What are the benefits of bone broth?

[AprilM]

I am not at all well versed in TF, but have heard that drinking bone broth is good for you. What health benefits are there to bone broth, and how do you make it? Which animal bones do you use?
Thanks!

[FairyRae]

We've been talking about this a lot lately--for benefits and some info on making it, check out this thread:http://www.mothering.com/discussions...play.php?f=365

Here are some links from that page:
http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfeatures/broth.html

Science validates what our grandmothers knew. Rich homemade chicken broths help cure colds. Stock contains minerals in a form the body can absorb easily-not just calcium but also magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals. It contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons--stuff like chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine, now sold as expensive supplements for arthritis and joint pain.

http://realfoodforhealthandpleasure....-benefits.html

What’s in real bone broth?

Calcium
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Potassium
Sulfate
Fluoride
Collagen
Chondroitin sulfate
Hyaluronic acid
Glycine
more…

The amount and types of substances in your bone broth will depend partly on the types of bone you use. Bone marrow and cartilage provide the most beneficial ingredients.

Bone broth is good for

Joint health
Asthma
Cancer patients
Immune system
Cold, flu, sore throat
Digestive problems, including inflammatory bowel disease
Many other health conditions

http://nourishedkitchen.com/the-benefits-of-bone-broth/

Homemade broth is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and other trace minerals. The minerals in broth are easily absorbed by the body. Bone broth even contains glucosamine and chondroiton – which are thought to help mitigate the deletorious effects of arthritis and joint pain. Rather than shelling out big bucks for glucosamine-chondroitin and mineral supplements, just make bone broth and other nutritive foods a part of your regular diet.

Further, homemade bone broths are often rich in gelatin. Gelatin is an inexpensive source of supplementary protein. Gelatin also shows promise in the fight against degenerative joint disease. It helps to support the connective tissue in your body and also helps the fingernails and hair to grow well and strong.

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache...&client=safari
http://northdenvernews.com/content/view/227/2/
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2009/0...urkey-etc.html

[AprilM]

Oh wow thanks Lauren, that's excellent info! I have a lot of reading to do!

[ZoeyZoo]

In terms of which animal bones I use I find chicken broth turns out better than beef. My beef winds up too watery to use for soups. I usually just buy a cheap cut of meat like 3 lbs of chicken legs or save the whole chicken bones. I like being able to use it in both cooking (like rice) and soups.

Even NT says that beef is a little more difficult since it works best with various cuts of bones.

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by ZoeyZoo

In terms of which animal bones I use I find chicken broth turns out better than beef. My beef winds up too watery to use for soups. I usually just buy a cheap cut of meat like 3 lbs of chicken legs or save the whole chicken bones. I like being able to use it in both cooking (like rice) and soups.

Even NT says that beef is a little more difficult since it works best with various cuts of bones.

I just bought 30 pounds of beef bones from Polyface. I hope I can make it work!!

[FairyRae]

I've personally found the beef bones I get from a local farmer worked better for making a really gelatinous broth. He packs me a variety of bones--most w/ marrow in the middle and some connective tissue which I'm sure helps...

[sunnysandiegan]

I have made a great beef bone broth several times. It takes a longer cooking time and more acid to leach the marrow out. I tend to use red wine vinegar most, but especially with beef. We save a variety of bones in the freezer and, when we have enough, then I make the broth. Maybe that is why mine turns out good? The subsequent soup/stew was particularly tasty the first time and my family begged for more...

Like in the chicken bone broth troubleshooting thread, I wonder if it also has to do with the bone to water ratio. I just barely cover the bones now, but started out (chicken bone broth) "topping" off the water constantly as it cooked away. Good (potential) way to make a soup and broth in one step, but not such a good way to make a starter broth for more uses.

[velcromom]

This is a good article about bone broth too -

http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar.../broth0205.htm