7 health benefits of vegetable broth, according to nutritionists – from helping weight loss to boosting skin and eye health
- Bone broth has been trending on TikTok and other social media – but experts say you can get as much goodness from vegetable broth
- Supporters claim it may help in losing weight, works well to detox the body, is good for the eyes and skin, and even has anti-ageing properties
There is something about the smell of vegetables and herbs simmering in water that is therapeutic.
Broth, derived from the old English word “brew”, is the water in which meat, fish or vegetables have been boiled.
The clear liquid, strained before use, adds a depth of flavour to soups, stews, casseroles and sauces, or can be savoured just by itself.
Avni Kaul, a nutritionist and wellness coach based in Delhi, India says there has been much written about bone broth and its gut-healing qualities. But, she notes, “the most beneficial nutrients and electrolytes present in bone broth can [also] be found in vegan-friendly sources”.
Kaul says the one thing that bone broth has, which “is impossible for vegans to find a vegetable replacement for”, is collagen – but the Cleveland Clinic in the US state of Ohio notes that eating collagen-rich foods does not directly result in higher collagen levels in the body.
