Dietitians Say These Are the 8 Best Bone Broths for Bright Skin and Strong Nails (2024)

Dietitians Say These Are the 8 Best Bone Broths for Bright Skin and Strong Nails (1)

These days, it’s nearly impossible to scroll through social media without seeing posts about bone broth. The salty, warm beverage has become super popular in recent years, thanks to its supposed benefits for the skin, joints, gut, and reducing inflammation. So much so that fans love drinking bone broth by the cup, just like you would hot tea.

Worth noting, bone broth isn’t exactly new. It’s a part of many traditional cuisines around the world, and it’s been used medicinally for centuries, says Maddie Pasquariello, M.S., R.D.N. But in more recent times, wellness enthusiasts have become obsessed with this comforting superfood, prompting many brands to make their own. So how do you know which bone broth to try? The wide range of options can feel overwhelming, so we tried 17 fan-favorite bone broths using a comprehensive lab testing process. After comparing the results, these are the best bone broths for different needs and preferences.

Our Top Picks

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Best Bone Broth for Cooking:

FOND Chicken Bone Broth at Amazon ($48)

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Best Bone Broth Blend (Chicken + Beef) :

Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein at Amazon ($45)

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Why We Liked It: With its smooth texture and lack of aftertaste, this product is easy to drink in one sitting.

It’s Worth Noting: The flavor is quite mild, which might not be ideal if you prefer strong-flavored broths.

Sodium content: 16% DV | Form: Liquid | Calories per serving: 45 calories | Protein: 10 grams | Dietary needs: Gluten-free, paleo, Whole 30, keto

Brodo is a popular brand in the bone broth space, so it’s no surprise their Signature Hearth Bone Broth is our pick for best bone broth. Made with a blend of beef, chicken, and turkey bones, the broth reminded us of a lightly flavored chicken noodle soup — which is a plus if you love the comforting dish or enjoy customizing broth with additional ingredients. We also detected the vegetables used in the product, such as carrots and celery, but there was no aftertaste after drinking it. During our tests, we were impressed by the product’s smooth texture. Additionally, the product is packaged in single-serving pouches, which is a perk if you don’t want to store leftover bone broth in the fridge.

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Why We Liked It: This broth is delicious thanks to its unique ingredients, including turmeric, cauliflower, and reishi mushroom.

It’s Worth Noting: The powder didn’t mix well with water. It had a thick and clumpy texture.

Sodium content: 10% DV | Form: Powder | Calories per serving: 70 | Protein: 16 grams | Dietary needs: Paleo, gluten-free, keto, soy-free

If flavor is a priority for you, Dr. Kellyann’s Homestyle Bone Broth might be just what you need. We thought it was very flavorful and savory, despite its low sodium content. This is likely due to the combination of chicken bone broth powder, grass-fed beef collagen, and other ingredients not often used in bone broths, including minced green onion, garlic powder, cauliflower, parsley, and turmeric extract. It even has reishi mushroom powder, which is a plus if you’re looking for more ways to eat medicinal mushrooms. On the downside, this bone broth powder didn’t mix well with water, and the finished broth wasn’t as smooth as others we tried during our research. It’s possible that heating the mixed bone broth could break down the excess clumps if you’re sensitive to texture or looking for a smoother liquid.

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Why We Liked It: Despite being unsalted, this broth boasts a rich and potent flavor.

It’s Worth Noting: We noticed this product leaves a mild aftertaste.

Sodium content: 5% DV | Form: Liquid | Calories per serving: 40 | Protein: 9 grams | Dietary needs: Gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free

For those watching their sodium intake, an unsalted product like the Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Bone Broth is a great option. It contains just 5% of your daily value for sodium — about 125 milligrams — which is less than any other bone broth we tried. It wasn't bland, even though it’s so low in sodium. Instead, it had a hearty and layered flavor thanks to flavoring ingredients such as apple cider vinegar and rosemary. We did notice a slight aftertaste after drinking the broth, but it washed away as soon as we drank water. The texture of the bone broth was thick and smooth, but not jelly-like or gummy. After we poured the broth out of the cup, there was no sediment left at the bottom. You might enjoy this product if you’re looking for an easy-to-drink, low-sodium bone broth that will help keep your electrolyte levels in check.

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Why We Liked It: It’s made with minimal ingredients, making it ideal for cooking and blending with other foods.

It’s Worth Noting: If you want to drink this broth on its own, you’ll need to add other ingredients to spice up its super mild flavor.

Sodium content: 11% DV | Form: Liquid | Calories per serving: 25 | Protein: 6 grams | Dietary needs: Whole 30

Sometimes you might want to cook with bone broth — and using a simple product without flavoring agents (such as vegetables or herbs) is the best way to incorporate it in recipes. FOND’s organic chicken bone broth is an excellent choice, as it’s made with just three ingredients: water, chicken bones, and sea salt. The company markets it as an unflavored product, and the broth had an incredibly mild flavor, despite its strong chicken scent. Because of this, we think it’d be a great foundational ingredient for recipes like soups, stews, and grains or even customizing your own broth for sipping.

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Why We Like It: This product is packaged in a to-go cup, so it’s great for traveling.

It’s Worth Noting: Compared to the other broths we tried, the sodium content of this product is on the higher end.

Sodium content: 20% | Form: Liquid | Calories per serving: 45 calories | Protein: 9 grams | Dietary needs: N/A

Bone broth, like any other liquid, can be transported in a reusable water bottle or coffee mug. However, there’s a chance the savory broth will leave a lingering taste and smell in your portable drinking containers. If you want to avoid this, you might appreciate a travel-friendly bone broth such as the Swanson Sipping Chicken Bone Broth. The product is packaged in a microwaveable (and sippable!) to-go cup — about the size of a small coffee cup — so you can easily pack it for lunch or trips. During our taste test, we detected a mildly salty chicken soup flavor. The broth is also flavored with ingredients like cabbage, onions, and parsley, though we didn’t notice them while drinking it. And compared to other bone broths on the market, it has a lower price point if you’re looking for budget-friendly products.

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Why We Liked It: The chicken flavor was mild, tasty, and well-balanced with seasonings.

It’s Worth Noting: If you prefer bolder broths, you might need to add other ingredients to this product.

Sodium content: 17% DV | Form: Liquid | Calories per serving: 50 calories | Protein: 10 grams | Dietary needs: Keto, gluten-free

The Kitchen Basics Original Chicken Bone Broth had a mild yet satisfying chicken flavor with no unpleasant aftertaste. The seasoning, which included a blend of black pepper, bay leaf, and thyme, was balanced as well. That being said, it didn’t pack a flavor punch like other brands, so it might not be for those looking for bolder flavors. Kitchen Basics also offers this broth in individual 8-ounce boxes (like a juice box), so you can easily sip it on the go.

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Why We Liked It: It had a flavorful beef taste that was enhanced by vegetables and spices.

It’s Worth Noting: The texture of this product is slightly thicker than water and somewhat creamy.

Sodium content: 23% DV | Form: Liquid | Calories per serving: 80 | Protein: 20 grams | Dietary needs: Keto, gluten-free, Whole30, soy-free, paleo

The Bare Bones Organic Beef Bone Broth combines grass-fed beef bones and myriad flavoring ingredients, including tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, mushroom powder, ginger juice, and turmeric. This layered flavor profile came through during our tests, as we felt the vegetables enhanced the overall flavor. We thought the taste was also a bit briny, but in a good way. While drinking the broth, we thought it had a slightly creamy consistency, which you might like if you enjoy more full-bodied broths.According to the label, this product’s sodium content is 23% DV, which is higher than many of the broths we tested. However, the listed serving is 16 ounces, whereas other broths suggest 8-ounce servings. This is important to keep in mind if you want to compare broths based on their sodium content.

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Why We Liked It: This product is made of chicken and beef bones, which is great if you want both ingredients at once.

It’s Worth Noting: The powder is a bit difficult to mix in water. It creates a thick and gelatinous liquid broth.

Sodium content: 7% DV | Form: Powder | Calories per serving: 90 calories | Protein: 20 grams | Dietary needs: Gluten-free, paleo, keto, soy-free

If you’re looking for a simple broth that combines chicken and beef, Ancient Nutrition’s concentrated bone broth powder might deserve a spot in your pantry amongst your other supplement powders. The powder contains just two ingredients: chicken bone broth concentrate and beef bone broth concentrate. However, since there are no flavoring ingredients like vegetables or spices, the flavor is on the blander side. We could see this being a good base ingredient if you want to customize chicken-and-beef broth with additional ingredients. We were also impressed by its high protein content and lower sodium content.

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Why We Liked It: The variety pack makes it easy to keep multiple favors in hand. It’s also packed in individual sticks, making it convenient for traveling.

It’s Worth Noting: Even after being mixed and heated with water, the powder left behind clumps.

Sodium content: 20% DV (beef), 24% DV (chicken) | Form: Powder | Calories per serving: 50 calories | Protein: 10 grams | Dietary needs: Gluten-free, keto, paleo

For those who want chicken and beef bone broth but don’t want to combine them, the Bare Bones Instant Bone Broth variety pack is worth considering. One package contains 16 packets (eight of each flavor) of instant powdered bone broth mix. The packaging makes it a stellar choice if you travel often or want to take bone broth on the go. As far as flavor goes, this product reminded us of the instant noodles many of us ate back in college — in a good way! We noted it had a bold flavor and slight aftertaste, but we didn’t think it was unpleasant.

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We Also Tested

Vital Proteins Beef Bone Broth Collagen

We tested the Vital Proteins Beef Bone Broth Collagen but disliked the flavor or texture. We thought it didn’t taste like beef and noticed an unpleasant aftertaste after drinking it. The texture was also very clumpy, almost like brown jelly, and the powder stuck to the spoon as we mixed the liquid.

Kettle & Fire Bone Broth Variety Pack

We also tried the Kettle & Fire Bone Broth Variety Pack. According to the label, it was made with vegetables and herbs, but we thought it had a very light flavor and couldn’t detect those ingredients. However, we thought the texture was very drinkable and soothing to consume.

What to Know About Bone Broth

  • Benefits: Research on the benefits of collagen for skin and joint health is limited, but the available studies suggest it may improve certain aspects of each. For example, “it’s possible that regular intake of collagen could improve the skin’s elasticity and even help reduce some of the skin-related changes that come with the natural aging process,” explains Pasquariello. The amino acids in bone broth may also benefit gut function. Bone broth also has bone-supporting vitamins and minerals (think calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc), according to Pasquariello.Finally, as a liquid, bone broth can help you stay hydrated by increasing your daily fluid intake and providing electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium.
  • Ingredients: “When selecting a bone broth, look for grass-fed and finished beef or pasture-raised chicken [or] turkey bones as the main ingredients,” recommends Pasquariello. “You’ll also want to look for added flavorings from whole foods, like seasonings and vegetables, and ideally limited additives (like gums) if [they] upset your stomach easily,” she adds.
  • Nutrition: Pasquariello suggests picking a product with at least 10 grams of protein per serving and moderate salt levels (150 to 200 milligrams per serving or less).
  • How to use bone broth: One of the easiest ways to enjoy bone broth is to sip it out of a mug. This is a popular method during the cooler months, as broth offers a savory alternative to the usual hot drinks. However, the beauty of bone broth is that you can use it in many ways. It can easily replace water in cooking — whether you’re making rice, quinoa, or lentils — for an extra dose of flavor and nutrients. Bone broth can also replace some of the water or milk in homemade mashed potatoes, and it’s tasty in marinades for meats and tofu.

Why Trust Shape

Kirsten Nunez is a health, nutrition, and food journalist with nearly a decade of experience. Her educational background includes an M.S. in Nutrition and B.S. in Dietetics. For this piece, she researched the most popular bone broths on the market and analyzed results from our testing staff. She also interviewed registered dietitians for the lowdown on the benefits of bone broth and what to look for when buying bone broths.

Dietitians Say These Are the 8 Best Bone Broths for Bright Skin and Strong Nails (2024)
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