In a world of healthy eating and miracle products promising cures for everything from weight gain to acne, it can be hard to decipher which meal, ingredient or dish can help our health. Now an NHS doctor has praised the benefits of one culinary dish that’s rapidly becoming known as ‘liquid gold’ because it can help us to sleep better, stay hydrated, feel healthier, fight the signs of ageing, boost immunity and even feel happier.
The humble bone broth dish ‘pho’ has been praised for years for its healing health benefits, and with illnesses including cold and flu at high rates since the beginning of the year there’s never been a better time to nourish our bodies and look after our health via our diets with a dish that promises protein, collagen, vitamins and nutrients as well as a healthy dose of hydration.
Bone broth makes up the main component of Vietnam’s national dish, pho, which is a signature dish from street food restaurant Pho, which has more than 40 restaurants across the UK. The pho dish has been shown to have numerous health benefits from its base of 12-hour bone broth, tonnes of fresh herbs and spices, plus the right balance of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.
Dr Anatalia Moore, a GP speaking on behalf of Pho Restaurants, explained why bone broth can help all of us feel healthier and happier: “Throughout the generations, drinking bone broth has always been the go to if you are feeling under the weather and this ‘liquid gold’ dish has so many benefits it’s easy to see why.
“The deep, rich, flavour of bone broth is not the only thing that is achieved by many hours of careful simmering. This process also ensures nutrients are released from the bones and bone marrow and the addition of herbs and grains towards the end further contributes to its nutritional value.
“Bone broth has more protein than standard stocks. The collagen in the bones are broken down into the building blocks of proteins; the amino acids. Your body benefits from this extra protein found in the broth itself, as well as that found in the meat, tofu, egg or fish in the pho, in a number of ways.”
Health benefits of high-protein meals
Dr Moore continued: “A higher protein meal means you are more likely to stay fuller for longer, avoid snacking and if this is done regularly it helps you maintain a healthy weight and body fat percentage. The amino acids found in the broth contribute to your body’s own ability to produce and repair collagen which will contribute to better maintenance of healthy joints, hair, nails and skin and this is of particular importance as we age as the body reduces in its ability to both repaired and synthesise this key structural protein.
“Specific amino acids, such as glycine and glutamine, which are found in bone broth, are beneficial in many other ways. They can contribute to reducing inflammation throughout the body, and they are helpful in maintaining gut health directly. This, in turn, means the gut is more able to absorb nutrients, which are essential for the smooth running of our bodies and to perform its role as part of the immune system.
“These amino acids can also help promote better sleep, which is the key time during which our bodies and minds repair and this, in turn, helps reduce inflammation and aid immunity. Of course, much of the broth is also water, which comes with its own health benefits. It is important that adults take between two-to-three litres of water in a day and, by staying hydrated, it allows the vital processes throughout the body to run smoothly.
“The immediate hydration after a meal of bone broth, combined with the fact it contains gut-friendly amino acids and that pho commonly combines a variety of other ingredients including herbs and fresh vegetables means that, as a meal this tends to be very gut-friendly. A healthy gut means we are more likely to feel happier and healthier as a whole, in both our mental and physical health.”
Pho restaurants has included bone broth, served with either chicken or beef, in its menu for more than 20 years.