Bone broth, also known as stock, is a wonderful way to use the animal in its entirety. Bones are filled with healing minerals and beneficial nutrients. Bone broth is rich in amino acids particularly glycine and proline, as well as collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).
Glycine. A nonessential amino acid (body is capable of creating it by itself), glycine is involved in the formation of creatine (beneficial for athletes), glutathione (the mother of all antioxidants), and heme (and iron-containing and oxygen-carrying component of blood).
Proline. Evidence is mounting that proline should be classified as an “essential” amino acid. Proline is a great contributor in protein collagen, a key component of skin, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and healthy bones. It is needed for tissue repairs and wound healing. Proline is commonly found in animal protein. Research shows that plasma levels fall by 20 to 30 percent when individuals in normal health are put on proline-free diets (for example the vegetarian and vegan diets)
Collagen. The most abundant protein in the body and the main building block of connective tissue, including tendons and ligaments. Proline and glycine comprise of half the amino-acid composition of collagen. With age, collagen breaks down and leads to decreased stability, weaker and less elastic joints, thinner cartilage and less resilient skin. The bones in your bone broth are rich in collagen. Upon cooking, collagen breaks down into gelatin, which supports gut healing. Collagen and gelatin give your body the raw materials to rebuild its own connective tissue.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These include hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate. These are commonly used for treating osteoarthritis.
Other key players found in bone broth include glutamine (supports immune health and integrity of the intestinal walls), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur and trace minerals.
Bone broth helps to heal and seal your gut. Medical scientists have discovered that your health is in large part dependent on the health of your intestinal tract. The health of your gut and brain are also largely connected and intertwined. Leaky gut is the root of many health problems, especially allergies, autoimmune disorders, and many neurological disorders. The collagen found in bone broth acts like a soothing balm to heal and seal your gut lining, and broth is a foundational component of the Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet, developed by Russian neurologist Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride.
Make sure your bones are organic, grass fed, free-range, and come from a good farm. Animals that are fed an unnatural diet that is not beneficial for their intestinal makeup, and are given a variety of drugs and growth promoters are not beneficial to your health.
BENEFITS OF BONE BROTH INCLUDE:
- Promotes strong, healthy bones
- Reduces joint pain and inflammation
- Fights inflammation
- Healthy hair and nails
- Heals and seals the gut
- Promotes healthy digestion
- Inhibits viruses and infection
- Reduces swelling
- Calms the nerves
- Reduces recovery time
- Removes arterial plaque build-up
- Improves autoimmune diseases
You will find many articles out there from common sites that insist there is not enough scientific evidence supporting the benefits of bone broth. Our favorite Bone Broth article is Why Broth is Beautiful by the Weston A. Price Foundation and it’s definitely worth a read. It’s best to give bone broth a good go- try it for a period of time, see how and if it benefits you, and come up with your own conclusion.
TRY OUR FAVORITE BONE BROTH RECIPE
It’s the season for bone broth! It’s one of our favorite winter time recipes. Nourishing and healing to the body from the inside-out. The longer your cook this bone broth the more concentrated it will be. You can sip this restorative bone broth on it’s own as a meal or use it for cooking in place of water. It’s hearty, healthy and regenerative. Use organic, grass fed, free-range ingredients.
Makes 6+ Servings
- 4 pounds organic beef bones (marrow and knuckle bones)
- 3 medium unpeeled carrots, coarsely chopped
- 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
- 3-4 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp black peppercorns
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (ACV)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- A dash of Himalayan sea salt when serving
- water (natural spring water is best; or filtered water)
- 6-qt. (or larger) slow cooker (crock pot)
Preheat a skillet, with a tbsp of coconut oil. Add carrots, onion and celery to skillet. Saute until golden brown. Add a tiny amount of hot water if vegetables become too dry.
Add the beef bones, bay leaves, peppercorns, and ACV to the slow cooker. The ACV is an essential ingredient to draw out the minerals from the bones. Once vegetables are golden brown, add them to the slow cooker. Fill slow cooker to the top with natural spring water. Cover and turn on medium heat for 12 hours. Decrease to low heat for the remainder of the time. Total cook time is 48 hours. Add more water to slow cooker as needed as the liquid becomes concentrated, making sure all contents are submerged.
Once bone broth is complete, let it cool. Strain bone broth with a fine-mesh sieve, and discard (or compost) bones and vegetables. Use wide mouth glass mason jars to bottle and store the bone broth. Let jars sit out to cool down until you hear them seal. Once sealed, place all jars in refrigerator.
When ready to use your bone broth, discard or save the top layer of solidified fat for cooking. Heat broth on low heat, add a pinch of Himalayan sea salt for taste and enjoy.
Freeze in ice-cube trays if needed.
