Are you ready to tap into the buzzy bone broth trend but have qualms about the “bone” part of that equation? Consider a vegan bone broth. Your first thought may be, A vegan bone broth recipe? How is that even possible? After all, there are no vegan bones, of course, and using the bones of a vegan would be cannibalism. But there are vegetables that are super nourishing and good for your health, all without having a csualty on your hands.
One of the main reasons animal-bone broth is trendy is for the collagen inherent in bones. Collagen can help reduce inflammation and support healthy hair, skin, nails, and joints. But similar to calcium, the body may absorb collagen-enhancing nutrients from plants more easily than those from animal bones, so it’s possible to get the benefits of bone broth without, well, the bones.
Particularly adept at promoting collagen production are plant-based foods, including seaweed, celery, beets, and dark leafy greens like spinach. They happen to make one delicious vegan “bone broth” recipe. They’re also rich in minerals like calcium and phytonutrients that boost immunity. Unlike animal products, which are highly acidic, a vegetable broth is alkaline and can bring balance to a body that’s too acidic from likely culprits such as coffee, alcohol, meat, and sugar.
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There are several ingredients that support collagen production and provide excellent nutrition, making them ideal ingredients for a vegan bone broth. They include:
Vitamin C
This ingredient plays a major role in the production of pro-collagen, which is the body’s precursor to collagen. So, getting enough vitamin C is most important, and great sources of vitamin C include lemon, grapefruit, oranges, berries (especially strawberries), limes, bell peppers, and broccoli.
Garlic
To use the collagen, our body needs to first break it down. Garlic has many virtues, including the trace mineral sulfur, which helps to synthesize and break down collagen.
Leafy greens
Spinach, kale, cabbage, and other leafy greens contain chlorophyll, which can increase the pro-collagen in the skin.
Beans
A high-protein food, beans often contain the amino acids necessary for collagen synthesis. Plus, many of them are rich in copper, another nutrient necessary for collagen production.
Cashews
This nourishing nut contains zinc and copper, which also helps the body produce collagen
These are just a few ingredients that can serve as ideal ingredients for a healthy vegan bone broth—a nutritional solution that has all the collagen-building benefits of animal-based broth but without any of the guilt.
