Here’s another practical step toward transitioning from our modern diet to a more traditional diet…

the diet that societies enjoyed before the introduction of sugar, the industrial revolution, the rise of the big food giants, and the chemical revolution…

before the manifestation of all the chronic health issues we see today – diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer, autoimmune disorders…

Make no bones about it, bones are in.

All traditional cultures consumed bones in some way.  They may have ground them up and made a paste, fermented them, or made bone broth.

Why did cultures savor bones?  Instinctively they knew bones nourished them.

I’m game for learning the ground-up bones and fermenting traditions, but for now let’s keep it simple and talk about bone broth.

What are some of the nutrients and benefits that bone broth provides us?:

• Calcium (You would have to consume 8 cups of broccoli daily to get your RDA of calcium.)
• Collagen (It improves the integrity of your collagen, which in turn improves skin health and decreases inflammation in the digestive tract.) Collagen is the glue that holds our bodies together! It is the most abundant protein in the body; it’s found in organs, muscles, skin, hair, blood vessels, tendons, joints…the list goes on. It’s vital we replenish it because our bodies produces less of it as we age. In fact, we lose about 50% of our natural collagen stores after the age of 60!¹
• Aids the liver in detoxifying and producing good bile (By helping you detoxify, chicken broth is helping you get over your cold.)
• Dopamine level regulation (i.e. It is a mood stabilizer, perhaps much more effective and nourishing than chocolate or coffee. Can you imagine not having caffeine and sugar cravings just because you started consuming bone broth?  Or being able to control other addictions?)
• Increases the production of immune cells
• Aids in digestion and heals the gut lining (It’s truly a great help for IBS.)
• Blood sugar balance
• Muscle building
• Healthy bones and joints
• Smooth skin
• Brain food
• Hydration (It is full of electrolytic minerals.)
• Extension of the family’s food budget (It is a “protein-sparer,” meaning when you consume broth with a meal, you will utilize the protein more efficiently, which reduces the amount you need to eat.)

And what does one do with broth?

• Pour it in a mug, add a pinch of sea salt, sit down, relax, and sip away
• Use is as the base for all soups and stews (You can put just about anything in soups and stews, they stretch a long way, and they are filling and richly satisfying.)
• Use it to cook veggies, grains, and legumes (In addition to making soups and stews, I enjoy simmering my vegetables in broth or stock and then pouring that liquid into a mug and drinking it with my meal.)
• Use it to make gravies and reduction sauces
• You can even use it to make popsicles (from a fellow CGP, “We just add the broth to our regular popsicle recipes which tend to be a mix of whatever berries, greens, etc that we have handy. I also usually add avocado to them. Blend them all up and freeze.”)

What’s more, bone broth is extremely simple to make!

But can’t I just buy some broth at the store?

Commercial broths and powders will not have the same nutrient density as homemade.  Manufacturers do not take the time to extract the flavor and nutrients through long simmering.  Hence, they add in artificial flavors.

Also, you do not know where the meat/poultry comes from when you buy commercial broths.  Even organic can come from a CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation).

There are a few frozen broths that are acceptable but they are going to be expensive.  So why not just make your own?

And being that we are approaching winter and cold days, there is no better time to get started making and consuming this wonderful, nutrient dense, food.

Click HERE to watch this fun video tutorial!       

Then click HERE to download my free recipe booklet to get started making your own nourishing broth!

As wonderful as this food is, there are just a few precautions.

If you have any of the following you will most likely benefit more from making meat stock versus bone broth.

• Leaky gut (aka: gut permeability) or severe gut issues (The gelatin and amino acids in meat stock will wrok quicker to heal and seal the gut lining.
• Histamine issues.  The longer you cook the bones, the higher the histamines.
• You’re sensitive to MSG.  Bone broth creates a natural MSG.  Although this natural MSG it is not harmful in the same way as the food additive, it can still trigger symptoms for some people.  See list of sensitivity symptoms at the end of the article.

The process for making meat stock is very similar, but you’re only going to cook your bones for a few hours.  You can find complete instructions here.

Basic Meat Stock

I have found bone broth to be one of the best resolutions for bloating, constipation, and colds.

Need more support knowing how to cook, what foods might be best for you, how to get past the road block in which you currently find yourself…?

Click HERE to book a FREE Discovery Call today so we can talk about your specific situation and how you can move forward.

Be well!

Peace and grace,

Karen

Symptoms of Sensitivity to MSG:

• Headaches and migraines
• Mild chest pain
• Numbing or burning, especially in or around the mouth
• Facial pressure or swelling
• Asthma, shortness of breath
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, mouth or tongue
• Rhinitis or post nasal drip
• Tendonitis and joint pain
• Flu-like symptoms
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Hyperactivity in children
• Nervous system disorders
• Difficulty focusing

1  https://drkaitlynpopp.com/collagen-the-glue-that-holds-our-body-together/