
Bone Broth – The Reason Why You Need to Visit Your Butcher
The practice of consuming bone broth dates back thousands of years. While this may seem like an ancient practice that has no practical value, more people are beginning to use bone broth to treat a number of different health conditions. The process of preparing bone broth can take all day, using a slow cooker, but you can make a large batch and store the leftovers for later use.
Even though there is growing interest in using bone broth to treat medical conditions, there is a lack of scientific research to back up the claims of millions of satisfied bone broth consumers. The primary reason that people believe bone broth is beneficial to your health is that it contains two amino acids, glutamine and glycine, which can help to repair cells in your body and prevent inflammation in your digestive system.
People that consume bone broth on a regular basis swear by the amazing healing powers of the broth. It contains collagen, which can help strengthen your hair, nails, and skin. It can also help with joint pain and muscle aches.
Bone broth is inexpensive to make, provides a multitude of health benefits, and actually tastes great. Learn more about bone broth and how it can help you.
What is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is a stock made by boiling the bones of animals with a selection of herbs, spices, and vegetables. Not that long ago, bone broth was a common meal in almost any household. This is partially due to the affordability of the meal and the tradition of drinking bone broth to treat common aliments.
Bone broth can be made from the bones of just about any animal, including cattle, fish, poultry, lamb, and bison.
During the boiling process, an abundance of vitamins and minerals are released from the bones and the includes herbs, spices, and vegetables. The result is a broth that is full of beneficial nutrients. Bone broth typically contains a large amount of phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium.
Drinking bone broth could improve your bone and tooth health, as well as strengthen your hair, nails, and joints. Many people drink bone broth to relieve cold symptoms or for muscle aches. Some people even believe that the collagen content of bone broth can help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Bone broth is also used to treat indigestion, upset stomachs, nausea, allergies, and to improve your immune system. Others use bone broth to improve their brain health.
Keep several mason jars full of bone broth handy if anyone in your family gets sick. Drinking bone broth can boost your immune system and provide relief from common aches and pains related to the cold.
The Benefits of Glycine
While there has not been a lot of research into the benefits of bone broth, scientists do know that it contains an amino acid called glycine. Glycine is a necessary amino acid that is required for the synthesis of DNA and various proteins within the body. This amino acid is needed for the proper function of the nervous system, digestive health, and your body’s ability heal wounds.
Glycine is able to help detoxify the digestive system, while regulating the synthesis of bile salts and the secretion of gastric acid. This will help improve the digestive system and may relieve various gastrointestinal issues.
Diabetics may also benefit from consuming bone broth on a regular basis. Glycine can help regulate blood sugar levels, by controlling the manufacturing of glucose from proteins that are found in the liver.
By controlling the secretion of growth hormones, glycine can also help with muscle repair and growth. You may want to consider drinking bone broth as a post-workout recovery drink, to boost muscle tissue repair and shorten your recovery time.
Where Can You Find Bones?
If you need to find bones for your bone broth, there are many different options. The most affordable option is to save the leftover bones from your chicken or turkey. Store the leftover bones in a plastic bag and place in your fridge until you are ready to use them for your bone broth.
You could also visit your local butcher. Some butchers will give you neck and knuckle bones for free, as there is not currently a demand for animal bones; though, this could change as interest in bone broth continues to rise. If you do not have a butcher nearby, visit a local farm.
When choosing the bones for your broth, try to use bones from grass fed animals, including cattle or poultry.
Bone Broth Recipe
If you are ready to try making your own bone broth, then give this recipe a try. You will need the following ingredients:
- 2 pounds of neck and knuckle bones
- 3 carrots
- 3 stalks of celery
- 1 onion
- ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- 12 cups of water
This recipe is incredibly simple. Start by chopping the onion, celery, and carrots into cubes or slices. Then combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for fifteen hours. Occasionally stir the broth, every thirty to sixty minutes, until it is ready.
After the fifteen hours have passed, allow the broth to cool and then strain it. Pour the bone broth into mason jars. You may need to remove a layer of fat from the top of the broth. Place the broth in your fridge until you are ready to drink it. Heat up a cup in your microwave or in a saucepan on your stove top. This recipe should make 12 cups of bone broth.
Bone broth has been used for thousands of years, as a primary food source and for medicinal purposes. It has traditionally been used to treat colds and flus, ease muscle pain, and prevent various illnesses.
If you want to make bone broth just like your grandmother or great-grandmother, use the bone broth recipe to whop together a batch. Drink a glass every morning or evening to receive a healthy dose of beneficial minerals and vitamins.