Bone Broth As A Remedy – Nutrients, Health Benefits, and Recipes

Drink a mug of bone broth every day and look young and fresh? Many positive effects are ascribed to the alleged magic potion. Strengthening our immune defense, better digestion, increased fat burning and the harmonizing effect on the intestines are only a small part of the properties that make this nutritious drink a balm for body and mind. In today’s article, we’re going to take the bone broth under the hood as a remedy and give you useful information about its health benefits and its positive effects. You will also learn how to make your own bone broth.

Bone broth as a remedy with a long tradition

The bone broth has a long tradition and was also used as a remedy in earlier times. The consumption of broth has its origins in prehistoric times. The bone bouillon has always been an integral part of Asian food culture and is even prescribed as medicine by doctors. It is only after celebrities have recently recognized the health value of this drink and have also publicly commented on it that the natural wonder elixir is back in trend with us. The current hype about the “bone broth” has its origins in the USA, as you can probably already guess. Various celebrities, chefs, athletes and nutritionists have declared the bone broth to be a panacea, with good reason.

What is bone broth?

But before we turn our attention to its health benefits, let’s answer the question of what the bone broth actually is. If you boil the bones in water and then remove them, the bone broth remains. The delicious bone bouillon can in principle be made from high-quality bones from animals raised in a species-appropriate manner. Reach for bones from animals that are organic and grazed. The bones of beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, game, etc. should be simmered at a low temperature for 12-18 hours. The cooking time is of great importance for the nutritional value of the bone broth. During the cooking process, nutrients are extracted from the bones, which actually make up the broth as a remedy.

One hour before the end of the cooking time, vegetables and possibly herbs and spices are added. Since the nutrients are extracted from the vegetables after an hour at the latest, they should not be cooked for longer than an hour. Otherwise, there is a risk that the homemade broth will turn out bitter. Onion, garlic, carrots, leeks and celery can be used as natural flavor ingredients to cook with the bones. In principle, all pieces of meat on the bone are ideal for a healthy bone bouillon. The cross rib of beef, the oxtail and of course the marrow and joint bones are ideal for the preparation. When the 18 hours have expired, the solid ingredients are removed and the broth is filled.

Why is bone broth so healthy?

If you’re wondering what the difference between meat or vegetable bouillon and bone broth, the answer should be in nutritional content. Muscle meat and vegetables have a different composition and a completely different nutritional value than minerals. While technically cooking a chicken breast is exactly the same as cooking bone broth, the nutritional content is beyond comparison.

Bone broth as a remedy – nutrients from the bones

Bone broth is healthy and healing because it contains certain nutrients that are rarely ingested from other foods. During the long preparation time, substances such as collagen, gelatine and glucosamines, which are of essential importance for the digestive and immune systems, are released from the bones. These nutrients from the bones are also particularly healthy for the maintenance of our bones and joints and for the elasticity of the connective tissue. The bone broth is an excellent source of minerals and also incredibly rich in amino acids. Thanks to the high content of potassium, calcium (small amounts contrary to popular belief), magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, iron and phosphorus as well as essential fatty acids, the bone broth is a true elixir of health. As a source of minerals, the broth helps to build up the damaged intestinal mucosa.

Bone broth as a remedy thanks to minerals and amino acids

As the protein building blocks of our body, the amino acids are important for almost every cell in our organism. Healthy and elastic skin is unthinkable without amino acids. You are also responsible for maintaining and maintaining strong muscles. The amino acid glutamine, for example, ensures a well-closed intestinal wall and also plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels and the healthy functioning of the central nervous system and the immune system. Glycine also regulates bile salts and gastric acid secretion. This amino acid is also required for the production of glutathione, an important antioxidant. The bone broth is also high in proline. This amino acid is related to proteins and supports the development of new, healthy muscle cells.

Other Health Benefits Of Bone Broth

Not to be underestimated is the fact that this little miracle of everyday kitchen life is particularly beneficial and filling, which it actually owes to all of its ingredients. The bouillon has a strengthening effect and for this reason it is not infrequently consumed more frequently during the flu season. The broth owes its positive effect to the abundant gelatins it contains, which are found in significantly smaller quantities in muscle meat. The filling drink helps relieve osteoarthritis pain and fights sleep disorders. A specific amino acid in the gelatine contained in bones is also said to neutralize the disadvantages of consuming meat.

Some health professionals agree that the bone broth can be used as a remedy for some autoimmune problems. This claim is based on the fact that some autoimmune diseases start with intestinal problems. Although the scientists do not yet agree on this, one can already observe that the broth leads to the relief of the symptoms.

Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that with the production and consumption of the bone broth, you are not only doing something for your health, but also acting in the interests of sustainability and economy. Cooking and using bone broth is also a respectful use of the animal’s carcass.

Preparing Bone Broth as a Remedy – Useful Tips and Hints

After we have looked at the health benefits of consuming bone broth, we would like to give you useful tips and hints for the preparation of a wholesome and delicious homemade broth. The basic principle behind making bouillon from bone is very simple. You need a large saucepan that you fill tightly with lots of bones. Fill the rest with water almost to the brim so that the bones are covered and bring everything to a boil. As soon as the water boils, reduce the heat. If you want, you can skim off the scrap within the first hour. When the cooking time is over, strain the broth through a sieve into a container. Seal the broth while it is still hot to canning or let it cool and store in the fridge or freezer.

As with the preparation of other foods, numerous variations are possible depending on the desired result. As for the duration of cooking, the following applies to the first eight hours. The longer you let the bones boil, the more gelatin ends up from the bones into the water. We therefore recommend cooking for at least four hours.

If you want a particularly intense taste of the bone broth, you can roast the bones in the oven before cooking. To get more complex flavors, place the bones side by side on a baking sheet and bake them at around 200 degrees. They should turn dark brown in places, but not black. After at least half an hour, they will be finished roasting.

A particularly rich and tasty broth, which is particularly rich in gelatine, is preferably obtained from the head, joints, cartilage, vertebrae, tail, knuckle and feet. The gelatin content also varies depending on the age of the animal.

At the beginning of the boiling process, gray scum usually forms on the surface of the water. If you want a clear bouillon, it is advisable to skim off the foam. Otherwise, the leaked protein cannot affect the taste of the homemade broth. It just makes the potion a little cloudy.

Many recipes suggest adding apple cider vinegar to bone broth. Supposedly, the vinegar was supposed to help dissolve the nutrients from the bones faster. For example, for maximum calcium extraction, the pH would have to be significantly lower and the water is not acidic enough. This problem should solve the recommended shot of vinegar, but it only makes a little sense. If you want to ensure sufficient acidity, you can use a shot of red wine, which brings great aromas and is also sufficiently acidic.

If you prepare a large amount of broth and wake it up as a reserve or freeze it, it is best not to season the bone bouillon. If you don’t have a plan for which dish you want to use the broth later, it makes more sense to only season the broth when you are preparing it. If the bone bouillon is intended for short-term consumption, you can season it with herbs to suit your taste. Refine the broth with thyme, bay leaves, rosemary, sage, allspice, peppercorns or cloves. If you want to give your homemade broth an Asian touch, you can also use lemongrass, ginger or kaffir lime leaves to taste.

How to use bone broth?

Are you excited about the bone broth in the meantime? There are many different ways to use the consommé. For example, what do you think of starting the day with a cup of bone broth? You don’t necessarily need to brew coffee to get things going more easily in the morning. As you have already learned, bone broth contains many nutrients that make it a morning coffee substitute. Not to be neglected is the feel-good factor. While you sip the warming broth with pleasure, relax at the same time. Hot bone broth is a healthy and high-quality snack for in between meals. It helps you fight food cravings. Instead of using artificial soup powders and instant broths, you can add this unique flavor bundle to various soups and stews. It is also an excellent base for sauces and stir-fries. You are welcome to freeze the broth for storage. Fill them into ice cube molds and you have your bouillon cubes. This means that you will always have the stock at hand, pre-portioned.

Beef bone broth recipe

As you saw above, you don’t have to be a professional chef to cook a tasty and healthy bone broth as a remedy. We have selected two ultimate recipes for the healthy broth for you. For the first bone broth recipe you will need the following ingredients:

• 1800 – 2000 kg beef bones
• water
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 medium-sized onion, roughly diced
• 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
• 1 1/2 cups chopped leek
• 3 bay leaves
• 3-5 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 6 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Preheat the oven to 230 degrees and line the baking sheet with aluminum foil. Roast the bones for about 40 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn the bones over. Continue to follow the preparation steps listed above.

Making Bone Broth as a Remedy – Chicken Bone Broth Recipe

Attached is a tasty recipe for chicken broth that will pamper your senses with a beautiful yellow color and inspire you with its fine, Mediterranean taste.

Ingredients:

• 2 kg of chicken bones and pieces of chicken
• optional: 2–4 chicken feet
• about 4 liters of water
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 large onion, peeled off, ends cut off
• 1 garlic bulb, halved, unpeeled
• 1 teaspoon turmeric, ground
• 1 tbsp oregano, dried