Homemade Bone Broth

I went to Houston last weekend to snap maternity pics of my best friend.  Talk about a pregnant bombshell!  Anyways, my hubby held the fort down and watched my munchkin while I was away.  I have never been away from my munchkin; so, of course, my first night away from my munchkin, he gets sick with a stomach bug .  On my way back from my short trip, I stopped by the store and picked up some bone marrow bones to make homemade bone broth for him.  

When your little one can’t keep anything down bone broth and coconut water are excellent alternatives to Pedialyte.  Pedialyte contains artificial flavors, sweeteners, and color {yellow 6}…no thanks, I would rather provide my child with healing nutrition from bone broth.  

Bone broth is known as a superfood.  The cooking process breaks down bones and connective tissues – including proteins, minerals and fat – that when ingested heals the body in various ways.  It nourishes just about every part of us, including our gut, liver, kidneys, muscles, joints, heart, brain, nerves, hair, skin and nails.

When you ingest bone broth, it feeds the body with collagen, which is the building block of cells to bones, ligaments, cartilage and the brain. The gelatin from the broth aids digestion, because the liquid gets absorbed into the body quickly and without much effort, which makes bone broth excellent for people with food sensitivities and gastrointestinal disorders.  Bone marrow helps the immune system by carrying oxygen to cells in the body.  Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are essential for maintaining healthy bones and generating energy. And using cartilage-rich bones such as knuckles and chicken feet is said to be effective in treating arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases.

Bone broth can be made from any animal with bones, including those of fish, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb and venison. The bones house a variety of powerful nutrients that become released when they are slowly simmered in water for hours.  You can simmer the bone broth anywhere from 12 – 72 hours, the longer the bone broth simmers the more nutrients that are extracted.  Every bone broth recipe calls for vinegar to help extract the minerals from the bones.  Don’t worry you can’t taste the vinegar.

Larger bones such as the femur and humerus bones of the legs and arms contain more bone marrow than many of the smaller bones. Therefore, individuals with anemia, lung disorders, immune disorders, chronic infections, etc. would greatly benefit from using the bigger bones {have your butcher cut them into smaller pieces}.  Smaller bones contain more gelatinous materials than larger bones. The gelatinous material is especially useful for digestive health as it provides key raw materials that help the cells of the digestive system to regenerate. Therefore, the smaller bones would benefit individuals who are trying to overcome Crohns, IBS, and leaky gut syndrome.

When purchasing bones, you want 100% grass-fed cows, bison, lamb and organic poultry bones. Wild game like deer and antelope are fantastic, as well.  Therefore, it’s best to purchase from a local farmer or local butcher.  Another option, is to purchase online from places like U.S. Wellness Meats.  Last option, is to save the bones that are leftover when you roast a protein, such as, chicken.  For example, you can roast a whole chicken and then use the carcass for the bone broth.  Make sure to trim off as much meat and fat as possible, although if you can’t get all of it off it doesn’t hurt anything.  If there isn’t 1-2 lbs of bones, then freeze the bones and use later once you have acquired enough to make the bone broth.   If you purchase beef bones you can roast them in the oven at 400º for 30-45 minutes for more flavor.

 Nourishing Ingredients {why I feel good giving bone broth to my munchkin}

• Bones:  Collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glycosamino glycans, proline, glycine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and amino acids.  Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, healing, and immune boosting properties.  Bone broth is great for wrinkles, cellulite, gum and teeth health, liver, kidney, brain, nerves, nails, digestive health, bones, allergies, and nourishing your adrenals.
• Apple Cider Vinegar:  Good source of manganese, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, as well as, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C & E.  Cotanins bioflavonoids and pectin.  Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.  It has been reported that it’s great for digestion, skin, increasing energy, alkalizing, preventing allergies, lowers high cholesterol levels, helps eliminate toxins, relieves sore throats/cold/sinus infections/joint pain & stiffness, and treats bladder infections.
• Pink Himalayan Sea Salt:  Calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron,  and bromide.  Helps regulate sleep, retains water, nourishes nerves, and helps break down food. 
• Pepper:   Aids in digestion, helps the body absorb vitamins & minerals, can reduce intestinal gas and upset stomach, antioxidants, and has antibacterial & anti-cancer properties.
• Celery:  Vitamins A, B-complex, C, K, magnesium, potassium, molybdenum, manganese, calcium, tryptophan, and fiber.  Chalk full of antioxidants which help provide anti-inflammatory benefits.  Excellent for preventing cancer, digestive tract, cardiovascular support, helps lower blood pressure, balance PH in body, lower cholesterol, laxative, diuretic,  kidney function, and insomnia.
• Onion:   Vitamins C & B6, folate, potassium, manganese, fiber and antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory  properties.
• Carrots:  Fiber, antioxidants, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E & K, potassium, thiamine, folate, niacin, and manganese.  Excellent for heart health, digestive system, fights cancer, and has anti-inflammatory properties.