The way we eat today is far different from that of our ancestors. For example, a majority of our animal-based protein today comes from the muscle tissue and fat of that particular animal. Most of us disregard the rest of the animal, including the bones, cartilage, ligaments, and much more.
Our ancestors, on the other hand, were adamant about utilizing every last bit of the animal to avoid waste — both for nutritious reasons and out of reverence for the animal. For example, they would simmer all the leftover pieces (bones, cartilage, ligaments, etc.) for hours over low heat.
While this is still something we do today — known as bone broth — it’s much more uncommon due to the long process. The good news is there are alternatives to spending long hours simmering bones until they break down, including bone broth protein powder supplements.
So, what is bone broth protein?
We know what bone broth is and we understand that it’s full of protein, vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. Up until recent years, the only way to enjoy the benefits of bone broth protein was to make bone broth yourself or purchase it in liquid form at your local grocery store.
Today, there’s a new way to enjoy bone broth protein and it’s available in an easy-to-use, versatile powder that can be added to your favorite beverage or food of your choice. This allows you to literally add bone broth protein to just about anything — making nutrition that much easier.
The process of making bone broth protein powder begins by simmering the bones of an animal (chicken, cow, fish, etc.) to extract nutrients. The broth is then dehydrated into a powder, which can be rehydrated by adding water. You get all the benefits of bone broth but in powdered form!
Benefits of Bone Broth Protein Powder
Bone broth protein powder isn’t like the whey protein powder everyone’s always raging about — it’s better. In fact, bone broth protein comes with a wider range of benefits than the meat you consume on a daily basis — whether it be beef, chicken, turkey, fish, pork, or any other meat.
For example, bone broth protein is very rich in collagen and also contains a variety of nutrients you won’t find in other protein sources — including glycine, chondroitin, and glucosamine. To make things even more convincing, it’s even dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly.
Let’s take a look at five of the most prominent benefits of bone broth protein powder:
In addition to all those benefits, bone broth protein powder has anti-inflammatory properties, improves the immune system, enhances the recovery process following exercise, improves cardiovascular health, maintains gut health, and even delivers antioxidants to the body.
How to Choose the Best Bone Broth Protein Powder
Finding the right supplement can be difficult, no matter what type of supplement it is. With so many different brands available on the market today, consumers have to be ready to do a lot of research before coming to a conclusion. Don’t worry, we’re going to give you some tips.
While bone broth protein powder is no different in that regard, there are plenty of things you should be looking for — as well as things you should be avoiding — to ensure you find the perfect brand. Below, we’re going to go over some of those things to keep in mind during your search.
What to Look For
- Protein Serving Size
- Keto- and Paleo-Friendly
- Chicken vs. Beef vs. Fish
- Taste & Texture
- Added Nutrients
What to Avoid
- Bone Broth Concentrate
- Fillers, Additives, Artificial Flavors/Sweeteners
- Clumping When Mixed
Top-Rated Bone Broth Protein Powders
At Fitness Clone, our goal is to provide you with reviews and recommendations you can trust. We have reviewed over 500 supplements and make sure to pay close attention to supplement formulations, ingredient quality, manufacturing practices, and company trustworthiness. Below are our highest-rated bone broth protein powders.
Bone Broth Protein
by Ancient Nutrition
When searching for a bone broth protein powder, no one does it better than Ancient Nutrition. It’s sourced from non-GMO, U.S.-farmed chickens, which means it contains Type II collagen — perfect for a healthy gut, healthy joints, and healthy skin. Oh, and it comes in several flavors!
In addition to their Pure bone broth flavor, they offer it in Vanilla, Chocolate, and Turmeric flavors. Each serving contains 20 grams of protein and is low in calories. A jug contains 20 servings and costs just $44.95, but you can save 15% with a recurring subscription — and more by bundling.
Pros
- 60-Day Money Back Guarantee
- 20 Grams of Protein
- Features Type II Collagen
- Gluten-, Dairy-, and Nut-Free
- Paleo- and Keto-Friendly
- Multiple Flavors for Variety
- Free of Fillers & Additives
Cons
- Not Vegan-Friendly
- Doesn’t Come In Single-Serve Packets
Bone Broth Collagen
by PaleoPro
PaleoPro is another quality option when searching for a bone broth protein powder. It’s made from grass-fed and pasture-raised cows. It’s available in three different flavors — Plain Naked, Aztec Vanilla, and Ancient Cacao — and each serving contains a solid 16 grams of protein.
Adding to the excitement, each serving contains an optimal amount of turmeric root powder and monk fruit extract to help fuel your day. Each tub contains 20 servings and costs you $39.99, the least-expensive bone broth powder on this list. You can save money with a subscription.
Pros
- Gluten-, Soy-, and Dairy-Free
- No Added Hormones or Additives
- 16 Grams of Protein
- Turmeric Root Powder & Monk Fruit Extract
- Enjoy Hot or Cold
- Low Calories and Low Sodium
Cons
- Clumps Together When Not Mixed Well
- Might Taste a Little Sweet
Beef Bone Broth
by Dr. Kellyann
Dr. Kellyann’s powdered bone broth is one of the best in the business. It’s made of grass-fed bovine collagen and is packaged in easy-to-carry, on-the-go, single-serve packets for your convenience. Once mixed, it’ll taste exactly like homemade bone broth you made from scratch.
Each box contains seven single-serve packets and will cost you $28 and you can save 10% with a recurring delivery. Dr. Kellyann also offers a 21-Day Bone Broth Diet product bundle that costs $260 — the diet can help you lose up to 15 pounds and 4 inches in just three weeks!
Pros
- Healthy and Delicious
- Single-Serve Packets
- Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free
- Gluten-, Dairy-, and Nut-Free
- Keto and Paleo-Friendly
- Soy-Free and Non-GMO
- 15 Grams of Protein
- Low Carbs, Calories, and Sodium
- Homestyle Flavor
Cons
- Extremely Expensive
- Some Reports of a Lack of Flavor
How is bone broth protein powder made?
The process for making bone broth protein powder starts out just like any other bone broth recipe. The bones of chicken, cows, fish, or any other animal are simmered at a low temperature for many hours. This gives the nutrients time to be extracted from the bones.
Once extracted, the bone broth is dehydrated into powdered form — either through dehydration or spray drying — which is then packaged into a tub or packet. Once moisture is removed, it enters an agglomeration process to create larger particle sizes and make it easy to mix.
How do you take bone broth protein powder?
Since the homemade process takes anywhere from 1-2 days to complete, bone broth protein powder makes that process much easier. In fact, you can have bone broth in as little as a few minutes. All you do is add the powder to a glass of water and mix it up to eliminate clumps.
You can also add the bone broth protein powder to your favorite foods or smoothie. You can use it for soup, stes, rice dishes, baked goods, or even veggie burgers. If you’re taking it with water, you can add any spice — including salt and pepper — to enhance flavor. It’s a versatile powder.
What kind of bones are used in bone broth protein powder?
Much like the homemade version, there’s no limit to what type of animal bones are used with bone broth protein powder. For the most part, the three popular options on the market today are the bones of cows, chicken, or fish. This is generally what you see when in liquid form, as well.
With that said, you can also find bone broth protein powder that’s made from turkey, pork, and other animal bones. It all depends on what you’re looking for in your bone broth protein powder.
What does bone broth protein powder taste like?
To be honest, nothing is going to beat homemade bone broth — it’s the sad reality with any powdered supplement. With that said, bone broth protein powder is a much faster alternative and it still tastes very good when made correctly. That’s why a quality brand is important.
While the plain flavored bone broth protein powder gives you that homemade taste, many brands also offer their powders in chocolate, vanilla, and even turmeric flavor. This gives you a variety to choose from, especially if you’re not a fan of the traditional bone broth flavor.
You can also add spices to it when mixing it with water to enhance the flavor. You can truly do whatever you want with it, so feel free to experiment with your bone broth protein powder.