As the leaves are falling and sweater season has begun, it also marks the beginning of “cold and flu” season. Before you are hit with a nasty illness, take the time to practice prevention and strengthen your immune system.
While we all know that echinacea and vitamin C are effective defences against colds and flus, consider adding a marvelous broth called bone broth to your arsenal!
Bone broth has been used traditionally to heal the sick in many cultures around the world. In North America, it is likely the very reason why chicken soup has been associated with nourishment and healing when battling colds and flu. But here’s why we should return to our roots and take advantage of the highly therapeutic benefits of bone broth.
Bone broth is made from the bones of animals and it is packed with valuable nutrients! These are the very nutrients that are needed for strengthening the immune system in a form that your body can easily absorb and use. The nutrients found in bone broth include: amino acids, collagen, gelatin, glycosaminoglycans and a wide range of trace minerals 1 . These elements are vital for good health and can benefit every part of your body. Did you know that 70—80% of your immune tissue is found in the gut? Often times, when there is inflammation in the digestive tract, immunity can be reduced. Collagen, gelatin and amino acids in bone broth, help to restore the gut lining and thereby support healthy immune function. These substances also stimulate the production of immune cells, such as B cells, T cells and macrophages 1 . As a side note, regular consumption of bone broth can also help with muscle and connective tissue health, joint support, detoxification, metabolism and healthy skin.
This flavourful and nutritious concoction, can be made at home or purchased from a health food store. If you decide to make bone broth at home, make sure you use bones from a reputable source. While bone and bone marrow contain many nutritive substances, bone can also contain lead. So it is important to use organic and/or grass fed sources of bones to ensure the nutritional quality of your broth. If making bone broth at home is too cumbersome for you, bone broth is now readily available at health food stores and bone broth shops now exist, as well!
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To your best health!
References:
1. https://www.consultantnutritionist.com/General-Health-Nutrition/Traditional-
Bone-Broth-in-Modern-Health-and-Disease.html
