Bone Broth: Hype or Healthy, Super Food or Super Trend?

Saucy Saturday: Let’s Talk Bone Broth

Is this hype or truly healthy? Is it a super-food or a super-trend? Bone broth has had a place in the typical human diet for ages. It’s been in your grandma’s repertoire for health and healing and there is certainly something to be said regarding those tried and true methods to nurse us back to health. With modern scientific influence looking at components in food rather than the food as a whole item, we now know more about why certain foods (or rather, certain nutrients) are so good for us. I would conclude that bone broth is a super-food and though it is super trendy right now, it’s a bandwagon worth jumping on, and here is why:

1. Joint Health and Joint Protection – Bone broth is one of the best sources of natural collagen. Collagen makes up bones, skin, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and as we age we have more cumulative wear and tear on these joints. Gelatin is also in bone broth providing building blocks for strong bones and a soft cushion between them. The collagen and gelatin in bone broth is readily absorbable and a natural alternative to supplementation.
2. Digestive and Gut Health- Bone broth provides this same gelatin to your intestinal cells. This is important for the gut lining to protect us and prevent development of food sensitivities. The collagen plays a huge part in the tissue that lines your GI tract.
3. Supporting Immune Function – 80-85% of immune cells are located in the gut. Supporting the gut means supporting your immune system. The amino acids proline, glutamine and arginine help seal the openings in gut lining thereby supporting gut integrity. These amino acids are essential to a healthy body.
4. Detox- Bone broth contains potassium and glycine. Both of which support cellular detox and liver detox. Glutathione is also in bone broth and lowers oxidative stress.
5. Brain health, cardiovascular health, I could go on. The minerals and electrolytes in bone broth support most organ systems in the body.

Bone broth is very nourishing and tolerated by almost everyone. So how do you make it?

I like to save the carcass from a chicken or turkey in the freezer in a large ziplock bag until I am ready to make my broth. You don’t need to make it the same day/night or even the next day from the roast chicken you made. Save two carcasses even and make a large batch. I also like to save the extra nibs, bits and peels of vegetables over a few weeks. As I cook dinner I will store the carrot tops and ends of celery, ribs from bell peppers, etc and I throw them into a big zip lock back and let the collection grow. Once I have a nice collection of bones and vegetables I know I’m ready to start a batch of broth. 

You can also go talk to your butcher and get bones that may otherwise be thrown away. It is a super cheap way to source bones to make some broth. You can use beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, venison, fish, really most bones can make bone broth. It’s good if you can source some chicken feet and neck to increase the gelatin in the broth. But beware, adding a lot of chicken feet and forgetting you put them in the pot can make for a horror movie scene when you go to check on your broth. Okay let's get started:

1: Get out a large pot for the stovetop or uncover your crockpot. Place bones in to the pot or crockpot and cover with water. If you are making a lamb or beef broth, it’s nice to brown the meat/bones before starting the broth. Throw in the vegetables you would like to add (you can also add half way through cooking) Add some extra water over the bones, to allow for evaporation. Don't worry so much about how much meat, water and veggies, just get it in the pot and add some water. You can't mess this up.

2: Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to water prior to cooking. This is so important to pull minerals and nutrients from the bones.

3: Bring the broth to a boil and then reduce to a low simmer for at least 6 hours. Skim the fat off the top as it rises. I recommend cooking for 16-20 hours for optimal nutrients. You can cook longer, many people say low and slow… however, if you cook too long you can have high levels of glutamate which is not optimal. So low and moderately slow.

4: Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Discard solids and strain the remainder through a colander, I also like to strain through a cheese cloth to get all the floaty bits out.

5: Let broth cool to room temperature, cover and chill. Use within a week or freeze for up to 3 months.

You can sip this broth, but I like to also use it to cook and incorporate in meals for my whole family (not everyone is willing to sip a mug of broth every day). I like to add the broth to cook my grains like quinoa, rice, barley, and spelt. I use it as a base for soup or to make a gravy. I use it in curries and noodle bowls like a pho knock off.