Top 5 Reasons to Make Bone Broth!
Bone broth has been a staple in many cultures for eons. In Chinese Medicine bone broth is used to improve energy, fertility, metabolism, the nervous system and support the adrenals. Bone marrow specifically is considered a brain tonic, meaning that it improves the functioning of our brains.
My top 5 reasons for making and drinking bone broth are….drum roll please!
1. It’s great for your bones. As the bones are cooked they release calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other trace minerals into the broth. These minerals are what we need to build new bone cells. If you have broken a bone or have osteoporosis bone broth should be part of your daily routine.
2. It repairs joints. Gelatin and chondroitin sulfate are the building blocks of joints, tendons and ligaments. These are readily available in bone broth, especially when you use bones that have a good amount of joint tissue on them. Sure you can buy expensive osteoarthritis supplements but why not save some cash and get the additional benefits from making your own bone broth!
3. It heals the digestive tract. Bone broth is a great natural source of collagen. Collagen protects and soothes the lining of the digestive tract making it an important component in healing conditions like leaky gut, IBS, colitis, etc. Gelatin in bone broth also promotes probiotic growth.
4. Maintains healthy skin. Collagen helps to form elastin and other compounds that are essential for the tone and texture of our skin. As we age our collagen-elastin matrix breaks down resulting in fine lines and wrinkles as well as a loss of tone and firmness. Bone broth can strengthen are sin, hair and nails!
5. Builds a stronger immune system. The bone marrow in bone broth help our bodies build new white cells which are responsible for our immune system and handling infections. Additionally, since much of our immune system comes from our gut having good gut health leads to a strong immune system.
Bone broth seems to be having a modern-day resurgence. I hear that folks in New York City stand in line to purchase cups of bone broth just like they do for coffee. The good news is that if you don’t live in New York City you can make it at home!
There are lots of recipes on the internet but here is a basic recipe for making beef bone broth at home in a slow cooker. You can also use chicken bones but you’ll want to adjust the amount of water.
Ingredients
4 pounds grass fed beef bones with marrow
4 carrots, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
2 medium onions, peel on, sliced in half lengthwise and quartered
4 garlic cloves, peel on and smashed
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
2 bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh thyme
6 sprigs parsley
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
20 cups cold water
Instructions
Roast the bones for 45 minutes on a baking sheet at 450 degress.
Place all ingredients in a 10 quart capacity slow cooker or large stock pot on the stove.
Add in water.
Turn on the slow cooker and prepare to cook for at least 36 hours, so that might mean 3 cycles on the standard slow cooker that has a maximum 12-hour setting (unless you can set your slow cooker for 36 hours).
If cooking on a stovetop, bring the large pot to a boil over high heat; reduce and simmer gently.
In slow cooker or pot, skim the fat that rises to the surface occasionally.
Simmer for 36 to 48 hours.
Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Discard solids and strain remainder in a bowl through a colander. Let stock cool to room temperature, cover and chill.
Refrigerate and use within a week. Or freeze for up to 3 months.
One super important note for making your own bone broth: you MUST use bone from animals that had no antibiotics, growth hormones or GMO feed. Animals should be pasture raised and not be grain fed, especially cows which should graze on grass. You can read more about this at the link above.
Once you get in the routine bone broth is super easy to make. I freeze the extra in mason jars so I always have some on hand. Warm up a cup in the morning and start your day off right!