Why We Don’t Make Veggie Broth (And Never Will)
A Former Vegan’s Story of Gut Healing, Truth, and the Power of Bone Broth
I used to be the kind of person who swore by veggie broth. I was vegan. Devoutly plant-based. I believed every health claim I read online and made decisions based on what felt “clean,” “light,” and “gentle.” But what I didn’t realize is that my body wasn’t asking for gentle. It was crying out for deep, restorative nourishment.
Years of restrictive eating wrecked my gut and hormones. I was bloated, foggy, and exhausted. My cycles disappeared. My digestion was in chaos. I was doing everything “right”—on paper. But my body was falling apart.
It wasn’t kale or carrots or cute mason jars of veggie broth that brought me back.
It was bone broth.
And this is why, even though we get asked all the time—especially at farmers markets by the occasional (slightly smug) passerby—we don’t make veggie broth. Not because we’re trying to be exclusive. But because we’re here to offer what actually heals.
The Nutrient Gap Between Bone Broth and Veggie Broth
Let’s get technical for a moment.
Bone broth contains:
• Collagen – essential for gut lining, joints, skin, and tissue repair
• Gelatin – supports digestion and seals the gut lining
• Glycine – aids detox, sleep, and liver support
• Proline – helps rebuild connective tissue and repair cells
• Glutamine – vital for gut lining integrity and immune function
• Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium – key minerals for every system in the body
• Natural fats – crucial for hormone regulation and cellular health
Veggie broth contains:
• Trace amounts of some vitamins and minerals, depending on what’s used
• Zero collagen, gelatin, or amino acids
• Almost no fat and typically 0 grams of protein
• Flavor, yes some. Nutrients for healing? Not so much.
Science Says: Bone Broth Benefits for Every Body
1. Gut Health:
Bone broth has been shown to soothe the digestive tract, reduce intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), and support beneficial gut bacteria. Glycine and glutamine are key players in restoring gut lining integrity. [1]
2. Hormone Balance:
Collagen and fat-soluble nutrients from bone broth support the liver (which metabolizes hormones), and the fats present help regulate sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
3. Postpartum Recovery:
After birth, a woman’s body is depleted. Bone broth provides easily absorbable protein, hydration, amino acids, and minerals. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, postpartum women are given bone broth daily to restore blood and Qi. It’s a tradition worth reviving. [2]
4. Muscle Rebuilding & Joint Health:
Glycine supports muscle recovery and performance, especially for athletes and aging bodies. The gelatin in broth helps cushion joints and connective tissue—an essential aid for both lifters and marathon runners. [3]
5. Immune Function:
With its unique amino acids and immune-supportive compounds, bone broth can enhance white blood cell function and overall immune defense. [4]
From New Moms to CEOs: Who We Make Broth For
We’ve made broth for:
• Sleep-deprived new mothers
• Toddler picky eaters
• Chemo warriors
• High-performance athletes
• Elderly clients in their 90s and beyond
• Weight lifters and marathon runners
• Burned-out CEOs and entrepreneurs
• Families rebuilding after illness
• People like me—once vegan, now thriving
Because bone broth isn’t just food. It’s functional nourishment. And unlike veggie broth, it wasn’t designed to be a sidekick. It was born to rebuild.
The Long-Term Risks of Veganism (That No One Talks About)
I say this not to judge—but to warn.
Long-term vegan and vegetarian diets often lead to deficiencies in:
• B12 (nerve and brain health)
• Iron (energy and cognition)
• Zinc (immune and hormonal function)
• Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
• Choline and DHA (essential for pregnancy, breastfeeding, brain development)
Many women, myself included, unknowingly sacrifice their hormones, cycles, and mental health in the name of “clean eating.” But ancestral diets show us what truly sustains a body—nose-to-tail nourishment, not modern ideology.
Ancestral Eating = Long-Term Thriving
Every traditional culture prized broth.
• It was the first food given to postpartum women.
• The first solid for weaning babies.
• The base of every healing soup and stew across continents.
They weren’t sipping veggie broth. They were simmering bones, drawing out life-giving minerals, and drinking it daily for strength.
Our Promise: We’ll Always Make Broth That Heals
We don’t make veggie broth because it’s not enough.
And we believe you deserve more than enough.
You deserve the foods your body is biologically designed to thrive on.
And that’s what Wild Feather is here to offer—cup by nourishing cup.
Ready to feel the difference?
Sip something sacred.
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Sources:
1. NCBI: Dietary Glycine in Gut Health
2. TCM Postpartum Practices (The Golden Month by Heng Ou)