Fish Bone Broth

I have been seeking healthy eating strategies all my life. Living with a fisherman, we eat a lot of fish. I became interested in the healing aspects of bone broth and realized the best bone broth comes from fish because you use the head, skin, bones and tail. This creates a nutritionally superior product to that made from any land animal. For the last few years, I’ve been perfecting my Fish Bone Broth recipe to make it appetizing, delicious and nutritious. The final product is made from wild caught fish plus immunity boosting organic spices and vegetable trimmings, and then canned, frozen or dehydrated.

We drink it many mornings for breakfast with toast and fresh fruit or vegetables, sometimes we drink it at lunch, and I often use it as a base for a sauce for our evening meal. 

The Many Nourishing Benefits of Fish Bone Broth Start with the Brain

Use of the whole fish (head, tail, bones and skin), makes it a food for your brain and  provides a mix of fats, vitamins, and minerals (and amino acids), that are perfect for putting your brain in prime condition. Fish, in all forms, has repeatedly been shown to slow cognitive decline and improve memory.

There are many conditions being treated with fish bone broth right now

Heart disease…Diabetes…Metabolic syndrome…Leaky gut syndrome…Alzheimer’s disease…Arthritis…Many types of Cancer…Food intolerances and allergies…Joint health…Cellulite reduction…Immune system boost

Iodine = Thyroid Health

Fish bone broth excels when it comes to iodine–a mineral not found in the bones of land animals. Iodine is essential for optimal thyroid health. This is important since thyroid cancer has continuously increased around the world in the last decade. It is the most common hormone-related cancer.

A higher iodine intake was shown to be a protective factor against thyroid cancer. And getting more iodine in your diet is as simple as eating more fish and fish bone broth!

A healthy thyroid is closely linked to your metabolism. And that means your waistline.

Gelatin and Collagen

One of the most valuable components of bone broth stock is gelatin which acts like a soft cushion between bones that helps them “glide” without friction. Gelatin also provides us with building blocks that are needed to form and maintain strong bones, helping take pressure off aging joints and supporting healthy bone mineral density.

Fish bone broth is a great source of gelatin, which contains collagen, something most of us are quite familiar with. Although the jury is still out on the overall impact of gelatin on bone and joint health, the anecdotal evidence is strong. It’s a popular remedy for osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and numerous other conditions, not all of which are bone-related.

As we age, cartilage diminishes as it gets attacked by antibodies (age-related degradation of joint cartilage). As fish bone broth simmers, collagen from the fish leaches into the broth and becomes readily absorbable to help restore cartilage.

Maintains Healthy Skin

Collagen helps form elastin and other compounds within skin that are responsible for maintaining skin’s youthful tone, texture and appearance. Collagen integrity helps reduce the visible signs of wrinkles, decreases puffiness and other signs of aging. Many people report a decrease in cellulite when consuming foods and supplements containing collagen, since cellulite forms due to a lack of connective tissue, allowing skin to lose its firm tone.

Studies have show that using collagen daily supports skin elasticity and skin moisture – which of course decreases signs of accelerated aging, all without side effects.

Healthy Fats… and Fat-Soluble Vitamins

“Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food,”
Hippocrates (about 400 BCE)

Vitamin bioavailability is a big concern for all of us healthy eaters. What good is taking a supplement or eating specific foods to gain nutrients if they aren’t bioavailable? Luckily, fish broth contains a delectable combination of nutrients to benefit your health. It includes high quantities of healthy omega-3 fatty acids as well as fat soluble vitamins. Healthy fats + fat soluble vitamins = nutrition delivered where your body needs it.

Healthiest Sports Drink

Bone broth in general (and fish broth in particular) is an excellent athlete’s drink. Post-game or competition, a little bone broth can help the body replenish electrolytes and hydrate. An added benefit is the amino acid content. These amino acids help muscle repair and recovery.

Mineral Boost

From trace amounts of rare minerals to abundant quantities of calcium and iodine, fish bone broth is an excellent way to pack more nutritional punch into your day.

Plus Organic Spices

The flavor boost is amazing and creates a very subtle yet pleasing flavor. Here are a few of the proven benefits of a few of these spices:

Ginger – helps digestion, reduces nausea and helps fight the flu and common cold. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce muscle pain and soreness, osteoarthritis. It lowers blood pressure and improves heart disease risk factors.

Turmeric – contains bioactive compounds with powerful medicinal properties, natural anti-inflammatory, increases the antioxidant capacity of the body, is linked to improved brain function and a lower risk of brain diseases, lowers risk of heart disease, is a beneficial herb in cancer treatment and affects cancer growth, development and spread at the molecular level.

Ceylon Cinnamon – Considered an alternative treatment for diabetes mellitus, contains cancer-fighting enzymes, helps manage blood pressure, aids in Alzheimer prevention.

All said to say…

Fish bone broth is a delicious, alternative to bone broth that offers a surprising range of health benefits. If you haven’t tried it, how about now? From improving thyroid health to increasing your brain power and helping you rehydrate after a sporting event, fish bone broth health benefits are many. Here you have a healthy energy boost…without caffeine!

When it comes to preparation, few are fans of messy fish cleaning, but you might be if you tried it. Drink a cup a day just like we do, and you’ll be feeling great – just like we do! Add the stock to cook vegetables and/or rice, or make a simple soup with shrimp, mushrooms, scallions and broth. When you have Fish Bone Broth on hand, you’ll have a great sipping beverage, or you can whip up a quick, delicious and nutritious soup in a few minutes.

Good for you, good for the planet!

Jude’s Fish Bone Broth Recipe

Ingredients:
3 Lbs Fish Carcasses (skin, bones, head)
Up to 2 Cups leftover vegetable trimmings (optional)
1 Medium Yellow Onion (quartered with brown outer layer left on for coloring)
1 Head Garlic, slice off top of cloves
1/4 C Ginger, sliced, about a 2″ piece (or 1 Tsp ground)
1/4 C Turmeric, sliced, about a 2″ piece (or 1 Tsp ground)
1 Tsp Curry Powder
1 Tsp Ceylon Cinnamon Ground
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper (black pepper activates Turmeric, add red pepper if you’d like a spicier version)
3 Tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Quarts Water

Process:
I put all ingredients except vinegar and water into a Regency Natural Soup Sock and tie the sock at the top. The soup sock is not necessary but it makes the straining much easier. Add the vinegar and water. I place the ingredients in my 6-qt. Crockpot Express Crock Multi-Cooker and cook at pressure for 60 minutes. You can use a pan on your stovetop, or a slow cooker. Afterwards, remove the soup sock (you can wash and reuse if you wish), dispose of the contents and strain the broth into containers. From here you can freeze it or place in jars to can. This will make two quarts of concentrated broth, which will become gelatinous when refrigerated.

Bottom line is you can’t go wrong and it couldn’t be easier! 

Give it a try and let me know how you like it, okay?