Trader Joe’s has made a name for itself in American grocery shopping by offering unique products like bone broth. However, after studying the benefits of collagen in health and dietary supplementation, you may be wondering, “Does Trader Joe’s Bone Broth have collagen?”
According to the slightly lower protein content in Trader Joe’s Chicken Bone Broth and the fact that it is derived from a concentrate, it is possible that Trader Joe’s Bone Broth has slightly lower collagen levels than that of other brands. However, it is still true that Trader Joe’s Bone Broth has some collagen included within the product.
In this article, we’ll cover what bone broth and collagen are, give you an overview of Trader Joe’s Bone Broth products, analyze the collagen presence in this bone broth, and even cover health benefits and consumer attitudes on collagen in bone broth. We’ll wrap it all up by answering a few Frequently Asked Questions on this subject, too! Let’s get started.
Understanding Bone Broth and Collagen
Bone broth is defined as a type of soup made by heating the bones of any kind of animal, usually containing trace amounts of connective tissue or meat, in water.
This is how nutrients are extracted from the actual bones and dispersed into the water, creating a broth.
One of the proteins found in bone broth is collagen, which is naturally present in the bones themselves. It is collagen that infuses the broth with protein, which is what is counted on the back of packages like Trader Joe’s product in the “Protein” section.
There are several different bone broth types, derived from different animals. Some of these include turkey, chicken, more exotic creatures like bison, and of course, beef.
It is commonly believed that Chicken Bone Broth is the kind with the highest quality of collagen content.
Trader Joe’s Bone Broth Product
Trader Joe’s sells two different kinds of Bone Broth. One is their “Organic Chicken Bone Broth,” and the other is an “Organic Beef Bone Broth.”
They are typically found in the same area as canned vegetables and soups in the store locations, and they are packaged in cardboard boxes.
These cardboard boxes contain 17 fluid ounces of the broth, and are priced at almost $3 U.S. dollars.
It is very important to note and fully understand that Trader Joe’s creates their bone broth from chicken concentrate.
However, one can clearly see on the actual packages that this only means Trader Joe’s is using a concentrate that made from the same ingredients used to create broth: the bones of an animal in filtered water.
To check the current price and availability of Trader Joe’s Beef Bone Broth, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Presence of Collagen in Trader Joe’s Bone Broth
Collagen has many health benefits, so it is natural to wonder how much of it is in Trader Joe’s two bone broth varieties.
Some of these benefits include health in skin, joints, muscles, blood, and of course, bones. This will be discussed in further detail later on in this article.
Trader Joe’s bone broth is made with the following ingredients depending on which type of bone broth is being used, Chicken or Beef:
- Water
- Organic Chicken or Beef Concentrate
- Organic Carrots
- Organic Onions
- Organic Celery
- Organic Onion Powder
- Sea Salt
Trader Joe’s lists it’s protein content as 10 grams per serving, with a total of 22 grams per container. This is slightly less than other products, such as Stressless Beef Bone Broth, which has 15 grams of protein per serving!
This is likely due to the added water in the concentrate, diluting the collagen content.
Health Effects and Concerns of Collagen in Bone Broth
Collagen is something that the body naturally produces and can benefit from more of through the diet. However, if you’re planning on trying Trader Joe’s Bone Broth, you probably would like to peruse the list below to see some of these health benefits:
- Healthier Skin – Collagen promotes the elasticity, otherwise known as stretchiness, of the skin. It has even been speculated to reduce the creation of wrinkles!
- Better Joints – Joints can become rigid and less yielding or useful as you age, but consuming collagen can slow this natural process and strengthen joints, reducing friction.
- Better Heart Health – The heart can become weak without enough collagen, since collagen helps your arteries to stay firm and process blood vessels correctly.
It is important to know the health risks involved, or concerns involved, with collagen consumption. According to WebMD.com, for example it is only recommended that a human take no more than 15 grams of collagen a day. You cannot overdose on collagen because it is a protein, but too much protein can cause strain on kidneys.
Consumer Attitudes Towards Collagen in Bone Broth
According to Healthline.com, Bone Broth is intensely popular recently in consumers. The word has been out about the nutrients and little to no negative side-effects of consuming bone broth for years in the West, but in the East, specifically in Asian cuisine, bone broth has been a staple.
Some with sensitive kidney functions may opt out of taking bone broth with collagen and search for products without it in order to avoid the above-mentioned health issues.
Conversely, taking collagen on it’s own and avoiding bone broth actually does not give you the same amount of health benefits derived from higher protein and the inclusion of vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for more information on this niche grocer and it’s bone broth and collagen products? Take a look at our answers to Frequently Asked Questions below!
Does All Bone Broth Contain Collagen?
No, not all bone broth contains collagen, but most bone broth products do at least have trace amounts of it.
Any contact with bones in heated water, which is how broth is made, can cause collagen to be infused into the liquid on some level.
What Are the Ingredients in Trader Joe’s Bone Broth?
Trader Joe’s bone broth includes chicken or beef bone broth concentrates, organic vegetable concentrates, organic onion powder, and salt.
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up, the collagen levels in Trader Joe’s Bone Broth are present, but the fact that they are derived from a concentrate and have a lower protein level than products like Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Broth indicates that it is slightly lower than other collagen levels.
However, you can still get some of the same health benefits of collagen from Trader Joe’s product, such as healthier skin, better artery health, and even more efficient joints!
Although it is made from a concentrate, the differences in benefits are so minor that we recommend Trader Joe’s cost-effective bone broth.