Bone broth is having a moment, and rightly so. It has played a major role in the healing of my gut and immune system, and I am a true believer in it’s benefits. I talked about it in THIS post, but I thought that it really deserves its own page. People are catching on to bone broth’s healing properties  and it’s starting to go mainstream. Bone broth is different from regular stock in that it is simmered for an extended period of time (from 6 to upwards of 24 hours), and is therefore extremely rich in flavor as well as nutrition. There is something so nourishing and healing about soup. We use it to heal ourselves when we are ill, or to warm ourselves when we’re cold. It is good for the body as well as the spirit. So for those who are curious about wether bone broth may help them, here is some more information on why bone broth is so good for you, as well as my own (and favorite) chicken bone broth recipe.

Bone Broth Benefits

1. Rich in collagen – Bone broth is a very rich source of collagen which helps keep skin healthy and glowing, as well as joints lubricated. Here is a study showing that supplementation with collagen in athletes had a beneficial effect on joint health.
2. Rich in amino acids such as Glycine which supports digestion, Proline which is great for skin, and Glutamine which has been shown to heal the lining of the gut in people with intestinal issues.
3. Beneficial for allergies because of the aforementioned healing effect on the gut.
4. Bone broth contains chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, the compounds that reduce inflammation, arthritis and joint pain.
5. It’s loaded with minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium and promotes strong healthy bones.

Chicken bone broth recipe

1 whole chicken (around 4 pounds give or take)

1 onion

3 large carrots

3 celery stalks

4-6 cloves of garlic

1 handful of parsley

1 Tablespoon of sea salt

2 cloves (optional)

Place chicken in a large stock pot. Cover with water (just enough to cover ingredients so you don’t dilute the broth with too much water) and bring to a boil. Skim any foam or scum on the top after it’s been boiling for a few minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients and bring back to a boil. Cover, reduce heat(I use the lowest temp setting) and simmer for 2-3 hours. Remove the meat from the bones and return the bones and skin to the pot. Set the meat aside to add back to the soup after it’s done. You can also remove the carrots, onion and celery at this point if you want so they don’t become so soft that they just disintegrate into the soup.

After putting the bones and skin back in the pot, simmer the broth for 6-8 hours more, or longer if desired. The longer you simmer, the more gelatin, collagen, minerals and amino acids are pulled from the bones.

Then just pour yourself a warm, soothing bowl of this golden healing elixir. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.

INjoy!

xo