If you haven’t already incorporated bone broth into your cooking routine, you’re missing out. There are some tremendous health benefits of bone broth that make it an incredibly healing and nutritious powerhouse. And no, it’s not just a new food trend. Used for centuries around the globe, bone broth has long been incorporated into diets to stimulate healing. It also provides a simple, yet very nutrient-dense food source.
The History of Bone Broth
Bone broth in its essence has been around for centuries. From hunter-gatherers to Chinese Medicine to your Grandmother’s kitchen it stands the test of time. Unfortunately however, due to the advent of processed foods and the lack of time for traditional cooking in our modern society, real bone broth has been lost to many households.
The healing power of bone broth is hard to beat, which is why I’m so pleased that it has come into the spotlight. There’s nothing like a warming bowl of broth to ‘fix’ you up when you’re a little under the whether this time of year, or anytime for that matter.
What are the Health Benefits of Bone Broth?
Chicken soup isn’t just good for the soul; a bone broth is a true powerhouse containing healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline all of which help to heal the gut lining. It is also packed with almost every mineral. Bone broth can aid in everything from digestion and gut-health to immunity, joint-health and even act as a beauty boost!
Top 3 Benefits:
- Gut Health = Immune health. It is becoming more well known that gastrointestinal health is key to over-all health. It is, after all, where we absorb our nutrients. As mentioned above, many of the major substances found in this broth (glutamine, collagen, etc.) speed the healing of the gut lining, reduce inflammation and keep it in top form.
- Stronger Joints & Bones. The mineral density in this broth means that it is a great way to get extra calcium into your diet, along with almost every other mineral! It is frankly a superior way of getting ALL minerals. Additionally, it contains substances well known to help keep joints lubricated – glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen – they all play a valuable role in maintaining joint integrity.
- Skin, Hair & Nails. For all the same reasons that it is great for joint and bone health, it is a superior addition to your beauty routine….As all naturopathic doctors will say, you’ll get FAR more out of what you put IN your body than what you put ON it. This super food will do wonders for your skin, hair and nails, because it’s both packed with all the nutrients they need to be healthy and strong, but also because it keeps our gut lining healthy so we are properly absorbing what we consume.
How to Use Bone Broth?
- As a base for soups or stews
- Just on it’s own as a warm drink
- As a base for gravy and sauces
- Used as a liquid to cook vegetables or quinoa/lentils to add extra nutrients
- Add to mashed potatoes or sweet potato mash, cauliflower rice, etc.
