by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP–Living in Natures Love Lifestyles @insideawareness.com
It has been years since cooking soup from scratch and yet there was a surprising urge to get bones for creating bone broth. I decided to go along with this urge and pick up some beef bones.
What I had no way of knowing was how drinking bone broth would improve how I felt. I found that the broth was easy to use for making healthy meals quickly. The truth be known I was shocked by it. Since integrating it into my diet the differences are noticeable.
- Detoxification and Balanced Cycle of Bowel Movements
An immediate shift has been in the cycle of elimination. Anyone who has been around babies will know that as soon as you feed one it will immediately have a bowel movement. At first drinking bone broth encouraged a detoxification type reaction of elimination that mellowed out into a similar cycle as a baby. Food in – waste out!
- Emotionally Uplifting (Mood Enhancer)
Organic feelings of joy and pleasure emerged as this elimination cycle took hold. I know for me that my physical function are tied into my organic emotional experience, yet this was the first time that I experienced the clear of a connection to joy and pleasure.
- Deeper Sleep Patterns
After a few days of including bone broth into my diet I noticed that my sleep was much deeper than it had been. This was a welcome change!
- Loosing Belly Fat
This is an outcome that is pleasing. Loosing weight over the last year was rewarding. Yet loosing weight did not mean losing the bulge around my gut. It seemed that no matter how much weight was being lost it was stalled when coming to what was around the gut. Now it seems the weight loss is more balanced as the belly fat is shrinking and catching up to the other body parts. Since starting bone broth in June there has been a loss of three inches around the belly.
- Weight Loss
Weight loss for the past few months had stalled before starting to drink bone broth. Once it was introduced it jump started the process once again. The immediate result in June was a loss of 15 pounds. It was effortless and exciting. The intention of drinking bone broth was not for loosing weight. It is pleasing result!
- Increased Vitality
Even though my energy was on the upswing, introducing bone broth has increased my level of vitality. It seems as vitality increases taking action the time thinking about taking it has decreased. There is less time thinking about something and more time saved just by doing it! I love it. This for me is the reward. I would not have put these two connections together until experiencing it myself. Somehow my brain in functioning a fuller capacity.
- Aging
Being someone who has never looked their age, I haven’t noticed any differences in my outside appearance. I do however notice a difference on the inside. I find that I have more stamina, increased function and strength. I believe I am also noticing a reversal in feelings of inner aging. It is hard to define yet I feel more lubricated and hydrated from the inside. There is also a noticeable difference in sexual interest and physicality.
Bone Broth Nutrition
Electrolytes found in bone marrow support healthy circulation, bone density, nerve signaling functions, heart health and digestive health. These include minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium and phosphorus. Bone broth also has zinc, copper, boron and iron. It is a good source of protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C and the B vitamins.
The key to making Bone Broth is in the slow simmering
I use a slow cooker for creating bone broth. Using it allows the bones to remain simmering for hours. I have read that the best length of time is 48 hours. However I usually let it simmer for around 36 hours. I have noticed the broth looses its gamy smell simmering for this long. It also becomes clearer the longer it simmers. This makes eating and drinking the broth more enjoyable for me.
Ingredients:
- 1 large beef bone or three smaller ones (substitute chicken, whole or pieces)
- Water (to fill cooker)
- Apples Cider Vinegar – 1 to 2 tablespoons
- Pepper – 1/2 teaspoon
- Garlic – 4 or 5 cloves
- Bay Leaves – 4 to 5 leaves
- Salt – 1/2 teaspoon
I add all the ingredients immediately with exception of the apple cider vinegar and let simmer over night. The next morning I put in the apple cider vinegar. The pot will have to be checked periodically to keep the liquid levels up.
Once it has simmered for 36 or more hours it is then strained and cooled before storing in containers for the fridge and freezer. I divide liquid into portions that are easy for grabbing and going.
How to Use Bone Broth
Having bone broth on hand has made cooking easier. There is usually onions, fresh garlic and veggies in the fridge that can be added for a quick and nutritious soup. There are also herbs and edibles from the garden that can be picked quickly and added. On occasion some healthy noodles can be added, however I like to keep carbs and proteins separate in meals. I do however break this pattern when craving pizza or bread!
I don’t replace a cup of warm bone broth sweet beverages as they are something I have never drank. I have however begun replacing bone broth for coffee.
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