Catching a glimpse of herself in a mirror, Patti barely recognized the person looking back at her. How did I lose sight of my health? she wondered. “For several years after having my beautiful twin daughters, I carried 30 or so extra pounds that I told myself—and everyone else—was because ‘I had twins,’” she recalls. “Tricking myself into believing that excuse for far too long, I told myself I’d make changes next week, next month or next year. But two decades later, I hadn’t shed the weight, and I dreamed of getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 140 pounds.
From bad to worse
“That dream was shattered in October of 2020, when I was in a car accident that left me requiring a walker to take even a few steps as I recovered from a back injury. The simple task of taking a shower was daunting, and the injury and recovery from multiple procedures made it impossible to do anything but sit on the couch and eat. Mourning my mobility and pain-free life, I self-medicated my blue mood by downing sugary sodas and designer coffees, treats and junk food. “At every doctor’s visit, the scale flashed a higher number. I was already on medicine to control my blood pressure and cholesterol when my blood-sugar levels started hovering in the prediabetic range, prompting warnings from my doctor to make better food choices and incorporate daily activity. “Then at a February 2023 visit, my weight had soared to 290 pounds. I couldn’t believe I had let myself get so close to 300 pounds. Equally scary was the fact that I was now a full-blown diabetic, requiring the medication metformin to control my blood sugar. Walking out with another prescription I might need for the rest of my life and weighing more than twice my my motivation. Unwilling to continue setting such an unhealthy example for my daughters, I was committed to making radical lifestyle changes.
A surprising solution
“That day, I ended my relationship with sugary beverages and processed foods. I stocked up on healthy fats like salmon and lots of veggies. I also saw an ad on Facebook for Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth ($62 for 2 boxes, DrKellyann.com) and was intrigued reading that collagen and other minerals in bone broth have anti-inflammatory benefits that might ease my back and knee pain. I also read that the protein could help me feel full, aiding my weight-loss quest. “Although a bit skeptical that a cup of broth could have a significant impact, I ordered a box and began sipping one packet a day in a cup of hot water in place of a meal. “Two weeks later, happy tears filled my eyes when the scale read 279. Losing 11 pounds without feeling like I was depriving myself fueled my passion to reclaim my health. Every day, I substituted soda or a bag of chips with a mug of bone broth, experimenting with Homestyle and French Onion flavors. I loved how healthy it felt to sip the broth rather than gulp down junk food.”
“A few weeks later, my knees weren’t as achy, and I started feeling like I had more energy. I was gifted a smart scale to track my BMI and weight and was excited watching both tick lower and lower. “After 18 months, I was thrilled to hear my blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol were all in the normal range, and at 135 pounds, I was less than half the size I once was. My doctor beamed when he saw me and explained that by losing weight, I significantly reduced my risk of life-threatening issues like a stroke. An added benefit was less pain! “My confidence skyrocketed, and I’m excited about life again. I still start every day with a cup of bone broth and keep a few packets in my purse for when I travel or need a healthy food option on the go. This sip has given me back my life!”
The science: How bone broth heals and slims
- Bone broth is like a ‘souped’ up bowl of chicken soup, says integrative medicine practitioner Dana G. Cohen, M.D., co-author of Quench. It’s made by simmering animal bones for 24 hours so they dissolve, leaving behind collagen, vitamins and minerals she says are “vital for good health.”
- It’s a whole-body healer: Research shows bone broth heals the gut lining and calms inflammation—factors that improve digestion and boost the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. “Because gut health and brain health are closely connected, improving gut health can amp up clarity and focus,” says Kellyann Petrucci, M.S., N.D. And in a 2019 study, people who took collagen lost 12 times more fat than those who didn’t.
- To get the perks: Try swapping a cup of coffee or tea with a cup of bone broth, or add it to quinoa or risotto recipes. You can use homemade or store-bought broth like Patti did, or you can try powdered collagen supplements. And if you practice intermittent fasting, drinking it won’t break your fast, says Dr. Kellyann.
Try this too: Collagen eases joint pain
Bone broth is a top source of collagen—a healing nutrient that not only reduces wrinkles and firms the skin but also supports the cartilage that cushions our joints. Now, research suggests that increasing your collagen intake can also help soothe aches and pains. According to a 2023 review of studies published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences, supplementing with 40 mg of collagen a day eased pain and improved mobility and joint function for people with osteoarthritis—and the effects kicked in after three months.
