Immune Boosting Bone Broth

Most people are very health conscious today; we all want to live long, and live healthy lives. One way to boost immunity and overall health is to drink bone broth. Now this is not something new – bone broth is an age-old food that people in many parts of the world used to ingest, for maintaining good health.

Here are a few benefits of drinking bone broth:

• The gelatin in the bone broth helps repair your intestines, and treats diarrhoea, constipation and certain food intolerances, thereby improving digestion
• The glucosamine in the broth helps keep your joints healthy and delays the onset of osteoarthritis
• Presence of collagen in the broth helps keep your skin, hair and nails healthy and glowing, making your look younger
• The glycine in the broth can help you sleep better, and may also improve memory
• The minerals in the bone – calcium, phosphorous, magnesium etc. – seep into the broth; drinking it makes your own bones stronger.
• It helps bring down cellulite and reduces the effect of binge eating, helping you maintain your ideal weight
• Bone broth helps detoxify your body; we all ingest toxins in the form of pesticides, heavy metals and chemical food additives
• Boosts your immune system, thanks to the abundance of minerals in it; bone broth is especially helpful for people suffering from auto-immune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Bone broth is called a ‘superfood’ because it contains 19 essential and nonessential amino acids. It is also inexpensive, and easy to make.

Your immune system is your body’s defence mechanism; when viruses and bacteria attack and infection sets in, it kicks in, trying to fight the invaders and restore your body to good health. Stressful living, improper food habits, sedentary lifestyle – all of these can weaken your immunity, leaving your body vulnerable against diseases.

If you feel yourself falling sick often – even if it is just the common cold – or you generally feel unwell most of the time, it is quite likely that you have a weakened or compromised immune system. You need to give it a boost to prevent the onset of chronic diseases, and one of the most effective, cheapest and easiest ways to do that, is by drinking bone broth.

Drinking this wonder brew twice a week suffices for most people. In certain cultures, they have it with every meal!

Of course, you need to ensure that you’re buying good quality bones. Do not buy bones that are not good for your body.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 pounds (or more) of bones from a healthy source
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 stalks of celery
• 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
• Optional: 1 bunch of parsley, 1 tablespoon or more of sea salt, 1 teaspoon peppercorns, additional herbs or spices to taste. I also add 2 cloves of garlic for the last 30 minutes of cooking.

The method:

You’ll also need a large stock pot to cook the broth in and a strainer to remove the pieces when it is done.

If you are using raw bones, especially beef bones, it improves flavor to roast them in the oven first. I place them in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes at 350.

Then, place the bones in a large stock pot (I use a 5-gallon pot). Pour (filtered) water over the bones and add the vinegar. Let sit for 20-30 minutes in the cool water. The acid helps make the nutrients in the bones more available.

Rough chop and add the vegetables (except the parsley and garlic, if using) to the pot. Add any salt, pepper, spices, or herbs, if using.

Now, bring the broth to a boil. Once it has reached a vigorous boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer until done.

During the first few hours of simmering, you’ll need to remove the impurities that float to the surface. A frothy/foamy layer will form and it can be easily scooped off with a big spoon. Throw this part away. I typically check it every 20 minutes for the first 2 hours to remove this. Grass-fed and healthy animals will produce much less of this than conventional animals.

During the last 30 minutes, add the garlic and parsley, if using.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain using a fine metal strainer to remove all the bits of bone and vegetable. When cool enough, store in a gallon size glass jar in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for later use.

To learn how you can make nourishing bone broth at home, please watch our video.

If you’d like to learn why you feel unwell most of the time, and how you can boost your immunity and achieve optimal wellness through healthy living, we can give you a complimentary wellness consultation at our clinic, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness. You can talk to the patient care concierge who will perform your health evaluation, and talk to you about treatment options.