Why Lifelong Vegetarians Are Turning to Bone Broth

Why, it’s often about healing, not giving up

For years, bone broth sat tucked quietly within ancestral cooking rituals — ladled into bowls, simmered on stoves, and passed on in recipes scribbled into the margins of hand-me-down notebooks. But now it’s surfacing in a place no one expected: on the kitchen shelves — and within the bodies — of lifelong vegetarians.

Yes, really.

At BONE, we’ve noticed a growing ripple: people who’ve followed a plant-based lifestyle for decades are gently, sometimes reluctantly, introducing bone broth into their routines. Not for trend-chasing or flavour. For healing. Especially gut healing.

And we get it. It’s not an easy decision.

Let’s break down the why, the how, and why it’s okay if you’re curious too.

Nutrition Gaps Are Real — and They're Showing Up in the Gut  

For some, the decision to step away from vegetarianism — even temporarily — comes down to this: they’ve tried everything else to feel better, and nothing’s worked.

The intention was always good: to eat consciously, lightly, kindly. But when bloating won’t go away, fatigue is constant, and the body feels inflamed all the time… frustration and quiet distress start to creep in.

Many lifelong vegetarians may find themselves dealing with issues like:

• Leaky gut syndrome
• Irritable bowel
• Histamine sensitivity
• Chronic fatigue
• Poor nutrient absorption
• Persistent inflammation

Gut health has become the modern cornerstone of wellness — but it’s also where a lot of plant-based diets start to take strain.

Why?

Because while vegetarian diets are rich in fibre and antioxidants, they can lack highly bioavailable proteins, gelatin, collagen, and healing fats that the gut lining needs when it’s under stress. Especially for those who’ve been navigating underlying inflammation or disordered digestion for years. The gut has been shouting — and now people are listening.

That’s where bone broth comes in.

Why Bone Broth? Why This One Thing?

Let’s be clear: Bone broth isn’t magic. It’s food. But it’s food that’s incredibly rich in gut-repairing compounds that many people find nearly impossible to get from plants alone. Here’s what makes it so powerful:

• Collagen & Gelatin: These help repair the gut lining by “sealing” the intestinal wall, reducing permeability (leaky gut) and supporting digestion.
• Glycine & Glutamine: These anti-inflammatory amino acids are shown to calm the gut, support the nervous system, and aid in tissue repair.
• Minerals: Bone broth contains bioavailable calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium — the kind your body actually uses.

For people whose systems are depleted or inflamed, broth offers a gentle, warm, and digestible way to start restoring balance — without the strain of raw roughage, heavy smoothies, or mountains of supplements.

All in all? It’s simple. Easy on the system. Deeply nourishing. And... surprisingly comforting.

From Ethics to Survival: “I Had to Choose My Health”

The community we serve at BONE is deeply thoughtful — and for some, coming back to animal products is an emotional shift as much as a physical one. We’ve heard stories that carry real weight:

🟡 "My ethics hadn’t changed, but my body was missing something. After months of intensive research, I had to accept that I’d only be able to get the healing I needed by introducing meat into my system.  

🟡 “I tried collagen powders and gut supplements — nothing worked. I started having just a few small sips of broth a day, and after two weeks, I felt something shift."

🟡 "I didn’t call it ‘giving up veganism.’ I called it giving my body what it needs. I still don’t consume any other animal products. "

This is where gentleness matters most. Because bone broth isn’t about abandoning morals, it’s about slowly rebuilding trust between you and your body — learning to feed it in a way that supports healing.

And for many who’ve gone a long time feeling unwell, that’s what matters more.

Bone Broth as a Bridge, Not an Identity

We truly believe this: Bone broth doesn’t mean tearing up the lifestyle you’ve lived by. 

It doesn’t mean going back to meat.

It can mean tentatively trying one small, healing shift — a daily cup of nutrient-rich broth — just to see. To feel.

There’s a reason it’s worked for so many. And there’s a reason people keep coming back, despite the discomfort of changing personal food principles. Because bone broth isn’t a trend or fad, it’s food that people used to make when someone was sick. It’s food that we make now, lovingly and slowly — for people who are ready to feel better.

Why People Trust This Bone Broth

Here’s the part that matters if you’re going to try it: not all bone broths are made equally. Some are ultra-processed. Others taste like water. Others are full of additives or sketchy sourcing. And if you’re coming from a plant-based lifestyle, that matters even more.

At BONE, our broth is:

✅ Handmade by Leilah, in her own kitchen  

✅ Always organic, grass-fed, free-range, hormone-free

✅ Simmered low and slow for up to 48 hours 

This isn’t a product line. It’s nourishment made the old way, for new-day problems — and done right.

You’ll feel it in the first sip.

How to Introduce Bone Broth if You’ve Been Vegetarian — Without Overwhelming Yourself

If you’re curious but nervous, notice this: That’s valid. This is a big shift. So here’s what we recommend:

✨ Start slowly. 

Just a small amount a day. Maybe warmed in a mug. 

✨ Support your emotions too. 

Changing how you eat can bring grief, hope, guilt and relief — all at once. Allow space for that. You’re not "breaking" anything.

✨ Keep listening. 

Your body will tell you what’s working. We’ve heard customers say it took just four days to notice better bowel movements or less bloating. Others take longer. You don’t have to rush.

✨ Make it feel sacred. 

Sip with intention. See how it makes you feel. Not just physically — but all around. There's medicine in that presence, too.

In the End, It's About Coming Home to Yourself

To be clear: We’re not here to tell you what’s right for you.

But we are here, cooking broth quietly, simmering it slowly, making medicine that many have forgotten: real food, for real healing.

For some lifelong vegetarians, bone broth is a turning point — not because their beliefs no longer fit, but because their wellbeing matters more than the rules they’ve carried.

And if that’s you?

We see you. We made this for you. And we’re here when you’re ready to sip.

Curious to try a cup?

Order freshly made, home-cooked bone broth here

Or reach out with your questions here. No pressure. Just nourishment, if and when you need it.