Is Bone Marrow Good for You? 7 Health and Nutrition Benefits

Many love bone marrow. It has even become a delicacy in gourmet restaurants and eateries. If you love it, you have more reasons to enjoy it the next time you order it.

Is Bone Marrow Good for You?

Bone marrow is the form of spongy tissue in the center of bones. The spine, hip, and thigh bones hold the bulk of it, per Healthline.

It has stem cells that give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets, responsible for carrying oxygen, regulating the immune system, and clotting blood. Numerous cuisines frequently use the bone marrow of animals such as cows, lambs, caribou, and moose.

It commonly goes with toast or is used as a soup foundation because of its silky texture and rich, slightly sweet flavor.

Additionally, bone marrow can flavor meat meals, roasted vegetables, bread, and bone broth.

Bone marrow is also nutritious. It contains high fat and calories and is rich in vitamin B12. It includes a significant portion of your reference daily intake (RDI) of the following minerals and nutrients.

Riboflavin: 6% of RDI
Iron: 4% of RDI
Vitamin E: 2% of RDI
Phosphorus: 1% of RDI
Thiamine: 1% of RDI
Vitamin B12: 7%
Vitamin A: 1% of RDI

Bone Marrow Benefits

Bone marrow offers several health benefits per WebMD and Bluebird. Here are some of them.

1. Reduces risk of weight-related diseases.

According to one study, Adiponectin is a hormone found in the fat tissue of bone marrow. This hormone aids in the breakdown of fat. It can preserve insulin sensitivity and has been related to a decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other malignancies linked to fat.

Adiponectin levels are directly associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes and other cardiovascular illnesses. According to the study, those who are overweight typically have lower amounts of the hormone adiponectin, but when they lose weight, their levels of the hormone increase.

2. Keeps skin, bone, and joints healthy.

Collagen, abundant in bone marrow, helps maintain the health and strength of bones and skin. Additionally, it contains a lot of glucosamine, a substance that fights osteoarthritis, eases joint pain, and lessens joint inflammation.

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3. Reduces the risk of inflammation-related diseases.

There are high concentrations of glycine and conjugated linoleic acid in bone marrows. Both of these have been found to have potent anti-inflammatory effects. Serious illnesses like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer's are all associated with chronic inflammation.

4. Improves brain health.

The fact that bone marrow has significant concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins A and K2 makes it beneficial for brain function. These elements prevent the poisons and free radicals that lead to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's from damaging our brain cells.

5. Boosts Immune Function

Stem cells with characteristics resembling those of human stem cells are abundant in the bone marrow of animals. These stem cells boost immune system function and antioxidant activity by producing white blood cells and red blood cells.

B vitamins, such as B12, which increase energy, are abundant. These vitamins can aid with symptoms of "keto flu" or lethargicness if you're following a ketogenic diet.

Also present in breast milk are AKGs, a rare source of this substance. AKGs are crucial for adipose tissue growth, which supports the immune system's ability to combat disease.