Sipping Bone Broth
Boasting some recent popularity, a version of bone broth has been a staple in nearly every culture. Innately a warming food, bone broth rebuilds the constitution and facilitates absorption in the gut. Think of it sort of like a multivitamin. Full of essential fatty acids, collagen, gelatin and trace minerals, sipping this as you would tea will settle the nervous system, balance gut flora while collagen works to heal the gut.
The amino acids specific to animal protein work to alleviate inflammation in the body. Glutamine (sends nutrients to cells), arginine (circulation and wound healing) and glycine (enhances antioxidants and slows tissue deterioration), proline (seal the gut lining and strengthen gut integrity). Bringing the body calcium, magnesium, chondroitin and glucosamine and more. The antioxidant Glutathione boosts metabolism and immune response.
So now, do you see the big deal? The most basic version of this is highly beneficial however, we can further facilitate healing by infusing it with medicinal herbs,and spices. For our purposes, we strive for a unctuous, oily and cloudy broth that lurks on the stove for 30+ hours.
There is a caveat and why, as a Holistic Nutritionist, I don’t like to make a blanket statement. If you have leaky gut or MTHFR gene, bone broth might actually not be the answer. Feel free to email me if you are curious as to why.
Ingredients:
3-5 lbs Organic, free range, ideally local Whole Chicken (ideally raw but you can use a carcass)
2 - 4 Chicken feet (optional)
Giblets from Chicken (optional but super important)
1- 2 Onion, Chopped
OR
1 Leek, chopped
1 Celery root, chopped
OR
2-3 Stalks of Celery and it’s leaves
3-4 Carrots, chopped
4-6 Cardamon pods (crushed)
1 Cap ACV
Big Pinch Kosher Salt Or Himalayan Salt
optional and these will change the taste from a traditional bone broth (see below for a more extensive list)
Kombu Seaweed (a small handful)
Ginger (organic )
Fennel Bulb
Method:
In a large soup pot, place chicken bones, feet in pot and cover with filtered water, add the vinegar and let sit for 10 -15 minutes.
Add Giblets, Veggies and Salt
Bring to a boil
Optional - Skim the top of it’s ‘froth’
Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, add any herbal support (not culinary herbs) and cover
Simmer on stove for 8 - 12 hours (or more!), replacing evaporated water with fresh filtered water.
When ready to use, strain and season to taste
Optional Herbal Support:
Generally speaking herbal support is consider quite safe but as it is effective, please research each herbs cause and effect. Unsure? Consult an herbalist!
___ Fenugreek Seed
___ Astragalus Root
___ Gotu Kola
___ Cardamom Pods
___ Chaga
___ Reishi
___ Turmeric
___ Stinging Nettles
___ Moringa
___ Seaweed
___ Burdock