The Bone Broth Cook – Teaching You All You Need to Know About Bone Broth!

Discover the Fascinating Health Benefits of Bone Broth

If you’re looking for some of the amazing health benefits of bone broth, then you will want to read this article. Some of the selected benefits this article will focus on are reducing joint pain and inflammation, healing of the intestinal lining, and how easy it is to digest. After reading this blog post, you will know some of the main benefits of drinking bone broth. One of the benefits is how easy it is to digest. That is great news for people with problems with their digestive system. One of the reasons is that bone broth contains glycine, and that is an amino acid that stimulates the production of stomach acid. See – Stimulation of gastric acid secreted by glycine and related oligopeptides in humans, Am J Physiol. 1982 Feb;242(2):G85-8. With an increased amount of stomach acid, the digestive process is more efficient. Too little stomach acid will cause food to be left in the stomach for a longer time before it enters the small intestine. Bone broth is not only easy to digest, but it also aids in digestion by increasing the output of stomach acid. There are many more benefits also, and one of them is healing the intestinal lining. Bone broth improves the intestine lining by aiding in favorable conditions in the stomach. It contains a lot of gelatin, and gelatin is a hydrophilic colloid that attracts and hold water, such as digestive juices, thus ensuring proper digestion. Hydrophilic means that it is attracted to water, and colloids are large molecules or microscopic particles dispersed in a liquid. It has even been found in scientific studies that chicken soup significantly fights infection in the upper respiratory tract, see Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro, Chest. 2000 Oct;118(4):1150-7. Not only does it lessen infection, it also reduces joint pain and inflammation. One of the often-made claims surrounding bone broth is that it reduce joint pain and inflammation. That’s because it contains a lot of substances good for your bones. There’s a lot of collagen, which aids in rebuilding connective tissues, like tendons and ligaments. It also contains calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus which is essential for bone health. Another substance contained in bone broth is glucosamine, which reduces joint pain and inflammation. Also, there is chondroitin sulfate, which has been studied for its role in preventing osteoarthritis. This shows that there is a lot of ingredients of bone broth that helps reduce joint pain and improve bone health. There are many benefits to consuming bone broth, such as helping in digestion, healing the intestinal lining which is critical for the biome and gut bacteria, and reducing joint pain and improving bone health. Knowing these benefits will help you enjoy bone broth knowing that it is great for your health!

Bare Bones Bone Broth

In larger cities, there are places that sell bone broth ready-made. If you want to make it yourself, and you can’t find bones anywhere in stores (this is the case where I live) your best bet is to talk to butchers. I suggest meeting up at the butcher’s store, as they take you a bit more serious than if you were to call and ask for ‘cheap bones‘. If you don’t have the time, energy, or inclination for making bone broth at home, there are several places that sell ready-made bone broth online.

Of the places that sell bone broth online, there is a one I prefer; Bare Bones. They only use grass-fed organic animal bones, and it’s free from antibiotics, hormones, grains, gluten, dairy, soy, preservatives, MSG, artificial flavorings and added colorings. I highly recommend you check them out by clicking here.

Bone Broth from Bare Bones

24G+ Protein per Pouch
Soy-free
Gluten-Free
No added antibiotics
No Hormones
No Artificial Flavorings
No Preservatives
NON GMO

Most people don’t have the time to spend 24-48 hours making their own broth. Luckily, you can easily buy your own!

For sippin’, soupin’ & saucin’
Ethical sourcing
12-13g of protein per serving
Supports immunity
Taste delicious
Soothes joints
Grass-fed and pastured organic animal bones are taken straight from the ranch!

Buy your own little package NOW! Just click here.

5 Ways to add Herbs to your diet

Herbs are essential in your diet if you want to have a balanced well alkalized system. The human body needs to be at a 7.35 pH to be at its optimal health. By striving to maintain a balanced pH, you can ward off many diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and obesity. Who knew it was as simple as eating right to stay healthy? Well, Hippocrates did! He said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” And, guess what, he was right. Today doctors and scientists are more often seeking to change diet, than prescribe a pill or drug to combat disease. How much easier can it get. Just eat, and be healthy! One way to maintain a balanced body is to eat more antioxidant, vitamin and mineral rich herbs. Another awesome side effect is that they increase your metabolism. Here are five ways to do it! 1. Check Your Options — When you’re at a party, it’s hard to turn down all that tempting food, but, if you must eat something, go for the spiciest component, or get into your purse and pull out a packet of red pepper flakes, or curry powder to add to your own plate. This will cause you to eat less, enjoy your food more, and add in some herbal support. 2. Eliminate Salt — Instead of adding salt, add other herbs and spices to your dish. You can sprinkle most herbs and spices directly on your food right at the table, with no cooking needed. Experiment with curry, cilantro, basil, red pepper, chili powders, and other herbs and spices to see what you prefer. You’ll find that you don’t even miss the salt! 3. Research Your Conditions — For instance, if you have diabetes, did you know that cinnamon has shown in medical studies that it can improve blood-glucose levels? All you need is two teaspoons a day, and within about six weeks you’ll see a marked difference in your need for insulin. Do check with your doctor! Cinnamon also has been shown to improve cholesterol levels, so do a little research to find out which herbs and spices can assist you with your health issue. Then add them in! 4. Take It Easy — OK, you don’t want to add EVERY herb to EVERY dish. If you use a strong herb, compliment it with a milder herb, but don’t go nuts adding say, chili powder and curry. Choose one, then balance it with a milder herb. Try just adding one thing at a time as you learn what tastes good to your pallet while eliminating other substances that aren’t as good for you such as table salt. Also remember that dried herbs have more flavor than fresh so you’ll use less when you use dried than when you have fresh. Of course, fresh is always best! 5. Grow Your Own — It’s not hard to grow your own herbs right inside your kitchen. There are many herb growing kits. When they’re ready to harvest you can do so right as you need it, while you’re cooking. Also you can store fresh herbs with the cut in a glass of water in the fridge for a couple of days before using it. You can also dry them yourself just like you would flowers from your child’s dance. Alternatively you can freeze them. Just take off the stems, wash and dry, and put in an airproof bag. Pop into the freezer. Having herbs on hand will cause you to use them more often.

Herb super-foods: Balance your internal systems

You may not realize this but your body is supposed to be pH balanced. It’s one of the key indicators of good health. If our pH is out of balance you will suffer from illness. The ideal pH for humans is 7.35. If you go lower your system will be acidic and if you go higher your system will be more alkaline. Being too acidic can cause a lot of damage to your system. You won’t be able to access vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat, your intestines will be out of whack, and your hair and skin will not look healthy. You may even have sleep issues, headaches, infections and be more susceptible to other illnesses. Your stamina and moods will be affected. Fortunately it’s possible to balance your internal system with herbs and so called super foods. But first you must give up processed foods, artificial sweeteners, smoking, and other bad habits that can cause your system to be acidic. Once you do this, you can then also add in other supplementation with herbs to further balance your system. You want to replace acidic forming foods with alkaline forming foods such as: potassium rich foods, calcium rich foods, magnesium, naturally found sodium (not table salt), fruits, veggies, beans, lentils, seeds, nuts, seasonings and herbs. Simply start adding fresh herbs to all your meals. For instance, you can make a nice meal with whole wheat pasta tossed with fresh basil, chopped tomatoes, and a little olive oil. Sprinkle mint on some fresh fruit or lemon sorbet. Use cilantro instead of salt at the table on whatever you want it on. Consider using ingredients you’ve not thought of before like seaweed, kelp and dandelion. Also, if you get tired of drinking water, which you should be drinking daily, try having a nice cup of hot herbal tea. Green tea is the most alkalizing of all, and it will also curb your hunger between meals. Use honey or natural Stevia instead of sugar to sweeten for the best results. Simply starting your day with a glass of water with the juice of one lemon in it will get you off to a balanced day. Then, before each meal have a nice cup of herbal tea, to balance your system and curb cravings. Then simply add any herbs that you desire instead of salt to your meal, and you’ll find that you start feeling better with in just a few weeks. Chickpea Hummus * 1 can chick peas, rinsed and drained * 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice * 2 TBS basil leaves (more to taste) * 1 clove garlic, crushed * 1/2 TBS unsalted, raw sesame seeds Process all in a food processor until well blended, you may need to add water to get to the consistency you desire. For extra flavor add a bit of hot peppers or chilies to taste.

Benefits of Garlic

It has an odor from your breath but smells great coming from your food. We are talking about garlic. Besides being a welcome addition to steaks and stews, it is also a fighter for health in your body. Here are some of the benefits of using garlic. Some Facts about Garlic Garlic is a widely used spice that has had a place in medicine and gastronomy for centuries. Like many herbs and spices, it got its start not at the dinner table but as an instrument of healing. Garlic is related to onions and shallots. They come from the same family. All you have to do is see it to know this. It is native to Asia. During wars, garlic was used on wounds as a healing agent. This is due to its antibacterial agents, to help fight infection. On food, the savory smell released can bring people running from miles around. It is a welcome addition to stews, soups and as a flavoring for steaks and roasts. Just slide a few slivers of garlic into cuts in the meat to infuse it with flavor as it cooks. In Asia, the leaves of the garlic plant are also cleaned and sautéed with vegetables and meats in main dishes. Health Benefits of Garlic If you already eat garlic – good. You might be reaping the health benefits without even knowing it. Just like other spices, you get benefits using dried varieties but fresh is better whenever you can get it. Garlic contains a compound called allicin. Onions have it too. It is known to help lower blood pressure. Increased blood pressure, combined with other negative health symptoms can lead to a chance of stroke or heart attack. Eating it regularly can help reduce your risk of heart disease. We mentioned earlier about garlic being used for wounded soldiers. It has been shown to help stop the spread of infection, bacterial and fungal. Eating a clove of raw garlic can help ease intestinal disorders when caused by infection as well as fungal ones such as yeast. This helps to regulate the bacteria of the intestinal tract without stripping it of the good bacteria needed for your health. You may have seen garlic pill supplements in your health food store or pharmacy. They are used to help lower cholesterol. A more cost effective way to lower your bad cholesterol is to eat raw garlic regularly. Adding it to your diet will help get your cholesterol numbers under control. Heard of feeding a cold? Use garlic. Eating garlic can help reduce your likelihood of getting a cold or the flu. If you already have a cold, it can reduce your symptoms and help you recover faster. Garlic tastes good and it can help you fight infection and poor health.

Benefits of Oregano

Many think of it as the Italian spice. But, even if you are not Italian, you can use oregano and gain the benefit of its flavor and its health benefits. Buon Appetito! Facts about Oregano Oregano is one of the most popular spices in the world. It is a Mediterranean herb that comes from the mint family. Best of all, you can grow it yourself in a small pot on your kitchen windowsill. It is a flowering herb, with small white or pink flowers on it. What you want to eat is the leaves, which are small and oval shaped. It is mainly used in cooking in Mediterranean countries but you can enjoy it anywhere. As with all herbs, fresh is better. Only nip off the leaves that you need for your recipes or medicinal purposes. The taste is slightly bitter but is welcomed when combined with other Mediterranean spices in your dishes. Health Benefits of Oregano As you grow your oregano in your herb garden or stir it in your spaghetti sauce, think about the health benefits that you are also gaining beyond great flavor for your food. It is thought of as being a functional food because it can be used in a lot of ways to flavor all types of food groups. Oregano does not contain cholesterol. This is good for any food since we get way too much of it from the wrong sources anyway. And, it is a source of fiber. Most people have problems getting the recommended daily dose of fiber anyway, so a little oregano can go a long way. The digestive tract is benefited from eating oregano. This herb gets things moving in your intestines and also increases secretions that break down foods and move them along towards elimination or absorption. If you need more vitamins then eat oregano. It contains antioxidants which the body needs to fight off the harmful effects of free radicals, the by-products of cellular metabolism. Vitamin C is also found in this herb which helps to boost the immune system and fight inflammation. Besides vitamin C, you can also find: vitamin A, manganese, calcium, potassium, lutein, carotene, iron and magnesium. These vitamins and minerals help regulate blood pressure, heart rate, cell function, enzyme activity and proper bone growth. If you have any physical problems, oregano leaves can be used for that as well. Have you ever heard of oils like limonene or thymol? These and others are found in the leaves and flower stems of oregano plants. They have antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties. Concentrated oregano essential oils are used to help relieve menstrual cramps, stomach pains, and fevers. Buy an oregano plant today and bring health into your home.

Benefits of Raw Honey

The bees have lent us some of their immunity in the product of their hives. If you have never eaten raw honey, you are in for a taste and health treat. Facts about Raw Honey Honey has been around as long as there have been bees. We see cartoons about bears getting stung mercilessly while trying to grab some of this sweet confection from the hives. If they risked pain, there must be something good about it. Here’s a little about the process. Bees gather nectar from plants and return it to the hive. Through the enzymes secreted in their saliva and the nectar, the bees create honey and store it in their hives. Bee keepers keep bees and remove the honeycombs once the honey making process is completed by the bees. Raw honey differs from processed honey in that it is taken from the bees and then jarred in its natural state. Different types of flower nectar can produce different colored honeys with different tastes. The honey is not heated as processed honeys are. Therefore it retains its enzymes, pollen, royal jelly, vitamins and minerals. You may even get a jar that still has the honeycomb in it. There is talk about unpasteurized honey containing impurities. If there are any, they are of such low amount that the benefits of eating the raw honey would outweigh any negatives. And, it wouldn’t be enough to be harmful to human beings. Health Benefits of Raw Honey Raw honey is a natural sweetener. If you want to cut back on the white sugar or even the brown, try using honey to sweeten your coffee, desserts, and your glazes for your meats. Honey is an antiseptic. It can be used to help fight infection in wounds and burns. There is also an antibacterial effect that assists here as well. Because of the heating process, this same effect is not necessarily true of processed honey products. Honey is an antioxidant. This means that eating it can help you fight the free radical damage that leads to arthritis, heart disease, wrinkling and other signs of aging within and on the outside of the body. Raw honey contains many vitamins including: niacin, riboflavin, B complex vitamins, biotin, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. Minerals present are: potassium, zinc, copper, calcium and phosphorus. The body needs all of these. You may have heard that honey can soothe a sore throat. It can also help stop coughs, prevent colds and act as a laxative to help with motility in the intestinal tract. Add honey to your tea to help you sleep when you are restless. Use this sweet health booster as a first line of defense for common ailments.

Can processed Foods lead to Food Sensitivities?

Anyone can be sensitive to a certain food. Eating spicy food may do it for you or dairy products. The result is a bout with gastrointestinal problems that you would rather avoid. But, could the culprit be processed foods? The Skinny on Processed Foods The jury is still out on processed foods. Some say that they are better for you, such as microwave meals pushed by Lean Cuisine and Weight Watchers. Others say that they are packed with unhealthy things that can lead to buildup of toxins in the body as well as feeding the “fat” epidemic that is common in this country. Comfort has led to compromised health. One thing that is not disputed is that processed foods are not fresh. Fresh foods contain nothing besides what is native to the type of food in question. Buying from local growers helps ensure that food has not been altered in a lab or through chemical means. Processed foods need preservatives to increase their shelf life. This doesn’t only apply to microwave meals but anything prepared for you ahead of time: cakes, pies, cookies, cereals, box prepared foods and etcetera. Read the labels to see what we mean. The Skinny on the Body The body was not designed to process certain food ingredients. On any given day, the body received the majority of its nutrition from food. It is natural and the best source of vitamins, minerals and the like. Processed foods contain other manufactured ingredients used for things like color, flavoring, preserving and texture. These substances are food-grade but that doesn’t mean that they are body-friendly. Consider the following: * Sweeteners (sorbitol, sucralose) * Anti-caking agents (cellulose in shredded cheese, for example) * Thickeners * Emulsifiers * Bulking agents These all have different names on the label so it is important to read and become familiar with them. Although a very small percentage of food intolerance is related directly to food additives, that doesn’t mean that you might not be in that category. Some are sensitive to dyes used in food coloring or the salt like preservatives like sulfites and sulfates. Avoiding the Potential Problem Although most people are sensitive to either dairy, yeast, gluten or some form of sugar, there is no reason to compound your problem. When choosing processed food, weigh the pros and cons of your choices. Can you eat the same type of food only fixed at home? What are the other alternatives to choosing that processed food? Try to choose all natural food ingredients and prepare food at home. This way, you know what is in your dishes and, if sensitivity symptoms arise, you can find the offending ingredient a bit easier.

Common Foods that cause Sensitivities

Just about everyone has eaten something that made them feel bad later. What’s the reason? You might be experiencing sensitivity to a food you are eating. It can be hard to nail down food sensitivity. The onset of symptoms can come one or even two days after you have ingested the food. It all depends on how quickly the food is broken down and where it gets absorbed into the bloodstream. This fact can make it difficult to pinpoint what is going on with your body. Because food sensitivity symptoms are quite common in other conditions, it is important to notice when your symptoms occur. Ruling out other causes can lead to a quicker resolution to the problem. Common Foods leading to Sensitivity and Intolerance Although all foods have the potential for wreaking havoc on the gut, certain ones are more common and better at this than others. Here is a list of some of the more widely known culprits that might be a part of your diet right now. * Milk * Nuts * Eggs * Wheat * Soy * Strawberries * Shellfish * Food preservatives A couple of these categories are quite broad. But, if you are eating anything in that group right now and it is giving you gastrointestinal distress, you could probably narrow down your culprit to a single type of ingredient. Making a Change One of the common sense actions to take when you discover that a particular food is giving you trouble is to eliminate it. Be careful with that. In an effort to avoid pain, some have gotten rid of entire food groups from their diet. This is unwise. All food groups are necessary for providing the nutrients needed to sustain a healthy body. For instance, cutting out fat can compromise your cellular structure. While the body doesn’t need an excess of fat, certain fats are needed to build cell membranes as well as the sheath that covers muscle fibers and allows for faster conductivity. If the food involved is essential to your nutrition, find a way to substitute other foods in its place. Strawberries are a food known to lead to sensitivity. Berries are high in antioxidants and low in fat and calories. Try blueberries or cranberries instead. As far as antioxidants go, there are several foods that can provide that for you: carrots, tomatoes and greens. Look at the ingredients in the foods you eat. This is especially important for people with food allergies. Maybe that casserole you love contains soy in some form. Remove the offending ingredient and find a substitute that won’t compromise the dish. When you know the types of food that lead to sensitivities in your body, you can then take steps to change your diet.

Eat Better With Meal Planning

Meal planning can help a family with many things, such as a busy schedule, a small budget, and even dietary concerns. Plus, having regular family meals together, at the table, is an important aspect of bonding. Studies show that teenagers, especially, who eat at the table as often as possible with their parents get better grades and are less affected by peer pressure. Knowing all this, it’s obvious that meal planning is helpful on many fronts. Planning meals doesn’t have to be hard. Today, there are a variety of online tools to help you. Of course, you can still do it the old fashioned way, with paper, a calendar and your favorite cookbook. However, if you want to use one of the fabulous online tools to help with menu planning it will cut your planning time, and probably increase the range of foods your family eats from week to week. A really useful tool is found at allrecipes.com. You can search for recipes for free, or you can pay a low membership fee to use all the meal planning features, including phone apps and more. If you prefer a more hands off approach, letting someone else pick the recipes for you, try savingdinner.com for done for you menus. The creator of this site has many tried and tested cookbooks of her own. When you plan your menus do so with full knowledge of your schedule for the week. Get out the calendar and check to see where you will be, where the kids will be, and where your spouse will be. If it’s an especially busy week, you’ll want to plan to cook ahead (freezer cooking), or find 30 minute one pan meals that are nutritious and tasty so that you don’t fall off the menu wagon. If you make it too difficult for yourself it’ll be hard to stick to, and you’ll find that you waste food, upping your over all food bill instead of lowering it. The thing about preparing home cooked meals, whether one pan meals, freezer meals or even ethnic dishes, you control the ingredients. You can adjust any recipe to fit your family’s nutritional needs and dietary requirements. Plus, as long as you steer clear of processed “fake” foods, you’ll ingest less saturated fats, less processed sugars, less chemicals, less hormones, less additives, and you will experience a much healthier lifestyle than if you keep eating out just because you’re busy or unprepared. For anything you do in life, having a plan helps, and that includes planning menus for your family. You don’t go on a trip without mapping out how to get there, or at least enter the information into your Garmin, why would you trust something as important as your family’s nutrition and health to last minute fast food runs? The great thing is, if you make this a regular part of your life, getting other members of the family to help out, all of you will soon look forward to stress free family meals at the dinner table more than the drive through.

Growing your own herbs at home

Having a herb garden at home can be a great way to add pizzazz to the food you prepare. And, save money! Herbs can be quite expensive, especially if you buy them fresh. But growing them is inexpensive, and simple. All you need are some pretty pots, soil, seeds, water and a window sill. Figure out which herbs you want to grow. Base your choice on what herbs you use most often right now in cooking. No point in growing something you never use, or don’t like the taste of the first time you start growing herbs. Some popular choices of herbs to grow on your own are: * Basil * Cilantro * Dill * Mint * Parsley * Rosemary * Thyme It’s very important to look up each herb type that you want to grow and find out the procedures for doing so. For example with Basil, you have to pinch off any flowers that appear in order to preserve the flavor and increase the density of leaf growth on each stem. And, Rosemary is especially picky on how much water it likes. Knowing about each herb before you start and properly labeling each pot will ensure a successful herb garden. You can grow them in pots on the window sill, grow them outside in containers, or planted in the ground. It really depends on which type of herb you’re growing, what time of year it is, and what climate you live in. You can start with seeds, seedlings, or with the full grown plant and create new plants from cuttings. The cheapest way to go is to buy seeds, of course. But, it will take more time before you get to enjoy your harvest. It is definitely worth the wait though. Fresh herbs taste delicious because you don’t cut them off the plant until you use them. Therefore, you get the freshest possible flavor infused in your food. You can also dry or freeze the herbs for use later. To Dry — Simply cut a stem right at the soil level, so as not to kill the plant, then hang upside down in a bunch to dry for a couple of weeks. Once fully dry simply pull the leaves off the stem and store in a cool, dry, air tight container. Dried herbs will keep up to a year if stored properly. Remember when cooking with dried herbs you often use less of the herb for the right flavor since anything dried is more concentrated. To Freeze — Like any veggie that you freeze, if you freeze it immediately they’ll be just like using fresh herbs. Chop fresh herbs and place into freezer bags. One good way is to first freeze the chopped herbs on a flat service on top of a non stick sheet. Then put the frozen herbs into a freezer bag so it won’t be clumped together. It’ll be easier to sprinkle just want you need.