By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Growing up, my mom always liked to save ham bones, and other bones to make bone broth as a base for soups and stews. My brothers and I always thought this was absolutely disgusting. While the foods that she would make with the bone broth were always delicious, just the thought of bone broth was enough to make our stomachs turn. But my mom still made us eat it because bone broth is incredibly nutritious.
If you’re not familiar with bone broth, it is basically just bones and connective tissues that are simmered in water, salt, and some seasonings for a very long time. This breaks down the collagen proteins and all the nutrients in the bones and marrow and creates a very nutrient-dense broth. Dr. Kellyann Petrucci says that cooking bone broth long and slow is key to making a thick, rich, nutritious broth.
So, you might be wondering just how nutritious bone broth is. The following list is all of the main nutrients that bone broth is exceptionally rich in.
- Protein
- Collagen
- Amino acids
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
- Gelatin
While you can make bone broth at home, it is also available premade. If you choose to go the pre-made route, just be sure to check the ingredient label to make sure that it isn’t full of any extra and unnecessary ingredients.
If you want to try making bone broth at home, check out Arizona Grass-Raised Beef! They are local ranchers that sell all sorts of beef products, including broth bones! Or, if you’d rather buy pre-made bone broth, they have that available for purchase as well! Check them out here!
For more health-related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!