Bone Broth
Grocery stores are being impacted by COVID-19 and I couldn’t help but notice that the items that are sold out besides toilet paper are canned, dried, and processed goods.
Meanwhile, our butchers and grocers that support local/organic goods are still well stocked with fresh food.
While prioritizing social distancing, take this opportunity to return to the kitchen and reconnect with food that nourishes our bodies. Build on these skills so once the pandemic passes, they can be integrated into our day-to-day lives.
Instead of canned soup/broths, make your own. Home made bone broth is a great source of minerals, collagen, and amino acids that are easy to digest and absorb, and are important for strong immunity and optimal health.
I’ve gotten into the habit of buying only whole chickens, breaking it down, and using it in its entirety. It’s cost effective. It reduces food waste. I find it meditative.
In this day of industrialized foods, people are used to meat coming butchered on styrofoam trays, which creates a disconnect from the animals our meat cuts are sourced from. I believe this contributes to overconsumption and lack of care about sourcing and quality, leading to higher consumption of nutritionally void foods and perpetuates negative climate change.
Broths are simple. There’s just a few key points.
Use well sourced bones.
Add 1-2tbsp of apple cider vinegar. The acidity helps to unlock collagen and minerals from the bones, infusing your broth with more nutrients.
Roasting the bones first will make it more flavourful.
Cook low and slow. Once the water comes to a boil, reduce to simmer, and continue for at least 3 hours.
Aside from bones, play with other ingredients. Classic broths use garlic, onions, carrots, and celery. At this time, I’m using what I can to support immunity. Shiitake, turkey tail, reishi mushrooms, ginger, astragalus root, and codonopsis root.
Now is the most important time to optimize our health and immunity. We are given the gift of time, so embrace it!
How do you take your broth?
Dr. Cristina Allen ND