Bone Broth for Gut Health and Immunity

Bone Broth: A Time-Honored Recipe for Gut Health and Immunity

There’s something deeply comforting about the warmth of homemade bone broth, especially when it reminds us of cherished family memories. Growing up, grandparents spent countless hours in the kitchen, filling our home with the rich aroma of simmering broth. Their kitchen was the heart of our family—a place where love, laughter, and recipes were shared. To this day, making bone broth feels like a warm hug from the past, connecting me to those treasured memories.

Beyond nostalgia, bone broth has incredible health benefits for both people and pets. The gut is central to our immune health, housing nearly 80% of our immune cells. This may be why traditional chicken soup has been a go-to remedy for generations—made from slowly simmered bones, it’s packed with nutrients that support digestion and fight inflammation. The gelatin released from bones heals the gut, boosting immunity and giving our bodies the nourishment they need.

The Recipe

Making bone broth is simple yet magical. Here’s a tried-and-true recipe that fills your home with comfort and delivers goodness for you and your furry friends.

Load Up the Crock Pot: Fill your crock pot with bones—I love using chicken backs, beef marrow bones, or even chicken feet. If possible, choose organic or grass-fed bones, but use what works for your budget.

Add Water & Vinegar: Cover the bones with water, leaving about two inches above. Add a ¼ cup of raw apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, which helps draw out the minerals and nutrients from the bones.

Simmer with Patience: Set your crock pot to high for the first hour, then switch to low and let it cook for 24 hours. This slow process brings out all the essential goodness, creating a rich, jelly-like broth.

Cool & Skim: Once cool, you’ll find a layer of hardened fat on top. Skim this off to reveal the nutrient-dense, jelly-like broth beneath.

Storage Tip: Bone broth lasts in the fridge for about four days, but it also freezes well for up to six months. Ice cube trays make perfect single servings—ideal for portioning!

A Treat for Your Pup and You!

For Benji, my 60-pound pitbull-lab mix, I add about two tablespoons of broth to his dinner, and he’s in doggy heaven! Adjust the serving to suit your pup’s size, and enjoy the health benefits it brings.

And don’t forget to treat yourself! Just add a pinch of seasoning and some cooked rice, and enjoy a warm, nourishing bowl of bone broth.

Today, I have a pot simmering away, filling my home with that familiar, comforting scent. It brings me back to those cozy days in my grandparents’ kitchen, where something as simple as bone broth connected us and nourished us in more ways than one.