When it comes to healthy hair, skin and nails, cosmetics, lotions, supplements and other commercial products are not enough. If your choice of diet includes meat, consider adding big helpings of bone broth to your beauty regimen.
Hair, skin and nails share the same properties as bone. All are made of protein like collagen, and minerals like calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. Adding broth rich in these bone building nutrients also helps strengthen the structure of your hair, skin and nails.
Here are six great reasons why drinking 'dem bones is good for your bones, and hair, skin and nails too!
Promotes healthy hair and nail growth. The gelatin in bone broth is loaded with the building blocks for healthy and strong connective tissue. It is also packed with the essential fatty acids Omega-6 (linoleic acid) and Omega-3 (ALA, EPA, DHA, DPA), fats that keep your joints lubricated and your skin, hair and nails smooth and hydrated.
Heals and seals your gut. According to holistic nutrition scientists, a daily cup of bone broth helps heal the gut. The gelatin in the bone broth (found in the knuckles and other joints) acts to hold liquids, including digestive acids, inside the bowel to repair intestinal tears and alleviate chronic diarrhea, constipation, and even some food intolerances.
Promotes strong bones and protects joints. When you simmer bones, you are extracting their phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium—the essential building blocks for healthy bones. Broth also contains natural glucosamine and chondroitin sulphates which help keep joints lubricated, healthy and flexible. Chondroitin sulfate in bone broth has also been shown to help prevent osteoarthritis.
You'll feel and look younger. Bone broth is rich in collagen, the protein that provides the scaffolding for hair, skin and nails. Many cosmetic products boast collagen in their ingredient lists. But why put it on your body when you can ingest it where it will do the most good? Not only is drinking it less expensive, it can make your hair, skin and nails even more radiant.
Gives your immune system a boost. Bone broth deserves to be on the list of superfoods. It can replace dietary supplements such as calcium, magnesium, glucosamine and chondroitin. Broth also contains the amino acids glycine, proline, and arginine which all fight inflammation. And, because broth's vitamins and minerals are more easily assimilated in the gut, it will help you burn fat more effectively, leaving you with more energy.
Sleep better, and feel better. The glycine in bone broth has been shown in several studies to help promote deeper sleep and enhance brain function. Glycine is one of two main nerve receptors in the voluntary muscles (the other one is GABA) involved with REM, the dreaming stage, of sleep.
Of course, having strong and healthy Qi to release energy blockages will also give you a bright and shining body too! One way to
strengthen your Qi is by practicing conscious breathing. These exercises are known to significantly improve skin health and will also go a long way toward giving you healthy hair and nails too!
Beautiful Bone Broth
Making your own bone broth is cost effective and relatively simple. All you have to do is keep leftover carcass bones that you would otherwise throw away, own a large stockpot or slow cooker, and have a love of broth.
The best broth is made with the boniest bones you can find, like beef knuckles, chicken necks or oxtails.
It's important to use bones from organically-raised raised chickens and animals to assure the highest quality nutrients in your broth.
Ingredients
1 whole free-range chicken or 2-3 lbs. bony chicken parts, such as necks, backs, breastbones, wings or feet
4 quarts cold filtered or spring water
2 tbs. raw apple cider vinegar*
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
1 bunch parsley sprigs
*Raw vinegar helps to leach minerals from the bones into the stockpot water, which is the whole point of simmering.
Directions
- Fill a large stockpot (or large crockpot if leaving home for long periods) with water.
- Add the vinegar and all vegetables except the parsley to the water.
- Place whole chicken or chicken carcass into the pot.
- Bring to a boil, stirring the "skin" back into the broth as it rises to the top.
- Reduce heat to the lowest setting and let simmer for approximately 2 hours or until the meat begins to separate easily from the bone.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and separate the meat from the bones.
- Place the carcass back into the pot and continue simmering the bones for another 12-24 hours.
- Add the fresh parsley about 10 minutes before finishing the stock to ionize the broth.
- Remove remaining bones from the broth with a slotted spoon and strain the rest.
- Store in individual portion containers or freeze for future use.
Simmering bones over low heat for an entire day creates one of the most super nutritious and healing foods there is. You can use bone broth in soups, stews, or even just to drink straight.
Here's sipping to your own health!