As the end of 2016 comes closer, I hope that you can look back over this  year with joy and feel good about your achievements.  For me this year has has certainly been busy at times and there are always things I think I can improve upon. 

One of my tasks was to become a regular maker and consumer of Bone Broth!  So, don’t go throwing out the most important part of your Christmas meal….the bones, skin and any other giblets you may have!  Read on to find out why….

I know you may have seen or heard some of the ‘hype’ surrounding this age old tradition which has been gaining popularity in the past few years – don’t just dismiss it as the next fad!  I have childhood memories of my mum boiling up the bones from the leftover Sunday Roast (especially the smell!)… and now move on 30 years and I am doing the same thing!

Having studied with Dr Natasha Campbell McBride, the author of the book ‘The Gut and Psychology Syndrome‘ – I have been offering this advice to many people with digestive and mental health issues for a while now and I enjoy making it for my family and I.

But in these last months, I have been drinking this daily! I wanted to see if the virtue of Bone Broth really lives up to its name…  Here are a few of its many qualities:

• Rich in Collagen and Gelatin, it is supportive to our bones, skin, cartilage, tendons and ligaments
• Helps to soothe and repair the digestive tract
• Helps to relieve inflammation throughout the body
• Supports and strengthens the immune system
• Is naturals Multi vitamin & mineral supplement

I can honestly say – that it really is as good as they say and you can use it quite diversely to many a meal.  Whether it is in a soup or a stew, or reduced down to make a thick gravy or adding to making a sauce – you can even add it to a smoothie in place of the water/milk.  But for me – the simplest and quickest way is in a large mug with a little black pepper.

If you are inspired to make you and your family some nourishing broth this festive season look here on my new Blog Page for the recipe and read on for more information!

I have noticed – that my cravings (yes, we all have them at times!) are much less, I feel fuller during the day and less likely to pick in between meals.  I see that it really is very soothing for the digestion and supportive for all ‘ills’ – so with the winter cold and flu season upon us – your grandmother’s traditional Chicken Soup really is good for mind, body and soul.

Why? The answer is really very simple –

Bone Broth (which is slightly different to Meat Broth) is the richest source of collagen and collagen is found within all of our bones, skin, cartilage, tendons and ligaments and as we age we have less and less of it.  As your bone broth simmers – all this natural collagen is leached out of the bones and into the water.

It also contains Gelatin – this helps our joints glide without friction acting as a cushion in between.  Gelatin is essential for gut repair, it helps to restore the lining of the gut when it is ‘leaky’ and helps to reduce inflammation where there are food sensitivities or just general inflammation.  Bone broth is so easy for our digestive systems to break down, so it is a perfect food for those recovering from illness.

The cells in our gut lining are replaced or renewed every three days and as the amino acids in collagen build the tissues that lines the colon and entire GI tract, supplementing with collagen can support healthy digestive function.

Your skin also sees a big benefit from the use of Bone Broth.  Collagen helps to form elastain and other compounds that are responsible for maintaining our skins youthful appearance, it can reduce wrinkles, puffiness and other signs of skin aging.  Cellulite can also be reduced – as cellulite forms from a lack of connective tissue, so there are benefits all round!

The immune system is also affected when there is regular consumption of Broth.  ‘Leaky Gut’ occurs when there are small holes in the gut and particles of undigested foods move out into the bloodstream and then the immune system detects them and becomes hyperactive.  This sort of action can lead to a type of autoimmune like response and the immune system can attack healthy tissues.  So bone broth can help repair and build the gut and in turn helps to support the immune system and keep inflammatory levels under control.

Collagen contains the amino acids Glycine, Arginine and Glutamine which can directly help to seal the holes in the gut lining.

Bone broth could be called “nature’s multivitamin”….. How? Well, it’s packed with:

• over 19 easy-to-absorb, essential and non-essential amino acids (the building blocks of proteins)
• collagen/gelatin, which help form connective tissue
• nutrients that support digestive functions, immunity and brain health

So, bone broth benefits literally every part of your body, from your gut to your brain, from your muscles to your ligaments.

It’s also relatively low in calories yet very high in minerals and other chemical compounds that many people are lacking. There’s no doubt that bone broth makes a great everyday addition to your diet.

So, if your local butcher can save you some bones – you can use any type, whichever you fancy – or even fish – with the heads, bones and skin – to reap the benefits all round.