Immunity & Inflammation

Inflammation is a key part of the immune response that occurs when our body releases inflammatory cells and cytokines either during injury or when it encounters a pathogen. This response is short-lived and helps the body to rid itself of the offending agent and heal injured tissue.¹

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, occurs when the inflammatory response lasts months or even years. It has been linked with several chronic health conditions, including diabetes, CVD, COPD, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and arthritis.² There are many factors that can contribute to chronic inflammation, including diet. Some dietary components can contribute to the inflammatory process while others inhibit it.³  

Kettle & Fire Bone Broth, as part of a balanced healthy diet, provides key anti-inflammatory nutrients that can support immune function and help to modulate chronic inflammation. It is rich in anti-inflammatory amino acids, including:

• Glycine
• Arginine
• Glutamine
• Glutathione precursors

Additionally, the herbs and spices used to flavor our Bone Broths have powerful anti-inflammatory capabilities and can support the immune system. This includes ingredients such as:

• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Mushrooms
• Lemongrass

Benefits of Bone Broth for Immune Health

Chicken soup has long been used as comfort food for colds and flu. Many cultures use soup as part of their traditional medicinal healing modalities, prompting scientists to investigate possible mechanisms that make soup beneficial. 

Researchers conducting an in vitro study looked at the impact of chicken soup on the common cold and found that the soup positively impacted neutrophil (white blood cells that are part of the immune system) activity.⁴ 

Another study compared hot water, cold water, and chicken soup and found that the soup was better at loosening mucus from the nasal passageway, which helped with short-term alleviation of cold and flu symptoms.⁵ 

Lastly, a commentary in the May 2020 Chest Journal discussed the potential use of chicken soup for COVID symptom management due to its impact on neutrophils, its anti-inflammatory properties as well as the psychosocial impact that “comfort foods” can impart on the individuals consuming them.⁶

Our Bone Broth may offer additional benefits in comparison to chicken soup as it is high in amino acids, which are shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, and can contribute greatly to immune function.

Bone Broth & Inflammation

Bone broth is rich in amino acids and minerals that can reduce inflammatory markers. A study conducted in 2021 demonstrated that the nutrients present in bovine bone broth reduced the expression of cytokines in mouse models of ulcerative colitis. The author noted that the bone broth used in the trial was high in many amino acids, including glycine, arginine, and glutamine.⁷

Glycine

Glycine is a nonessential amino acid representing about 11.5% of the total amino acids in the human body. It plays a vital role in regulating immune function and helps to make white blood cells less sensitive to inflammatory triggers.^8,9 Dietary supplementation with glycine has been shown to reduce inflammatory diseases.⁸

Arginine

Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid. This means that during physiologically stressful times, the body’s demand for arginine is greater than its ability to synthesize it. Like glycine, it exhibits anti-inflammatory effects on the body and may be beneficial in modulating inflammatory disease.¹⁰ Part of its anti-inflammatory ability lies in arginine’s conversion to nitric oxide during injury.¹¹

Glutamine

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body, and it is an essential nutrient for both immune cells and enterocytes. Macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes all metabolize glutamine as a fuel source. During times of physiological stress, such as an infection, our need for glutamine outpaces the body’s ability to make it, so it is categorized as a conditionally essential amino acid.¹²

Glutathione

Glutathione is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body. It is made from glutamine, glycine, and cysteine; three amino acids found in rich supply in bone broth. In addition to its antioxidant capabilities, glutathione plays an essential role in both innate and adaptive immunity.¹³ Glutathione is such a potent immune and inflammatory modulator that it has been proposed as a tool in the management of COVID.¹⁴