Supercharged Bone Broth

I absolutely love bone broth. In the same way as eating organ meats regularly drinking (or eating) bone broth is one of the most nourishing foods for your body. It is great for building strength and immunity which is exactly why chicken soup is so popular when you’re sick.

Bone broth isn’t the same as the chicken stock that you can find in a can or carton. It’s bones that have been simmered for hours, at least 8 and even up to 48 hours to bring all of the nutrients out of the bones – so much so that the bones may actually crumble by the time your done. Some of the great stuff you’re getting out of the bones are: calcium, phosphorus and other trace minerals, collagen and cartilage, essential amino acids such as glutamine and even glucosamine and chondroitin, which you’ve probably heard of if you have achy joints.

These are some of the amazing healing benefits you’ll reap from it:

• It can slow or inhibit infection caused by the cold or flu virus and support the immune system.
•  The glucosamine and chondroitin can help reduce joint pain and inflammation, so if you suffer from arthritis or achy joints it should be part of your diet.
•  The collagen and gelatin can help promote healthy bones, strong hair, nail growth and even improve skin elasticity making your skin smooth, supple and may even reduce stretch marks.
•  It is a deeply nourishing and can help with chronic fatigue and adrenal fatigue.

When you start incorporating it into your diet the key is to remember that there are no quick fixes for anything. Drinking it everyday for a week or two and then stopping is a waste of time. The benefits are reaped slowly, over time, with consistency. I would recommend having a cup of it a week unless you have a health concern such as adrenal fatigue, thyroid trouble, are pregnant or have recently given birth- then I would try to add it into your diet more often.

There are lots of ways to love it. Personally I find a hot cup of bone broth with a sprinkle of pink Himalayan sea salt to be very comforting and delicious on its own. My husband and daughter aren’t so fond of the idea of sipping on it so I cook with it too. I use it instead of water for cooking grains such as rice or quinoa, not only does it add nutrition but it adds a delicious robust taste. You can also add it to casseroles, use it as a base for soup, or just about anything else you can think of.

How to make it

I prefer chicken broth but you can use any bones you’d like as long as they are not from factory farmed animals. Make sure you’re buying the highest quality you can find. Every time I roast a chicken or make drumsticks I save the bones in a freezer bag until I have 2-3lbs. of bones.

Then I use my slow cooker. I add the bones, 4 carrots, 4 celery stalks, 1 onion cut into quarters and any fresh herbs I have at the time. I usually start with a 4 hour cycle on high and then switch to slow for about 24 + hours, you can keep it going for as long as 48 hours and I would say 12 hours should be your minimum.

At the very end for about the last hour I throw in a bunch of parsley.

When it’s all done I divide it into glass mason jars and keep them in the freezer. That way I know how much is in each container and I can pull them out as needed for a quick cup of broth or for cooking.

Here’s how I supercharge it

I like adding some things to it to supercharge it. I add these at the very beginning. You don’t need to add them to make delicious bone broth but why not get a nutritional boost?

Seaweed: I usually add a strip a couple of inches long of kelp for added iodine and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium , iron, and folate. Since it happens to be natures richest source of iodine its especially important for thyroid health.

Reishi Mushroom: Known in Traditional Chinese Medicine to be a super immune booster and to increase longevity as well as help regenerate and restore the liver. In some cultures it is known as being a superpower to treat a variety of conditions from chronic fatigue and stress, to cancer.