Want to know what the best bone broth is? If you want to know if chicken or beef bone broth is better for you? I’ll talk about all of that below.
Today I can safely say that bone broth is here to stay. It might not be a replacement for coffee or tea, but it goes well with the warm drinks you already drink.
I’m a huge coffee fan, but I also enjoy a warm mug of bone broth. Im going to guess that you might be in a similar situation to me.
Beef and chicken are certainly the most common types of bone broth. They do share some similarities but have many differences.
They have different tastes, nutrition profiles, cooking techniques and uses for each. Chicken has more ascetic benefits while beef is better for gut health and mood.
Bone broth has become an extremely popular health food trend in recent years. From gut health to joint support bone broth offers a variety of potential benefits. But when it comes to choosing between beef or chicken bone broth, which one provides more nutrients and health advantages?
How Are They Different?
While both beef and chicken bone broth are nutritious there are some key differences between the two
-
Beef bones are denser and contain more collagen and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. The thicker bones and joints require longer cooking times to extract nutrients.
-
Chicken bones are thinner and contain less collagen. However, chicken feet are high in collagen. Adding them boosts protein.
-
Beef bone broth has a richer, heartier flavor, while chicken is more delicate tasting.
-
Chicken bone broth tends to be easier to digest for those with sensitive stomachs.
-
Chicken bones cook faster, with ideal times of 18-24 hours versus 24+ hours for beef.
Nutritional Comparison
Let’s look at how these broths compare nutritionally:
Collagen
- Beef bones provide more collagen per serving than chicken bones. Collagen is broken down into gelatin, which has benefits for gut, joint, and skin health.
Protein
- Chicken bone broth has slightly higher protein when chicken feet are added. But the collagen in beef bone broth also supplies protein.
Minerals
- Beef bones contain higher amounts of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium compared to chicken. These support bone health, muscles, nerves, and metabolism.
Omega-3s vs Omega-6s
-
Chicken contains more omega-6 fatty acids. Consuming too many omega-6s versus omega-3s can promote inflammation.
-
Grass-fed beef has higher omega-3 levels, making beef bone broth advantageous for balancing fatty acids.
Health Benefits of Beef Bone Broth
With more collagen and minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, beef bone broth offers some additional health perks:
-
Gut health – The gelatin supports intestinal health and integrity. It may benefit conditions like leaky gut syndrome.
-
Joint support – The collagen provides building blocks for cartilage and connective tissues to reduce joint inflammation.
-
Anti-inflammatory – Contains glycine which helps regulate the body’s inflammatory response.
-
Sleep and mood – Glycine also aids the production of serotonin and melatonin to improve sleep quality and mood.
-
Immune function – The minerals support immune cell production and performance.
-
Skin and nails – Collagen assists skin elasticity and nail strength.
-
Bone health – The calcium, magnesium and phosphorus support bone matrix formation and strength.
Is One Better Than the Other?
Both chicken and beef bone broth offer health benefits with plenty of collagen, amino acids, and nutrients. However, beef bone broth contains a higher concentration of certain compounds tied to specific advantages:
- More collagen per serving for joint, gut, and skin health
- Richer in minerals that support immunity, bones, nerves, and sleep
- Higher in omega-3s for controlling inflammation
- Contains more glycine to boost mood and sleep
For these reasons, beef bone broth could be considered better and more beneficial than chicken bone broth, especially for gut health, joints, skib, bones, and anti-inflammation.
Tips for Preparing Bone Broth
To maximize nutrition in homemade broth:
-
Use good quality bones from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle if possible.
-
Roast bones prior to simmering for richer flavor.
-
Add chicken feet to chicken broth to increase collagen.
-
Simmer for 24+ hours, up to 48 hours. Long, slow cooking draws out more nutrients.
-
Keep at a low simmer, not a boil, and skim foam periodically.
-
Add veggies like onions, garlic, carrots for extra minerals.
-
Season with herbs and let cool before refrigerating to use within 5 days.
The Verdict
While both types of bone broth offer tremendous health benefits, beef bone broth could be considered the winner when comparing nutritional profiles. With more collagen and key minerals, beef bone broth edges out chicken for advantages like improved gut health, joint support, sleep, immunity, and inflammation reduction. However, mixing beef and chicken bones together allows you to get the best of both worlds.
Chicken is more versatile in your kitchen
Chicken broth does not add a distinctly ‘chicken’ flavour to dishes. The same cannot be said for beef.
Beef broth confers a ‘beef’ flavour to whatever you make with it. It is most likely because chicken has a milder flavour.
This is why chicken is a better base for oatmeal, smoothies, soups, and any other recipe that calls for water. Substitute 1:1 for water and you’re adding a natural source of collagen to whatever you cook.
This works with rice, pasta, risotto or quinoa. Chicken adds a rich depth while not dominating the flavour of your dish.
Nutritional differences between beef and chicken
There are a few key nutritional differences worth considering. It doesn’t matter to me how much fat or carbs are in either bone broth because the differences aren’t significant.
There are more omega-3s in beef than in chicken if you make bone broth at home and don’t remove the fat before eating it.
If you’re buying bone broth then the fat is usually removed.
Chicken will have more omega-6s. This is because most beef is grass-fed for the majority of its life. Grass fed diets confer more omega-3s in the finished meat or bones.
Chickens are fed grain rations which are high in omega-6 fats.
Health comparison: chicken broth vs bone broth
FAQ
Is it better to drink beef bone broth or chicken bone broth?
What type of bone broth is healthiest?
What is the best meat for bone broth?
What is the downside of bone broth?
Is beef bone broth better than chicken broth?
However, Schiff points out that there are other differences between beef and chicken broth. “While beef bone broth and chicken bone broth are healthful, beef bone broth has more collagen per serving. It is also better for gut health, for immunity, for sleep, and for mood. And it’s better for skin and nails,” Schiff says.
What are the proven benefits of bone broth?
Bone broth provides collagen, an important protein for joint and tissue health, and it also has an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect.
What is the difference between bone broth and regular broth?
Since bone broth simmers for a long time, more nutrients, collagen, and minerals make their way into the broth. On the other hand, regular broth is made by simmering bones for a shorter period of time, resulting in a lighter flavor.
What is the difference between beef and chicken broth?
Type I collagen is the most abundant type of collagen in the body. Chicken broth is abundant in type II collagen, which is good for joints, cartilage, and bone. However, Schiff points out that there are other differences between beef and chicken broth.