Bone Broth is the Bomb!

The benefits of bone broth:

The popularity of bone broth has exploded. As more individuals are embracing a diet that uses “food as medicine,” this beverage can now be found on menus in restaurants that support sustainable, traditional foods. 

Meat and fish stocks are used universally in traditional cultures. Properly prepared bone broths are extremely nutritious, containing the minerals of bone, cartilage, and marrow in a form that is easy to assimilate. 

The broth is a solid source of collagen protein along with other joint-supporting compounds that support bone health, skin health, healthy gut function, and a robust immune system. The gelatin in the broth has been used for centuries for intestinal disorders as it helps heal and seal the gut lining. It can also be counted as part of your daily “hydration equation” as it is deeply nourishing and contains natural electrolytes.

Bone broth contains:

• Amino acids which support muscle growth, hormone production, cognitive function, appetite control and more.
• Type II Collagen is found in your gut lining, joints, and cartilage and supports healthy connective tissue, which is the glue that holds the body together. 
• Joint supporting compounds like glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid which function as shock absorbers for the joints and cartilage.

Why take a glucosamine supplement when you can get it cheaply and in a more nutrient dense state from bone broth? Bone broths are also the basis of fine cuisines (e.g., French cuisine), and the French really know what they are doing when it comes to cuisine.

Where to buy bones and what kind:

If you ask the butcher for soup bones, you will get the bone with meat on it for soup. If you ask for dog bones (my preference), you will get just the bone which will make a nice clear broth that you can use in soups, stews, sauces or just consume directly with seasonings as you would a cup of hot tea. 

I have found that you will get much more out of beef bones than chicken as the bones are bigger and thicker, although we always use the chicken carcass for broth after eating a whole chicken. So, the chicken bones can be great for someone just wanting to add more nutrition to the diet or just beginning to experiment with bone broth, while the beef bones (from grass fed or sustainably grown beef) are best for used once this becomes a lifestyle habit. 

Remember the term “Jewish Penicillin”? This was referring to the healing benefits of bone broth. 

How to make bone broth: 

Acidic wine or vinegar added during cooking helps to draw minerals, particularly calcium, magnesium, and potassium into the broth. 

Having a crock pot is helpful as you can leave the bones to stew overnight without any worries. Of course, if you are at home, a regular stockpot will work fine. 

Clear stock will last four days in the refrigerator, and several months in your freezer. When you refrigerate your broth, you will notice the copious amounts of gelatin floating on top the next day. This is a good thing! Do not worry because gelatin will turn liquid upon reheating and has numerous benefits for digestion. 

Of course, adding herbs, vegetables, sea salt and seasonings will make this broth palatable by itself. When added to sauces (e.g., spaghetti sauce), soups, or stews, it will blend right in with the flavors of the dish.

The recipe:

1. Put the bones in your crock pot or stock pot. 
2. Add water to cover the bones.
3. Add 2 TBS vinegar or cooking wine.
4. Simmer for 12 hours or as long as 72 hours (the longer the time the more nutrients you will glean).
5. Once cooled, put the broth through a strainer to get out all the small pieces of bone.
6. Freeze, refrigerate or season for use.
7. There are commercial brands available like Kettle and Fire, which can be a good place to start if you are feeling hesitant, but purchasing commercial brands can get expensive over time.
8. Consume one cup a day for optimal health. 
9. Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, is an amazing cookbook that has many recipes that make use of bone broth.