Recipe courtesy of @live.love.balance

What are the benefits of bone broth?

The days are getting colder here in the UK, ❄ so I’ve decided to ramp up the soups and broths. First up on my task list this year is some nourishing bone broth which is rich in a whole spectrum of nutrients, particularly collagen and gelatin, which work wonders for healthy skin and digestive system.

The collagen, glycine and other components in bone broth help restore the gut lining, reduce inflammation and can help support a leaky gut. Since about 80% of the immune system resides in the gut, sealing the gut wall to prevent food particles entering the bloodstream can help the body tackle food intolerances and allergies including hayfever.

Bone broth is also rich in glucosamine, which helps improve joint health. It is also abundant in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which are in the ideal form for the body to absorb easily.

Nourishing Bone Broth Recipe

(Makes 6-7 portions)

Ingredients

4 lb (roughly) beef bones with marrow (or chicken, if preferred)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
18-20 cups cold water
2 carrots, roughly chopped
2 sticks celery, roughly chopped
3 whole cloves garlic, peel on
1 onion, sliced in quarters, peel on
2 bay leaves
2 tsp mixed dried herbs
1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp whole peppercorns

Instructions

1. Place bones into pressure cooker pot (switched off) or large crock pot. Add water and apple cider vinegar, then leave to soak for at least 20min so the vinegar starts breaking down the bones. (Make sure the water fills no more than 3/4 of the pot if using pressure cooker)
2. Add the remaining ingredients.
3. If using a pressure cooker, turn on manual setting + set timer to 120 mins. If you are using a crockpot, bring to boil on the stove and leave to simmer for 24-48hrs. (Alternatively, you can slow cook in the oven.
4. Allow to cool, discard bones and any other solids you don’t want to leave in, using a sieve. (I personally like leaving the veg in and blend it all up together in batches, using a nutri bullet.)
5. Store in fridge for up to a week, or pour into jars and freeze for later.

I hope you enjoy the mysterious world of bone broth! 🙂

For more nutrition info and handy wellness tips visit my blog on instagram @live.love.balance