I first heard about Bone Broth on either The Today Show or Doctor Oz as a fad to replace coffee. It was being referred to as Liquid Gold with tons of vitamins and nutrients good for overall health but especially for a boost in energy. This came about the same time as adding butter to coffee, which seemed absolutely ridiculous before researching the true purpose that went along with keto diet.
Bone broth is a flavorful broth made of chicken, turkey or beef bones simmered for many hours to bring out all the benefits of the bones and marrow, which is high in iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, fatty acids, selenium, zinc and manganese. Using the bones after cooking encourages the use of all parts of the animal, so nothing is wasted.
Some benefits of drinking bone broth include:
- According to Kettle & Fire, “Bones and connective tissue are the only true dietary sources of type II collagen — a protein that’s known for keeping skin smooth and supple and teeth and joints healthy, as well as touting dozens of other health benefits.” They say that collagen is what makes bone broth earn its Liquid Gold nickname. Studies show that collagen helps heal joint pain, especially in sports injuries.
- Collagen, as well as hyaluronic acid, found in bones helps skin elasticity and has many anti-aging properties.
- Bone broth contains amino acids, like arginine, glutamine, and cysteine, that provide energy and aid in immunity. Amino acids also help reduce inflammation.
- Chondroitin, naturally occurring in the connective tissues of people and animals, also helps with joint pain and osteoarthritis.
It’s not cheap to buy nor quick/easy to make, but the benefits are worth it. They now sell individual servings that include at least 9 grams of protein in local grocery stores. Between the protein and the amino acids, I actually have been using bone broth as an afternoon pick-me-up or pre-workout. It fills me up and provides me a nice natural boost of energy before an afternoon activity or workout. There are flavors you can buy that are infused with various herbs to enhance the flavor.
After Thanksgiving, we had the leftover turkey carcass, so I thought I’d give making it a try for the first time since I had some holiday time on my hands. I following this Turkey Bone Broth Recipe. As is it would be delicious, but I used the same herbs and spices that my amazing cook mother used to cook the turkey in the first place. I had fresh rosemary and sage in lieu of the bay leaves and orange peel. My house smelled amazing, and it tasted delicious. But the pot I had was much too small, so I had to continue to add water, and at the end of the day, I only ended up with about three servings. I’d definitely try it again with the right equipment! For now, the individual servings are the way to go for me.
