The Power of Bone Broth
When I first heard about bone broth I thought it sounded really odd. Ewe, boiled bones? Why don’t I just cook up a pot of rocks? But the more I learned about its healing benefits, the more interested I became.
So, I decided to brew up a pot and it give it a go. That was four years ago, and my husband and I have been enjoying its benefits ever since.
BENEFITS OF BONE BROTH
Promotes healthy hair, skin and nail health: Bone broth provides the amino acids needed for collagen production. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. Our body’s collagen production naturally begins to slow down as we age resulting signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sagging skin, weak finger nails and hair. Consistently consuming bone broth helps to replace some of this collagen.
Helps heal & seal your gut: For people who have stomach issues (like me), bone broth is a great remedy. Because the amino acids in collagen build the tissue that lines the colon and GI tract, supplementing with collagen can help treat gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders, including leaky gut syndrome, IBS, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Inhibits infection: Grandma was right, a study published over a decade ago found that chicken soup (home made) indeed has medicinal qualities, significantly mitigating infection.
Reduces joint pain and inflammation: Courtesy of glucosamine, a naturally occurring substance found in the fluid around our joints and in animal bones, bone marrow, shellfish and fungi. Glucosamine plays a vital role in building cartilage and is commonly consumed as a supplement by people with arthritis.
Fights inflammation and helps with sleep: Amino acids such as glycine, proline, and arginine all have anti-inflammatory effects. Glycine also has calming effects, which may help you sleep better.
Promotes strong, healthy bones: contains high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients that play an important role in healthy bone formation.
HOW TO MAKE IT
The best part is that it is really easy to prepare. You can get bones from most butchers; they will cut them while you wait. These can be chicken, beef, or turkey bones (grass fed are best).
You can Google bone broth and get a plethora of recipes. This is the one that we make:
2 carrots, chopped medium
2 celery stalks, chopped medium
1 medium onion, chopped medium
7 garlic cloves, smashed
3.5 lb of beef bones
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (this helps to draw the minerals out of the bones)
water
Place the vegetables on the bottom of a crock pot. Add the bones, vinegar, salt and bay leaves. Added enough water to cover bones. Cook it on low for 12-24 hours (the longer you cook it, the more nutrients you will extract).
When it was done, cool it down and remove all of the veggies and bones. Refrigerate it overnight. The next day remove the top fat layer. It will be a bit gelatinous; that means you did it right.
So what to do with bone broth? For starters you can use it as a base for soups, stews, gravies, sauces, etc. Or just drink it straight up! It is recommended to consume at least a cup per day to get the medicinal benefits. I added more salt, pepper and turmeric (which is a great anti-inflammatory). Cumin and garlic powder taste good too. Sometimes I add a bit of organic beef broth to deepen the flavor.
So be adventurous and grab yourself a bag of bones today! Bon Appetite!