For centuries, folk medicine has been relying on a mysterious remedy from natural ingredients – the healing power of bone broth. Bone broth is often referred to as ‘liquid gold’ – full of natural healing properties and nutrition that has been known to fight inflammation, ward off illness, and detoxify the body. Let’s take a closer look at why bone broth has become so popular and how it can be an elixir for your health.
1. Introduction to the Healing Magic of Bone Broth
Bone broth is one of nature’s oldest elixirs. This nutrient-dense lengua (tongue) broth is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised animals that have cooked in a slow simmered pot over a low heat with fresh vegetables for several hours. The resulting liquid has a deep, rich flavor and contains vital vitamins and minerals your body needs for optimal health.
Here are some of the numerous benefits of bone broth:
- High in collagen, which helps to rebuild and strengthen our skin, bones, nails and hair.
- Contains amino acids, minerals and glycosaminoglycans like glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid.
- Improves digestive health, supports detoxification and helps heal the gut.
- Strengthens your immune system and fights off harmful bacteria and viruses.
- Can help reduce inflammation in the body which is linked to chronic diseases.
In addition, bone broth has been known to reduce joint pain, improve energy levels, increase fertility and enhance mental clarity. It can be beneficial for people of all ages and can be an invaluable part of any healthy diet.
Read on to learn more about how bone broth can be used to promote healing in your body and the many ways to prepare it.
2. Nutritional Benefits of Bone Broth
Bone broth is a rich source of numerous essential vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial for overall health. It is a great way to incorporate more gut-friendly, immunity-boosting in your daily diet.
- Rich in minerals: Bone broth is especially rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals such as iron and zinc, which are all vital for optimal health.
- Higher in protein: Bone broth is packed with protein, making it a useful addition to the diets of people who are watching their calories or on high protein diets.
The high collagen content in bone broth plays an important role in the prevention of joint pain and inflammation. It can also help support joint health and mobility and aid in the recovery of injuries.
- High concentrations of antioxidants: Bone broth is a great source of antioxidants that are beneficial for overall health. Notable antioxidants include glutathione, hydroxyproline, and proline.
- Boosts immunity: Bone broth is rich in amino acids, minerals, and vitamins that boost the immune system – making it the perfect thing to have during cold and flu season.
With its high content of minerals, vitamins, and healing amino acids, bone broth is one of nature’s elixirs that’s truly a wonder-working remedy. From aiding injury recovery and boosting immunity, to improving joint health and beauty – the wonder of bone broth offers remarkable potential benefits.
3. How Bone Broth Can Enhance Health
Sometimes described as an elixir, bone broth is a long-simmered stock made from animal bones and connective tissues. It’s packed with important minerals, vitamins, and amino acids that can benefit and improve our overall health. Here are three amazing ways bone broth can be a source of nourishment:
- Reduce inflammation and aid digestion: Bone broth is especially renowned for its ability to reduce inflammation. It is generally easier to digest than other foods due to its gelatin content, which helps to heal and seal the lining of the gut.
- Support immunity and joint health: Chicken and beef bone broths are excellent sources of collagen, which helps to reduce joint pain and improve joint health. Bone broth also contains many key vitamins and minerals that help bolster the immune system.
- Packed with minerals and amino acids: Achondroitin, glucosamine, and numerous minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium can all be found in bone broth. In addition, it is packed with plentiful amounts of the amino acid glycine, which is used as a natural sleep aid.
From reducing inflammation to supporting immunity, the healing magic of bone broth is often overlooked. With its minerals, vitamins and amino acids, bone broth is truly a nourishing and wholesome elixir.
4. Making Your Own Bone Broth
Bone broth is an incredibly healing superfood that has been around for centuries in many cultures. To call it “Nature’s Elixir” is most definitely warranted – it provides numerous health benefits ranging from gut health, to skin health, to strengthening bones and so much more. is a great way to take advantage of all the health benefits it offers. Here’s how:
1. Choose Your Bones: Select bones from grass-fed, organic animals for the best quality and taste. You can use multiple kinds of bones such as beef or chicken bones. Use marrow bones for a richer, more flavourful broth.
- For a beef broth, use marrow bones along with knuckle bones for an intense flavor.
- For a chicken broth, use a full carcass (including feet) or any combination of bones along with an onion, garlic, celery, salt and pepper for an aromatic flavor.
2. Prepare the Bones: Rinse the bones to get rid of any blood. After that, roast them in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes to bring out the flavour. It’s a good practice to discard the water used for rinsing the bones.
3. Cook the Broth: Now it’s time for the lengthy, but low-maintenance, simmering process. Add the bones to a stockpot and pour in enough water to cover them by about an inch. Let the pot simmer for a minimum of 12 hours, stirring occasionally. As the bones cook, you will likely need to replenish the water to keep them covered.
4. Strain the Broth: Once your broth is done, it’s time to strain it for a nutritious and delicious stock. Use a fine-mesh sieve to remove all the bits of bone or cartilage.
5. Enjoy your Bone Broth: You can stock up on fresh bone broth by storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. Bone broth goes well with a variety of dishes and makes a nutritious and flavourful addition to soups, stews, and sauces. Cheers to you and your homemade elixir!
5. Tips for Maximizing the Benefits of Bone Broth
Bone broth is Nature’s elixir, packed with nutrient-dense minerals that can help restore and heal the body. Here are five tips to maximize the power of bone broth and reap its healing benefits:
- Cook to the point of gel formation: The gelatin in bone broth is what helps bind minerals together and makes them more accessible to the body. Having the broth gel after cooling in the refrigerator isn’t a sign of it going bad, but rather it’s indication that you’re getting the full nutritional potential.
- Store the broth in small batches: Consider investing in mason jars or glass containers made specifically for holding broth, and freeezing it in one-week portions. This way, it’s always ready to thaw for a boost of nourishment and can also be used for recipes.
- Use the whole carcass:Bone broth becomes nutritiously supercharged when it’s boiled three times. This means if you’re making your broth with a whole chicken, be sure to use the entire carcass – bones, skin, fat, organs - not just the breasts or thighs.
- Add Veggies and Herbs: To give your bone broth a nutritional boost, add veggies like celery, carrot, or onion to the mixture. In addition, herbs such as garlic, rosemary, sage, basil, oregano, thyme, and turmeric can be added to provide an extra dose of flavor.
- Choose your bones: Not all bones provide the same benefits. To maximize the healing power of bone broth, use necks, backs, feet, and knuckles of organic, free-range, grass-fed animals for the richest flavor and largest dose of nutrients.
Following these guidelines will make the most of your store-bought, homemade, or bone broth concentrate to maximize the healing benefits.
The healing magic of bone broth is no longer a myth! Now, with the right ingredients and some extra love, you can create a batch of your own and tap into the powerful healing properties of Nature’s elixir. Make sure you enjoy it with family and friends and keep it top of your winter menu. They’ll thank you later.