Ever since I have been consulting with Claudia Joy Keel, expert western herbalist, traditional nutritionist and flower essence therapist (not to mention lovely person all around), I’ve been cooking up bone broth in my crockpot. I cook my grains with it, I use it for soups and I even drink it straight up. Why would I being doing this? Two words: outstanding nourishment.
What makes bone broth so nourishing? According to Claudia, when bones are simmering away (especially with an acid like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar), an abundance of easy-to-assimilate mineral and amino acids are extracted from the bones into the broth: calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and to a lesser extent potassium, silicon, sulfur, sodium and other trace minerals. These minerals give our bones structure and strength, and, as Claudia points out, “[They] are also used throughout the body as enzyme co-factors, as nervous system and hormone regulators and as bodily fluid regulators [think electrolytes].”
Then there’s the gelatin!
Gelatin is excellent for joint health. It has a readily usable source of glucosamine and chondroitin, nutrients essential to maintaining and regaining good joints. Claudia describes this liquefied form of collagen as a lubricating and nutritive tonic. How fabulous to be able to take care of our joints with real food whether we are athletes or aging movers and shakers!
Gelatin is also beneficial because it attracts digestive juices to the surface of cooked food particles, thereby improving nutrient absorption. Because the broth itself and the foods combined with it are easily digestible, bone broth is deeply healing for digestive ailments, helping to heal reverse ailments from GERD to leaky gut to IBS. It also makes it one of the best foods for children, elders and the convalescing.
All in all, Claudia describes bone broth as a high quality multi-mineral and protein supplement. It’s an excellent health tonic, it’s yummy and super easy to make. For Claudia’s recipes for bone broth, click here.
To reach Claudia Keel and learn more about her wisdom, go to: www.earthflower.org.
For classes and trainings in traditional herbalism, go to:
This was originally posted March 17th, 2013.
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