Bone Broth: The Benefits in a GLP-1 Diet
Weight ManagementWeight Loss

Is Bone Broth Your GLP-1 Secret Weapon?

Is Bone Broth Your GLP-1 Secret Weapon?
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Updated on April 30, 2026
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If you’re using a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication, it may be wise to target a few new nutrition goals, such as making sure that you’re getting enough protein, fluids, and electrolytes throughout the day. Bone broth can help fill these nutritional gaps, which are often experienced by people taking the powerful weight loss and diabetes medications.

Illustrative graphic titled The Benefits of Bone Broth for a GLP-1 Diet shows: Lean protein between meals, Hydration and nausea relief and Electrolytes like calcium and magnesium. EH logo at bottom.
Everyday Health

Lean Protein

Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones (and sometimes meat) in water.

 This cooking method infuses the liquid with collagen from the bones and connective tissues, thereby increasing the protein content of the broth. While its protein content varies, bone broth generally delivers 8 to 10 grams (g) of protein in 1 cup.

“Bone broth is rich in amino acids, the building blocks of protein, and typically low in fat, which may be helpful for people on GLP-1 medications,” says Ali McGowan, RD, who is based in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bone broth is also easy to digest. “Since GLP-1 medications slow gastric emptying, higher-fat foods can worsen nausea or feelings of fullness, so lower-fat protein sources like bone broth may be better tolerated,” says McGowan.

Because GLP-1 drugs can cut your appetite drastically, it’s especially important to make sure that the food that you eat has the nutrition you need. Most experts put special emphasis on protein. Some people taking a GLP-1s may experience excessive muscle loss. A higher protein intake may help reduce this muscle loss.

Hydration

Since bone broth is a liquid, it can support your hydration needs, which is especially helpful for people on a GLP-1. “Hydration and sodium help relieve nausea,” says Sue A. James, RDN, a GLP-1 nutrition expert based in Baltimore.

Many people using these medications also experience the dehydrating symptoms vomiting and diarrhea, two of the most common side effects of GLP-1 use. Drinking bone broth can help you rehydrate, says McGowan.

Even if you don’t have these side effects, you may find yourself drinking less while on a GLP-1 medication. “Since GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying and can reduce appetite, thirst cues may be blunted, making it easier to unintentionally underdrink,” says McGowan.

Nutrients and Electrolytes

Specific nutrients found in bone broth differ depending on whether you make it yourself at home, buy it at a restaurant, or purchase a container at a grocery store. Generally, bone broth contains small amounts of electrolytes, including sodium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, according to McGowan.

 That’s one reason that bone broth has become a trendy beverage among athletes and in the fitness community.
If you enjoy bone broth, these nutrients can help keep you healthy. Though most people get enough electrolytes from the food they eat, about one-quarter of people on a GLP-1 develop a nutritional deficiency within one year, likely due to reduced food intake.

Bone broth “can be helpful if someone isn’t eating enough fruits and vegetables, or is losing fluids from vomiting or diarrhea, but it should be used as a supplement — not a replacement — for balanced nutrition and long-term habits,” says McGowan.

What You Can (and Can’t) Expect Bone Broth to Do

Some of bone broth’s reported benefits are a bit more questionable.

Collagen and Skin Health

Bone broth contains collagen, and it has been suggested that consuming this type of protein may help improve skin health, potentially improving the appearance of “Ozempic face” and other related effects caused by saggy skin after weight loss.

However, there’s limited evidence that consuming collagen, particularly by drinking bone broth, makes a difference in your skin, says McGowan. One review and meta-analysis of collagen supplementation didn’t find that it necessarily benefited skin hydration, elasticity, or texture.

Gut Health

Bone broth may have the potential to promote gut health. Glutamine and glycine, two amino acids found in bone broth, may support the health of the gut lining, says McGowan. Also called the intestinal barrier, the gut lining absorbs nutrients and serves as a defense against bad bacteria and toxins.

This may be helpful for people who have inflammatory bowel disease, but it’s unclear if anyone else will benefit.

 “More research is needed to confirm these benefits in otherwise healthy individuals,” says McGowan

Warnings

Some bone broths contain large amounts of sodium, with 1 cup containing nearly 20 percent of your recommended daily intake.

 If you buy bone broth at a grocery store, read the nutrition label carefully to make sure that the product you choose fits safely into your daily diet. “If you have a history of high blood pressure, I recommend choosing a low-sodium version,” says James.

Remember that bone broth is a snack or beverage with a limited number of nutrients, so it should not be considered a major part of your diet. “Relying on it too heavily could contribute to imbalanced dietary patterns or undereating, especially for individuals on GLP-1 medications who may already struggle to meet their needs due to significant appetite suppression,” says McGowan.

If you’re having problems finding foods that work for your new diet while on a GLP-1, consider meeting with a registered dietitian-nutritionist for personalized guidance.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Why Bone Broth Is Good for You (and How To Make It). Cleveland Clinic. August 16, 2024.
  2. Savoring the Benefits of Bone Broth: Worth a Taste? Harvard Medical School. March 4, 2025.
  3. Haines MS et al. OR09-08 Muscle Loss With Weight Loss Is Modulated by Age, Sex, and Protein Intake and May Affect Glucose Homeostasis in Adults With Obesity. Journal of the Endocrine Society. October 22, 2025.
  4. Matar A et al. Bone Broth Benefits: How Its Nutrients Fortify Gut Barrier in Health and Disease. Digestive Disease and Sciences. June 2025.
  5. Butsch WS et al. Nutritional Deficiencies and Muscle Loss in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Using GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: A Retrospective Observational Study. Obesity Pillars. June 10, 2025.
  6. Myung SK et al. Effects of Collagen Supplements on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. The American Journal of Medicine. September 2025.
  7. Zhang Y et al. Enhancing Intestinal Barrier Efficiency: A Novel Metabolic Diseases Therapy. Frontiers in Nutrition. March 1, 2023.
  8. Bone Broth. U.S. Department of Agriculture FoodData Central. July 29, 2021.
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