our gut microbiome healthy, fights inflammation, and improves digestion
Decreases fatigue and weakness usually felt the most in the first trimester and last weeks of pregnancy, as well as the first few months postpartum
Rich in collagen and gelatin which contribute to strong bones, tendons, and connective tissue in mum and developing baby
Rich in the amino acid glycine which is required for placental growth, helps the developing baby absorb protein, and protects mum and baby from stress and promotes healthy detoxification of the toxins encountered during pregnancy
The amino acids glycine and proline found in bone broth are needed for soft tissue and wound healing which can also help to speed recovery after C-section, perineal tearing, or episiotomy.
And lastly, by the third trimester, the mother's and baby's bodies are growing so rapidly that extra glycine must be obtained from the mother's diet. The uterus has 800x more collagen at the end of pregnancy compared to pre-pregnancy, so there's an immense need for glycine.
POSTPARTUM SUPPORT
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When it comes to postpartum, bone broth is wonderful for supporting ample milk production, regulating hormones and building back energy after labour and delivery. The collagen component in bone broth has also been praised for preventing and reducing stretch marks and speeding up postpartum healing. Plus it can improve brain function helping improve memory, sleep, mood, as well as ward off “baby brain” and brain fog usually experienced from lack of sleep.
With its incredible nutrient density and its capacity to be easily absorbed by the body, bone broth is an ideal health food when it comes to every aspect of the pregnancy journey, from preconception to conception to pregnancy, as well as setting bub up with the building blocks for a healthy and happy life and of course, postpartum support too.
Personally, making homemade bone broth is one of my favourite things to do, especially when life is feeling a little too hectic, it really helps to slow me down. You can find my bone broth recipe + tips in my blog post ‘How-To Make Belly Soothing Bone Broth’. Cooking this concoction feels nourishing, therapeutic, and feeds the soul. If you prefer to buy bone broth, my go-to brand is Gevity Rx Bone Broth Concentrate, you can use my code “JORDIEPIE10OFF” for a small discount too xx
You deserve a daily dose of bone broth!