Bone broth is one of the easiest—and tastiest—ways to nourish your family’s gut health, immune system, and skin. I use bone broth in almost every savory meal instead of water. It not only boosts the flavor, but it also adds nutrients like collagen, amino acids, and minerals that heal our bodies from within.
When I first started using bone broth, my husband kept asking why the food tasted so much better! Then we started noticing changes that went beyond flavor: his acne cleared up, my folliculitis on my arms disappeared, and our oldest daughter’s skin became softer and smoother.
The most dramatic change was with our youngest daughter. After months of trying topical treatments with no results, her eczema finally disappeared! (Read more about her eczema journey here.)
Now, bone broth is a staple in our home—an easy, natural way to nourish our bodies from the inside out. It takes very little effort to make a big batch, and the results are so worth it! Below is my simple method for making gut-healing bone broth at home.
Friendly Note: I’m sharing what has worked for my family, I’m not a medical professional. Bone broth has been a wonderful addition to our meals and our wellness routine, but everyone’s body is different. If you or your child have allergies, health concerns, or specific medical conditions, it’s always best to check with your doctor before making significant changes to your diet.
What is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is a nutrient-rich liquid made by simmering animal bones along with optional herbs or vegetables. The long cooking time helps release collagen, amino acids, and minerals from the bones and connective tissue, creating a flavorful broth that’s packed with nutrients your body can easily absorb. Unlike regular stock, bone broth is cooked for much longer, which is why it often develops a rich flavor and a naturally gelatinous texture when cooled.
Why Bone Broth Supports Gut Healing, Immunity, and Skin Health
Bone broth’s health benefits stem from its rich nutrient profile:
- Amino acids such as glutamine, glycine, proline, and arginine are known to support gut barrier integrity, reduce inflammation, and improve absorption.
- Gelatin and collagen derivatives may help repair the intestinal lining and support mucosal healing.
- Glycine supplementation has been shown in clinical trials to reduce intestinal permeability and inflammation.
- Collagen is critical for skin barrier integrity — especially in eczema (atopic dermatitis), where collagen expression is reduced.
- Compounds in chicken broth have demonstrated the ability to boost immune system activity in animal studies.
Gut-Healing Bone Broth Recipe (Instant Pot)
Instant Pot Bone Broth
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs bones leftover chicken leg/wing bones, chicken carcass, grass-fed oxtail, or any other bones you have
- 2-3 quarts water Enough to cover the bones plus a little more. Just make sure you don’t go past the max fill line on your instant pot.
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- Optional Add-Ins garlic, onion, vegetables such as tomato, celery or carrot, fresh herbs, spices such as ginger, cinnamon or cardamom, 1–2 tbsp apple cider vinegar. All of these additions boost the immune system and create a rich flavor.
Instructions
- Place bones in the Instant Pot.
- Add water, salt, and optional add-ins.
- Set instant pot to sealing and High Pressure for 4 hours.
- Release pressure (natural or quick release).
- Strain broth and let cool. Hot liquid put directly in the fridge may crack the storage jars.
- Store in quart jars (fridge) or pint jars (freeze, leave 1 in headspace).
- Repeat with bones for 3–4 batches until broth weakens.
Notes
Nutrition Facts (Approx. per 1 Cup)
| Nutrient | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 40–50 |
| Protein | 8–10 g |
| Fat | 1–2 g |
| Collagen/Gelatin | ~7 g |
| Sodium | 400–500 mg |
| Key Compounds | Glycine, glutamine, proline, arginine |
Pro Tips for Gut-Healing Broth
- Use bones rich in connective tissue (knuckles, feet, oxtail) for more gelatin.
- Add apple cider vinegar to extract minerals and amino acids.
- Boil the bones for 5 minutes in a separate pot then carefully transfer to the instant pot to remove impurities/scum
References
I’m a big science person and always like to find studies to support the claims I make. Here are some peer-reviewed studies showing the various health benefits of bone broth if you would like to learn more.
Gut Inflammation – Mar-Solís et al. (2021). Bone broth reduces intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis. Full text
Gut Barrier Integrity – Matar et al. (2025). Nutrients in bone broth (glutamine, glycine, proline, arginine) improve intestinal barrier integrity and reduce inflammation in IBD models. Abstract
Glycine & Barrier Function in Humans – Genton et al. (2021). Glycine supplementation improves gut permeability, microbiota composition, and inflammation in humans. Full text
Skin Barrier & Eczema – Chen et al. (2024). Reduced type I and III collagen expression in atopic dermatitis skin suggests compromised barrier integrity. Full text
Immune Function – Liu et al. (2022). Chicken broth–derived histidine dipeptide improves immune function in immunosuppressed mice. Full text
Garlic & Immunity – Arreola et al. (2015). Immunomodulatory effects of garlic compounds: enhancing innate and adaptive immune responses. Full text
Onion & Immune Modulation – Shalaby et al. (2021). Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential of Allium cepa constituents. Full text
Cinnamon & Immunity – Ho et al. (2018). Cinnamon water extract upregulates intestinal immune function-related gene expression in mice. Abstract
Cardamom & Inflammation – Gholami et al. (2023). Green cardamom supplementation reduces inflammatory cytokines in adults. Full text
Apple Cider Vinegar & Immune Support – Yagnik et al. (2018). Apple cider vinegar exhibits antimicrobial activity and reduces inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Full text
Clove & Immunity – Ratnasooriya et al. (2018). Clove leaf extract enhances lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage activity in immune-challenged mice. Full text