Bone Broth’s Healthy Benefits
Animal bones contain a ton of minerals, connective tissue and marrow. When these are cooked for a long time with water, vinegar and sea salt, the minerals and nutrients are leached out into the broth, creating a delicious stock.
Servings
It all depends on how many B/F Beef Shanks you throw in!
Ready In:
4 hrs. – 24 hrs. That depends on whether you go with a slow cooker or a pressure cooker.
Calories:
Too many healthy benefits to worry about calories for this one.
Good For:
Lunch, Supper of as a Snack throughout the day. Read on…I’ll explain later.
Inroduction
About this Recipe
By: Libby Foster
We have had a LOT of birthday celebrations and fun, family dinners lately. Which means LOTS of cake and other not-so-healthy foods. We tend to love pies and ice cream a bit too much around here!
When we have been hitting the sweets a bit too hard, I like to reset our tummies with a good bone broth. I will admit the first time my natural path doctor suggested this, I thought, ugh gross. But he promised it tasted good and had numerous health benefits.
First what IS bone broth?
Bone broth is a nutrient dense broth/stock made from cooking bones of an animal for an extended period of time.
Animal bones contain a ton of minerals that are locked inside them. They also contain connective tissue and marrow. When these are cooked for a long time with water, vinegar and sea salt, the minerals and nutrients are leached out into the broth. This creates a delicious stock that can be consumed as a warm drink (my favorite) or added to recipes.
Please note I am not a doctor. The following list of benefits are those that I have found true for myself and for others as told to me. In addition to these advantages, bone broth just tastes really good!
About those Brothy Benefits:
Collagen is being talked about lately for ALL of its benefits. Great looking skin and ease of joint pain are among the most touted benefits. Many people have found that bone broth is a much better way to absorb collagen, rather than taking supplements.
Gut health is the main reason we consume bone broth. Our stomachs have their own little environment of bacteria. This is needed for proper absorption and digestion of the foods we consume. Taking antibiotics, or eating a bunch of sugary and processed foods can kill off those good bacteria, which leads to tummy upset and an overall sluggish feeling. The bone broth cleans up your gut and helps the good bacteria to flourish once again.
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 B/F Beef Shanks
- 2 tsp sea salt (approx.)
- 1.5 – 2 cups warm water (approx.)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 onion (optional)
- 2 carrots (optional)
So how do you make this belly boosting broth? It is SO easy!
You will need a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. I have used both and find either work great. Just depends on how quick you want your broth!
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Add 3 to 4 B/F Beef Shanks to your pot.
Sprinkle liberally with sea salt.
Fill pot remaining way with water.
Add ¼ cup apple cider vinegar.
If you are feeling extra jazzy, add a whole onion and a couple of carrots. They just add more great flavor.
Step 2
If using a slow cooker, turn on low and cook for 12 to 18 hours. Seriously! You have to get all the goody out of the inside of those bones!
If using a pressure cooker/Instant Pot, set to high pressure. Cook for 4 to 6 hours.
Step 3
When done cooking, I like to leave mine set in the pot to cool down. At least 2 hours. Then I stick the whole pot into the fridge to finish cooling. The next day you will have a pot of what appears to be a gooey, gelatinous mess, LOL. That’s what you want! You want it to jiggle. That’s the collagen!
Step 4
Next pick out any usable beef and bone and set aside. You can use the tender beef in soup or add barbeque sauce and heat for a quick meal on another day.
Step 5
I then ladle the broth into jars. You can store the broth for a week in the fridge. Store in the freezer for 6 months.
How to Use Broth
Use it for soup or stew! Its already delicious, but add all your favorite veggies and the leftover beef and you will have a fantastic dinner!
Use it for a bone broth reset.
Please note, you should ask your doctor before doing any major diet changes….
When I have really upset my belly, I use this method to get it back in happy flora mode. I begin my day with 32 oz. of water. Then for breakfast I consume 8 oz. of warmed broth. I drink it straight from my coffee mug! Add a little salt if necessary. The rest of the day I listen to my body. I stay very well hydrated, consuming 1 gal. of water throughout the day. I promise your bladder will adjust. But start with half a gallon if you are intimidated. Then I consume 8 oz. mugs of broth whenever I am feeling hungry throughout the day. There is no limit. But I really try to listen to what my body needs. You will get all the nutrition and electrolytes that you need for the day. I find I usually have more energy on these days! My body isn’t being weighed down by heavy foods. Some people do find they might have loose stools while doing a broth reset. That is your body cleaning itself up! Just make sure you are staying hydrated. 1 day of this should be enough to get your belly bacteria headed back to normal. But do as your doctor recommends and go by how you feel.
I suggest the next day that you ease back into eating with a light breakfast. 2 eggs or a cup of Greek yogurt. Try to stay away from sugary foods and drinks. Eating a diet full of veggies and beef is great for your body and your belly. You will be amazed at how much bloating goes away! Try this reset once a week or anytime you feel excessively bloated. Your body will thank you!
