Move over those expensive Superfoods, the latest craze doing rounds in health circles is the Bone Broth. It has been a staple since ancient times in cultures worldwide, but thanks to some rebranding in the past few months, they have come in spotlight again.
Chinese medicine practitioners to Paleo diet fans, swear by this nutrition powerhouse for its taste and health benefits that nourish your gut and brain.
You might know it as beef or chicken stock, and have commonly seen it in supermarkets but making it at home is dirt cheap, chemical free and very easy.
So what’s Bone Broth? Its exactly what the name suggests, slowly simmering bones, poultry, lamb, fish or beef bones, for anywhere between 24 to 48 hours in a crock pot or slow cooker with a few added spices. You can keep reusing the same bones until it starts breaking down.
Slowly boiling the bones, breaks it down and the connecting tissues which releases compounds such as collagen, phosphate, and amino acids, which not only have powerful immune-boosting properties but also improve digestion and reduce inflammation.
Why the SuperFood Hype?
There is a reason mom’s chicken soup lifted you up, and a study of chicken soup by the University of Nebraska Medical Center suggested the presence of amino acids that made it so beneficial for colds and flu.
1. Heals leaky gut and improves digestion –Dr Axe recommends Bone Borth to his patients suffering from leaky gut or other intestinal disorders. The gelatin in bone broth, heals and soothes the GI tract. Gelatin also absorbs water and promoter healthy bowel movement as it contains probiotics.
2. Builds Immunity – Collagen, the protein-rich substance that cooks down to gelatin, can also help repair the body. Low levels of Collagen can cause health problems like slow wound healing and bleeding gums. Collagen in bone marrow can help the body rebuild itself. Read about the Superfoods that help build immunity, here.
3. Improves Bone Health and inflammation – Inflammation is the cause of joint pains and autoimmune diseases. Bone broth contains minerals like chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, which are available as supplements to reduce inflammation, prevent bone loss, arthritis, and joint pain. The Gelatin in the broth, which was one of the first functional foods, provides bone building minerals, that improve bone health and reduce pain. Minerals like calcium, magnesium and phosphorus also support bone health improvement.
4. Helps Fight Cancer – When Dr. Astrid Brohult, a Swedish oncologist, administered calves’ bone marrow to children suffering from leukemia, some of them improved immediately; and many experienced increased energy levels and white blood cell normalization. If you are interested in reading about the Cancer fighting superfoods, click here.
5. Beauty Benefits – The beauty blogs are going gaga over bone broth because it contains, collagen. Collagen, a protein that breaks down to form gelatin, reduces the appearance of cellulite and helps to build healthy skin, vein walls, hair, and nails.” Read about the best anti-ageing superfoods, here.
How to make Bone Broth at home?
While you can use any bones to make a stock, fish or poultry stock is better suited for hot summer days and beef stock makes a soul food for winters. You can easily find these in your neighborhood butcher or farmers market.
Ingredients
-3-4 lbs of bones
-1 gallon water
-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
-Add everything to the slow cooker and Cook on low for 10 hours.
-Cool the broth, strain and pour broth into container.
-Store in refrigerator.
-Remove the fat on top of the broth
-Heat broth when needed (add spices, vegetables for added nutrient and taste).
Does it have any downside? A recent study suggests that there might be a danger of lead contamination in bone broth. If an animal is exposed to high levels of lead through its diet or environment, the lead will seep into its bones. When we use those bones to make a broth, it can be toxic and can cause multiple problems.
If you’re buying it at the supermarket, you’ll want to watch for high sodium content and chemicals.
Final Word
Some call it gross while others consider it a soul food. But no research to date has demonstrated that bone broth can satisfy the long list of benefits that its devotees claim. So it is still far away from claiming the title as the new Superfood.
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