Winter is coming. It sounds ominous and probably brings to mind images of sniffling noses, sounds of coughing and chills that leave you feeling terrible. Often, it feels like it is simply a waiting game until you feel like you are coming down with a cold or the flu. But, a looming cold does not have to be inevitable. In fact, while colds cannot be avoided for the rest of your life, you can naturally boost your immunity and ward off illness so that you do not fall victim to every passing germ. A weak immune system is frequently responsible for multiple colds during one winter season so by naturally increasing your immunity you can either avoid getting sick or dramatically reduce length of illness and severity of symptoms. Bone broth may sound strange but it is actually just like the chicken stock or beef stock you buy from the grocery store – except, far better. Most broth or stock from the grocery store has very little nutrients and is filled with sodium. Bone broth is incredibly easy to make and has immense health benefits.
People have been making bone broth for centuries because of its natural benefits and immune boosting properties as well as its convenience. Bone broth is made from things like water, vegetable scraps and bones from poultry or beef. It is an effective way to use leftovers without wasting anything while also extracting its full potential. Bone brother must be cooked slowly for a long period of time (typically 24 hours) to extract all of gelatin from the bones as well as all of the nutrients from the vegetables. When made at home from natural (and even better – organic) ingredients, there are few things better for health and natural healing than bone broth. Bone broth reduces inflammation, inhibits infection, helps heal your gut for improved digestion, reduces joint pain, promotes strong and healthy bones, and helps encourage healthy hair and nails. Homemade bone broth is filled with important nutrients, vitamins and minerals which are harder to come by in store-bought broth. Additionally, a basic carton of chicken stock will cost a few bucks and if you opt for organic it will cost much more. Homemade bone broth is incredibly cost effective because it is just using up what is left of all of the food you already used or cooked with during the week. A big batch that will provide multiple servings will cost a fraction of store-bought broth. You can drink broth straight or use it in recipes for a variety of delicious options. Dr. Mercola describes the immune boosting properties of bone broth, ” First and foremost, homemade bone broth is excellent for speeding healing and recuperation from illness. You’ve undoubtedly heard the old adage that chicken soup will help cure a cold, and there’s scientific support for such a statement. For starters, chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it more easily. Processed, canned soups will not work as well as the homemade version made from slow-cooked bone broth.” If you are starting to experience cold or flu symptoms or are already sick make a big batch of bone broth to speed the healing process and start feeling better soon. And don’t forget to keep some on hand all winter to boost your health and provide many delicious meals.