Barely a day goes by without the media or a self-proclaimed health food guru insisting you buy yet another superfood. Most of them are pricey or time-consuming to work with, and some of them are practically impossible to enjoy the taste of. The latest superfood is none of those things, however. Bone broth is affordable, easy to use, and quite tasty, and this quick guide will help you figure out the best way to incorporate it into your diet. In fact, you can probably even get the kids to eat or drink it!
What is Bone Broth?
Simply put, bone broth is stock, but with a few added ingredients to up its flavor and boost the available health benefits. Made from the bones of everything ranging from chicken to beef, the broth is mixed with herbs, spices and apple cider vinegar to create something more complex than a garden variety can of broth. Created by boiling animal bones, it requires more bones than traditional stock, which results in a higher protein content. The best bone broth recipes available will provide a range of minerals and offer a protein content that is much higher than a vegetable based stock
Why You Should Be Using It
Bone broth provides a variety of health benefits for people of all ages and levels of health, but one of the biggest reasons it is quickly gaining in popularity is its ability to protect joints and ease pain in them. As a natural source of collagen and gelatin, the broth creates a soft cushion between joints, resulting in less friction as you move. The relief in pressure makes it easier to move and creates healthier bones.
The gelatin in bone broth is also known to provide powerful benefits for people who have food sensitivities to items such as grains or dairy. It helps your body grow the probiotics it needs for a healthier digestive tract and fewer stomach problems.
A variety of other benefits are also known. The broth’s collagen level can lead to fewer wrinkles to make you look younger, and many people claim they sleep better and have a higher metabolism since including the broth in their diet. It has even been known to boost the immune system. Some people claim to have more energy after incorporating the broth into their diet. However, there has been no scientific research to back this claim yet.
How to Use Broth
The easiest way to use bone broth is to heat it up in a mug and drink it just like you would tea or coffee. Most people choose to drink one 8-ounce mug per day. However, you can use it in any way you would use traditional stock. Instead of using bullion and water in your soup, create a base with the broth. It is a great way to add flavor to pasta or rice, or you can use it to add more moisture and flavor to your mashed potatoes.
Are you out of milk? Add broth to your white or cheese sauces. You can even freeze it into cubes and add it to breakfast smoothies. Some people even add broth to their babies’ pureed vegetables. The possibilities are practically endless. Just think of all the recipes you make and consider whether the broth’s flavor would add to it. You might be surprised!
Where to Get It
If you have the extra eight or nine hours, the right spices and herbs, some apple cider vinegar, and some jars, you can create your own bone broth. However, this may mean several trial and error batches as you come up with a good mixture of spices and herbs to suit your taste.
Most people are busy with work, kids and other activities and do not have the time to focus on making and freezing their own broth, which is why many companies are choosing to sell it either in small packages or in bulk. Some bone broth companies even allow you to have it delivered right to your front door so that you don’t have to try to hunt it down in your local grocery store.
While there is no doubt that a new superfood is likely to pop up any minute now, there is little probability that it will offer as many benefits and ways to use it as bone broth does. Even if you decide not to try any other superfood or health-related buzzword on the market, you should probably take the plunge with bone broth.
I make my own bone stock , but not this bone broth. I wouldn’t add apple cider vinegar because of allergies. However, I love that this broth can help ease the pain in joints since I am arthritic.
I’ll have to try this. I’ve never priced bones…but like Ellen says, $2.99/pound? Way too high. I’ll price them. I could some help from this for my own old bones, my joints are a mess. You know that feeling that your cartilege needs to be oiled? If this can help, I’ll eat it. Sounds like a good comfort-type, food, too.
Years ago, bone broth was pretty common, I think many tings are making a come back. Everyone before made stock,,, I dont recall the vinegar in it though. It was basically soup bones used . I know my Mom would bake them and then simmer them for broth. Oddly I looked at beef bones at the store a few weeks back and because of this ‘bone broth’ craze, (likely anyway) simple beef bones that used to cheap are now $2.99+ a pound!
YIKES! I wouldn’t pay that per pound to just buy beef bones. I always make my own broth and then either freeze or can it for soup making in the wintertime.
Thanks for the explanation of bone broth and its purported benefits–I’ve been wondering about it. I make my own chicken and turkey stock, which I cook until it’s very rich and gels when cooled, and there are always a few containers in my freezer. I use it in all sorts of ways, but I don’t drink it straight, and I don’t add cider vinegar. I think the “bone broth” craze will just have to carry on without me, but at least now I know!
I can make bone broth, but as you say it it is a long, long procedure and results can be variable. I would like to have some delivered though, that would be great.