Is bone broth good for your gut?
Bone broth can be a useful source of fluid and some protein when a temporary low fibre diet is needed. It is a traditional food with a practical place in nutrition, although it has not been established as a treatment for bowel inflammation.
As a gastroenterologist in Dubai with more than 20 years of experience, I am seeing more interest in bone broth. I follow the research because I want to help patients understand where it may be useful.
Watch my short explanation
In this video, I explain what bone broth contains and where I use it in nutrition discussions with people who have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
What is bone broth, and what does cooking do?
Broths made from bones and connective tissue have long been part of traditional cooking and food offered during recovery from illness. Today there are also convenient packaged versions.
Slow cooking releases gelatin from collagen in the connective tissue. The broth can provide protein containing amino acids, the building blocks your body uses. Your digestion breaks these proteins down before absorption. This does not mean the collagen goes straight to the bowel lining or repairs it.
What does the gut health research show?
The 2025 review by Mayo Clinic researchers brings together research on nutrients found in bone broth and their possible effects on the intestinal barrier and inflammation. The animal findings are interesting. We still need good human trials showing whether drinking bone broth improves IBD outcomes.
It is reasonable to value bone broth as a food while keeping those treatment claims in perspective.
How do I use it in Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis?
This is often where I find it useful: when I advise a temporary lower fibre diet, strained broth can be one way to include fluid and some protein without much fibre. The amount of protein depends on the preparation, so it is worth checking the label.
I explain to patients that this supports their nutrition. It does not replace IBD medicines or provide a complete diet on its own. Not everyone with Crohn’s or colitis needs to reduce fibre.
Is bone broth suitable for IBS, bloating or SIBO?
It may fit into your meals if you tolerate it, but it does not replace a structured low FODMAP diet when that has been advised for IBS. Onion and garlic in broth can be relevant triggers for people sensitive to their fermentable carbohydrates.
It is not an established SIBO treatment. Persistent bloating or bowel symptoms should be assessed so that advice addresses the cause.
What about bone broth and histamine?
Some people report symptoms they associate with histamine after eating certain foods, including broth. Histamine content can vary with preparation and storage, so it is misleading to describe every broth as either high or low histamine.
This is also different from claiming that broth makes everyone release histamine. If you repeatedly notice symptoms after it, leave it out and discuss the pattern with your clinician. Symptoms alone do not confirm histamine intolerance.
Can I buy bone broth in Dubai, and what should I check?
Yes. Prepared bone broth is sold by Dubai food retailers and delivery suppliers, as well as being something you can make at home. Availability varies by shop and product.
Check the protein and salt per serving, added ingredients and storage instructions. A concentrated product may need diluting. More salt or a higher price does not make it better for your gut.
My clinical view
Bone broth can be useful when a temporary low fibre option is needed. It will not suit everyone, and some people simply do not enjoy the taste. I see it as one food option within a wider nutrition plan.
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Related reading
If you would like to discuss digestive symptoms or an IBD nutrition question with Dr Pranab Gyawali, you can use the appointment form below.