When it comes to gut-healing protocols like GAPS and Weston A. Price, meat stock and bone broth play distinct but complementary roles. While both are nutrient-rich, understanding their differences and how they benefit specific groups—babies, pregnant and nursing moms, and even dogs—helps you use them effectively at the right stages of gut healing.

Cooking Methods: What’s the Difference?

Meat Stock

• Preparation: Simmer meat on the bone (e.g., chicken, turkey, beef shanks) with connective tissue and skin for 1.5–3 hours. The shorter cooking time preserves gelatin, collagen, and easily digestible amino acids.

• Focus: Extracts nutrients from the meat, connective tissues, and skin rather than solely the bones.

• Digestibility: Easier to digest due to low histamine content, making it ideal for sensitive systems.

Bone Broth

• Preparation: Simmer bare bones for 12–24+ hours with water, often with vinegar added to draw out minerals.

• Focus: Extracts deeper levels of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

• Digestibility: Higher histamine levels and mineral density can make it harder to tolerate for those with compromised digestion.

Nutritional Benefits: Meat Stock vs. Bone Broth

Meat Stock: The Foundation for Gut Healing

• Gelatin & Collagen: Seals and repairs the gut lining by forming a protective layer, which reduces inflammation and supports digestion.

• Amino Acids (Glycine, Proline, Glutamine): Key for rebuilding connective tissues and regulating the immune system.

• Fat-Rich Nutrients: Offers gentle energy and supports brain development, making it ideal for babies, pregnant moms, and individuals with sensitive guts.

Bone Broth: Long-Term Nourishment

• Mineral Density: High levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus promote bone strength and systemic health.

• Collagen Peptides: Enhances joint health, skin elasticity, and hair growth.

• Versatility: Ideal for dogs, athletes, and those with established gut health for sustained nourishment.

Healing the Gut: The Role of Each Broth

Step 1: Start with Meat Stock for Repair and Recovery

Meat stock is the cornerstone of gut healing. Its high gelatin and amino acid content work together to seal and heal the gut lining, addressing a wide range of issues:

• Eczema: Often linked to a leaky gut, meat stock helps seal the intestinal lining, reducing inflammation and supporting skin healing.

• Colic: The amino acids and gelatin soothe the digestive system, alleviating discomfort and reducing excessive crying episodes.

• Spit-Up and Reflux: Meat stock supports stomach lining repair and reduces irritation, promoting easier digestion for babies.

• Leaky Gut Syndrome: Forms a protective barrier over inflamed intestinal walls, preventing food particles and toxins from entering the bloodstream.

Who Needs Meat Stock?

• Babies: Supports a developing gut microbiome and helps alleviate common issues like eczema, colic, and spit-up.

• Pregnant Moms: Reduces inflammation, supports fetal growth, and aids emotional well-being through gut-brain axis balance.

• Nursing Moms: Restores the gut after childbirth while enriching breastmilk with amino acids and collagen.

• Dogs: Helps pups with food sensitivities, diarrhea, or inflammatory issues by promoting gentle gut healing.

Step 2: Transition to Bone Broth for Strength and Maintenance

Once the gut begins to heal, bone broth adds the minerals and collagen peptides needed for long-term health and resilience. Its high mineral content strengthens bones, joints, and the immune system. Steer clear if you have histamine issues, continue with meat stock only which is a low-histamine food until gut-recovery occurs and histamine intolerance is no longer an issue.

Why Bone Broth?

• Stronger Guts: Provides sustained nourishment to maintain a balanced microbiome.

• Dogs: Excellent for promoting joint health, shiny coats, and strong bones.

• Pregnant Moms: Replenishes minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are essential for fetal skeletal development.

• Post-Healing Phase: Adds density to the diet once histamine sensitivities are resolved.

Specific Benefits for Babies, Moms, and Dogs

Babies

• Meat Stock:

  • Soothes inflammation linked to eczema and diaper rash.

  • Reduces colic symptoms by calming the digestive tract.

  • Supports underdeveloped digestive systems, helping to minimize spit-up and reflux.

Pregnant Moms

• Meat Stock:

  • High in amino acids for reducing inflammation and promoting fetal tissue development.

  • Supports the gut-brain connection, aiding in mood stability and reducing stress.

• Bone Broth:

  • Replenishes minerals like magnesium and calcium to prevent deficiencies during pregnancy.

Nursing Moms

• Meat Stock:

  • Enriches breastmilk with nutrients that promote gut health in babies.

  • Aids postpartum recovery by rebuilding connective tissues.

• Bone Broth:

  • Restores maternal mineral stores depleted during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dogs

• Meat Stock:

  • A gentle option for dogs with inflammatory conditions or food sensitivities.

  • Helps seal the gut and reduce symptoms like diarrhea or itchy skin.

• Bone Broth:

  • Ideal for joint health, particularly for active or aging dogs.

  • Boosts hydration and adds a flavorful, nutrient-dense boost to meals.

Linking Broths to Gut Healing Stages

1️⃣ Acute Healing Stage:
Start with meat stock to seal the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and address digestive sensitivities. You will probably be at this level for quite some time, years if that.

2️⃣ Strengthening Stage:
Gradually transition to bone broth once histamine levels are better tolerated and the gut is healing.

3️⃣ Long-Term Maintenance:
Use a mix of meat stock and bone broth to sustain gut health and provide ongoing nourishment.

DIY Recipes for Meat Stock and Bone Broth

For a detailed step-by-step guide to making meat stock, click here.

For a detailed step-by-step guide to making bone broth, click here. This is a dog recipe HOWEVER you can tailor it to your wants and needs with the same structure.

Which One Is Right for You?

• Start with Meat Stock: Essential for gut healing, reducing inflammation, and soothing digestive issues in babies, moms, and dogs.

• Transition to Bone Broth: Once digestion improves, use it for added minerals, collagen, and long-term health support.

Both broths are invaluable tools for holistic health when used appropriately. Whether you're nourishing your family or your pets, these staples can transform gut health and overall wellness. Most people will need to stick with meat stock for quite awhile before being able to move on to bone broth easily.

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