If you’re not on it already, its time to jump on the bone broth wagon for winter. Just like any soup, its easily digested and an excellent warmer, but with all the added health benefits of minerals that boost the immune system, and healing compounds such as glycine, glutamine and collagen, its more of a magic elixir than a broth. The gelatine that gets extracted from the bones after hours on simmer is said to heal leaky gut, and prevents digestive disorders by sealing and protecting the holes in the intestines, and can help chronic diarrhea, constipation, and even some food intolerances.¹ Glutamine keeps your joints healthy, and consuming the collagen from bones, which is the main ingredient of hair, skin and nails, keeps you looking well as you age. A cup or two a day is what’s recommended, but drink more if you have the flu, until you’re better.²
Here’s how to do it:
Start by sourcing the best quality bones you can find from biodynamic, organic, grass fed animals (eg chicken, beef, lamb). Put 1kg of bones in a big pot or slow cooker with 4 L of water, a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and let it sit for 30 minutes. Here’s the time to add veges for extra taste like onion, carrot, celery, kale. Get creative here. Rough chop them, add to pot, put in spices, bring the pot to a vigorous boil. Reduce to simmer for 24hrs for chicken, and at least 48hrs for lamb and beef. Add garlic and parsley in the last 30 mins. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain using a fine metal strainer to remove all the bits of bone and vegetable. When cool enough, store in glass jars in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for later use. Add broth to meals, or relax and enjoy as a warm drink.
By Sue Wellwood of Freedom Chinese Medicine. Read on for more info about Sue
Footnotes:
(1) Fallon, Sally; Enig, Mary. Nourishing Traditions. New Trends Publishing. Washington, USA 2012
(2) Pitchford Paul. Healing with Wholefoods. North Atlantic Publishing. Berkely, California. 1993.
Sue Wellwood specialises in a number of healing techniques that help bring balance and calmness to the body.
• Shiatsu & Oriental Therapies
• Remedial Massage
• Advanced Energy Healing
• Reiki
• Esoteric Healer
• Chi Nei Tsang (stomach massage)
• Cupping and Moxibustion
• Bach flower Remedies
• Essential Oil Energy Balancing
• Chakra Cleansing
Sue’s passion for Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies has given her a number of healing techniques she can use to assist clients to heal. Sue loves to empower her patients with diet and lifestyle advice. Sue consults at Freedom Chinese Medicine on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays.
