Bone broth is something that almost everyone has been talking about in the last year or so – from Fox News to the Huffington Post.
The difference here is that this is more than just a new diet fad. Instead, this is an old-fashioned, beneficial technique that has been rediscovered.
What the Heck Is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is just that, a broth made from the bones of whatever animal you choose – beef, chicken, turkey or fish.
Some people use it as an addition to their meal, sort of like supplementing their meat dish with extra goodness. Many add it to soups and sauces. However, it is the bone broth breakfast drink that is seen as the best way to consume it now.
Users are ditching their morning coffee and replacing it with a cup of broth in a symbolic toast to good health and well-being. This guide will look at the health benefits of this broth, as well as key tips on preparing and purchasing bone broth.
What Is the Difference Between Bone Broth, Broth and Stock?
These liquids are all very similar with a shared cooking process. Cooks simply put the meat and bones in water with the additional ingredients, cook it for the required time, strain the liquid to remove the solid material.
Broth – Broth tends to be made with meat for a period of 45 minutes to 2 hours. This may seem like a long time, but it is nothing compared to bone broth.
Stock – It is easy to confuse bone broth and stock because stock is also made from the bones. Stocks aren’t prepared for nearly as long, usually just a few hours.
Bone Broth – This broth can take more than 24 hours and is used with mostly bones. Bone broth should be cooked for so long that the bones crumble when you take them out the pot. Why are they crumbling? Because all the goodness, gelatin and minerals have seeped into the liquid.
This process leads to a lot of potential bone broth health benefits.
Long-Term Health Benefits of This Food
Bone broth nutrition is the number one reason why users turn to this morning drink. There are so many proteins and minerals infusing into the water. Potential health benefits include the following:
- Glycine for digestion. The muscosal lining of the digestive tract is probably the last thing you want to be thinking of when discussing food and recipes. However, this broth can help to maintain it and even aid leaky git syndrome.
- Detoxification of the liver to flush out bad chemicals.
- Proline, collagen and gelatin for skin, hair and nail health. These proteins can help to strengthen hair, nails and teeth and allow skin to heal faster.
- Joint and bone health
- Promotes weight loss and reduces cellulite – Because broth is rich in collagen which tighten your skin and reduce cellulite.
- Boost immune system – Unsurprisingly, using chicken soup for colds is nothing compared to chicken bone broth. It really is true that these broths fight the side effects of the common cold.
Then there is the fact that this is a paleo bone broth, Paleo is one of those buzz-words within dieting that often overshadows the message behind the diet. This is a protein-rich diet that focuses on the foods available to cavemen and old-fashioned methods. Bone broth fits in perfectly because it is all about going back to the idea of using the whole animal.
Paleo advocates love this broth because of the collagen and gelatin contents, something they feel is severely lacking in western diets.
Is It Important to Make Sure That You Make an Organic or Grass Fed Bone Broth?
You are sure to see many bloggers and advocates talking about broth from organic or grass-fed sources.
Why is this so important?
Simply put, many people think that this ethical way of rearing meat reflects on the nutritional value and taste. A healthy organic or grass-fed beef has more goodness and nutrients in those organic cow bones to leach into the broth. Ultimately, the source of your meat and bones in entirely up to you and your views on meat production.
How to Make Your Own Homemade Bone Broth
Now comes the fun part – making your own broth.
The origin of the meat and bones is up to you. Beef, pork and turkey bone broth can be just as good as chicken.
You can choose by preferred flavor or by availability. If you had a roast chicken and have a carcass sitting around then use it. If your local butcher will sell you a cheap bag of bones from a pig or beef then take advantage of it.
You can find a recipe for bone broth online or simply make up your own. Choose your bones and make sure to get a good amount. 3kg for a 4 liter batch is a good starting point. From there, the extra ingredients are up to you. Choose your vegetables and seasoning based on taste and the meal it may accompany. Cook it all down for a long as you feel is necessary, strain the solids out and enjoy!
Here are important tips on cooking, preparation and storage:
- Go for large quantities. It is best to make one big batch occasionally then small ones weekly
- Roast the bones first to enhance the flavor
- Consider adding a 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to help with the process
- Be aware that homemade options don’t have a long life in the fridge, but they can be frozen. Fill up an ice cube tray and use them like stock cubes whenever you make your next soup or stew.
Pay attention: This recipe from Nourishing Traditions book is one of the best and has a plenty reviews from satisfied customers all around the world.
Where to Buy Bone Broth for Those That Don’t Want to Cook It
Making bone broth at home is the most cost effective option. All you need are the leftover bones, water and whatever other ingredients you have lying around.
However, there are alternatives for those of us that don’t have the time to cook up a broth for 24 hours or a local butcher handing out cheap bones. The first option is to go down the whole foods route or a health food store nearby and look for good quantities of frozen stock or bones to use. Availability will depend on the type of stores near you and their stock.
Please Note: You should be careful when choosing a store bought bone broth product because the nutritional content may be far too low on the cheaper options. Some also have hidden additives and preservatives. Some users also suggest trying farmer’s markets if the Whole Food store doesn’t supply the ingredients.
The better option is to buy broth online and have it shipped to your door. There are lots of companies that have started up recently that offer some neat packages and a variety of flavors. These companies are out to impress and many promise to offer the best ingredients from grass-fed animals.
Some broth drinkers worry about the cost, but there are some great deals out there. These companies are in competition after all. It is just as important to check the sales policies and perks as the ingredients. Will they reduce shipping costs for bulk orders? Do they have special deals on new flavors? Do they offer any kind of money back guarantee? A quick online search will reveal a surprising number of suppliers.
Realistically, the only way to be sure of the content is to make it yourself. Look for grass fed cattle bones and cook the broth at home. That health-giving morning cup of broth will be much more satisfying when you’ve created it yourself.
Top 3 Online Shops
If you can’t find a find a farm or farmers market near you try order online. Here are a couple places I’ve used and like:
#1 Kettle and Fire – Organic Beef BB
This is the place you are looking for if you want 100% grass fed beef bone broth! You can check out its availability on official website – Kettleandfire.com
- Made with bones from grass-fed and grass-finished cattle
- Loaded with amino acids, collagen, and proteins
- Made with organic vegetables and herbs
- Free of all hormones, antibiotics and artificial ingredients
- Gluten-free, Non-GMO, Organic, Dairy-free and Soy-free
- Servings per carton – 2 (17.6 oz) of collagen-rich goodness
- Recommend dose – 4-8 oz a day, at least 3x per week to experience all the benefits
- Free shipping on 6+ units
- Price $11.99
- Website: kettleandfire.com
#2 Au Bon Broth
This BB is very similar to the one above, in that both use only the bones from animals raised on open pastures.
- Made with bones from USDA organic animals and organic herbs and vegetables
- Use the same exact meat suppliers that Whole Foods Market does
- Free of gluten, dairy, soy, preservatives, MSG, added flavorings and added colorings.
- 2 different types of organic bone broth ( Premium Gourmet Organic & Pure Organic Bone Broth – no veggies nor sea salt)
- Serving size – 4 oz
- Servings per container – 8
- Price $149.67 – 1 Gallon/14 days supply (Monthly Subscription)
- Free US & Canada shipping
- Website: AuBonBrothBoneBroth.com
As you can see, this broth is rather pricey. However, it is doctor recommended and praised by many satisfied users for his high quality.
#3 Bare Bones Broth
According to the producer, this pasture-raised chicken and beef BB with organic vegetables, herbs and spices (from farms and ranches located in Southern Oregon) smells just like Mom’s soup. They use bones from animals that were humanely raised on open pastures with clean diets free of antibiotics, hormones and grains.
- Serving size – 8 oz
- Servings per container – 2
- Price $69.99 – 6 Pack
- Shipping – $19.95 flat rate
- Website: barebonesbroth.com
If you know for some more good bone broth store near you, please let us know in the comments below.
