This bitter cold weather has me yearning for warm foods like homemade soup. My favorite, incredibly easy to make soup base is bone broth, which has an added benefit of being a healing food. So, what is bone broth, and why is it beneficial? Well, the list is long, but some of the most important benefits are that bone broth contains the minerals of bone, cartilage and marrow in a form that is easy to absorb and healing to our gut. The minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium are nutrients missing or under-represented in today’s modern diet. Minerals assist the body to function optimally and provide energy. In addition to minerals, collagen is the protein found in connective tissue. When cooked, collagen breaks down and produces gelatin.

Collagen offers many health benefits including:

• healing the gut especially for people suffering from intestinal disorders
• boosting and regulating the immune system
• providing an excellent source of protein
• building stronger bones and joints
• promoting improved sleep and calming the mind
• supporting skin, hair and nail growth

The secret to reaping these health benefits is a long cooking time—think 24-plus hours—and apple cider vinegar. At the end of cooking, so many minerals/nutrients and collagen have leached from the bones into the broth that the bones crumble when pressed lightly between your thumb and forefinger.

For this healthful soup, check out the bone broth recipe here.