You might have seen a lot and heard a lot about Bone Broth and its “gut healing” properties in the news and media, as it seems to be a health trend at the moment.

So I decided to look into what exactly it is about bone broth is apparently so fascinating… and was very underwhelmed. I’m not a health expert, nor do I desire to be but if you’ve been brainwashed into thinking bone broth is somehow crucial for good health, I’d like to provide my thoughts as well as an alternative recipe…

Bone Broth is Nothing Special

Turns out, the most beneficial nutrients and electrolytes in bone broth can be found in vegan-friendly sources and the one thing that sets itself apart, the thing that is impossible for vegans to find a veggie replacement for is the collagen.

Collagen? I’ll make my own, thanks 

Our bodies can’t even digest collagen whole. We simply absorb the nutrients from our food which provides our bodies with the building blocks it needs to naturally create collagen, if and when it needs it.

Eating collagen does not equal having more collagen. As put in this article from TIME magazine, “Just as the dietary fat you swallow doesn’t directly translate to body fat, swallowing collagen doesn’t become collagen in or between your bones.”

In this article by NPR, they quote Kantha Shelke, a food scientist who says “Eating a diet rich in leafy green vegetables is ideal. Plants offer richer sources in collagen building blocks and, in addition, provide nutrients not found in sufficient quantities in meats or broth.”

Healing the stomach lining

And as for it being healing for the stomach lining, particularly from the gelatin, there are some great plant-based sources for that too. Particularly fermented foods.

There are many other foods that have been shown to contribute towards healing the stomach lining and digestive tract, such as seaweed, aloe vera, healthy fats and turmeric. I’ll do a post with more information on this in the future but the point is, gelatin is not the only option.

Vitamins and minerals

Obviously, all the calcium, potassium and other minerals found in bone broth are more than easy to find in plant-based foods plus they contain much, much more goodness.

So the animal product-reliant parts are kind of useless… Or at the very least, unnecessary and over-hyped. It’s all in aid of making what our bodies already naturally produce and plant-sourced vitamins and minerals are the best option to actually help it do that.

A Plant-Based Option Works The Same (If Not Better)

So now we’ve established that the bones in this healing broth are not only unnecessary but also not as nutritious as plant-based sources, it seems pretty clear that using a bunch of wholesome plant-based ingredients is going to be WAY more healing. And way more appealing, too.

Although, I should say that I haven’t come across any evidence of the healing benefits of slow-cooking or broth, in general. It doesn’t do much to enhance the nutrients but there is definitely something that feels healing when drinking broth. It’s warming, it’s comforting, it’s full of goodness and it tastes good.

The bottom line though is that we shouldn’t be relying on a broth to “heal” our guts! Because that’s silly. 

Vegan Bone Broth Alternative

My version contains lots of nutritional goodness that is great for overall health but particularly focuses on plenty of gut-healing properties. Feel free to switch up, leave out or add in any ingredients you like, to suit your diet and taste.

The main stars are:

1. Wakame seaweed: Great source of omega 3 – one of the best for vegans, great for intestinal health, full of vitamins and minerals (particularly good source of iron, calcium, magnesium, and iodine). Not suitable for SCD diets, leave out as necessary.
2. Shiitake mushrooms: Gives the most amazing, comforting flavor. Full of vitamins and minerals (great source of vitamin D – especially if sun-dried, zinc, and B vitamins). Contains all essential amino acids. Prebiotic. 
3. Coconut oil or olive oil: Healthy fats with a good omega ratio that help absorb nutrients.
4. Turmeric: Powerful anti-inflammatory plus adds delicious flavor and beautiful color.
5. Spinach or kale: Full of vitamins and minerals (particularly high in Vitamins K, A, and C, magnesium, and calcium). Also a good source of protein and omega 3. Prebiotic.
6. Coconut aminos: Mainly used for flavor but also gives the benefit of its amino acids. It May is not suitable for some diets as it’s considered sugar, so leave it out if necessary.

I was worried the seaweed might be overwhelming, as I don’t like sea flavors, but it wasn’t really noticeable and the little bit that was noticeable was actually delicious. It paired wonderfully with the mushrooms, ginger, chili, and coconut aminos for an Asian-style flavor. SO good and wonderfully comforting.