Turkey Bone Broth: A Thanksgiving Tradition with Health Benefits

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”middle” bg_type=”” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg__new=”id^3995|url^https://rhealthc. com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Inner-page-blog-1. png|caption^null|alt^null|title^Inner page blog 1|description^null” bg__repeat=”no-repeat” bg__size=”contain” bg__posiiton=”50% 50%”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”. vc_custom_1686794826123{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”. vc_custom_1686833535649{padding-top: 0px !important;}” el_class=”m-height”][vc_single_ source=”featured_” img_size=”800×600″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”. vc_custom_1699347226510{margin-top: 32px!important;margin-bottom: 32px!important;}”]You will probably have to spend some time in November deciding what to do with the leftover bones from your turkey carcass. Even though you are exhausted and foggy after the annual feast, don’t discard those bones and make a vow never to cook again. Be the person who requests to take the bones home if you are spending Thanksgiving at someone’s house—you will thank us for it later. The bones are full of nutrients and make a tasty broth for a quick meal, soups, and recipes.

If it’s any comfort, cooks have been preparing broth and soup for its heartiness and warmth for tens of thousands of years, even before turkey became the preferred bird for Thanksgiving. 20,000 BC is when the earliest soup pots and bowls were discovered, according to archaeologists, in the Xianrendong Cave in Jiangxi Province, China. Though we do not know what was in the pot, these early humans were on to something. Soup is a cornerstone of nourishment and comfort that is still appreciated today. We’ve collected a treasure of tips to help you make the best broth ever.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food. But what about all those leftover turkey bones? Instead of tossing them in the trash, why not turn them into something nutritious and delicious? Enter turkey bone broth, a simple yet powerful way to savor the flavors of your Thanksgiving table while promoting a healthy immune system.

What is Turkey Bone Broth?

Turkey bone broth is a nutrient-rich stock made by simmering turkey bones and connective tissue in water for an extended period This process extracts collagen, gelatin, and other beneficial nutrients from the bones, creating a flavorful and healthy broth.

Health Benefits of Turkey Bone Broth

Turkey bone broth is not just a tasty way to use leftover turkey bones; it also boasts a range of health benefits:

Rich in Nutrients: Turkey bone broth is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and collagen. These nutrients contribute to stronger bones, improved digestion, and a healthy immune system.
Promotes Gut Health: The gelatin in bone broth helps maintain the function of the intestinal lining and can prevent “leaky gut,” a condition associated with various chronic diseases.
Reduces Inflammation: Many amino acids found in bone broth, such as glycine and arginine, have strong anti-inflammatory effects, helping to combat chronic inflammation linked to various health issues.
Supports Joint Health: Collagen, the main protein in bones and connective tissue, is broken down into gelatin during the cooking process. This gelatin provides the building blocks for our own connective tissue, keeping our bones and joints healthy and strong.

How to Make Turkey Bone Broth

Making turkey bone broth is a simple process that requires minimal effort:

Ingredients:

1 gallon of water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2-4 turkey bones (or bones from other animals)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 12-24 hours. The longer you simmer, the more nutrients will be extracted from the bones.
Allow the broth to cool, then strain and discard the solid bones.

Tips:

Add vegetables, herbs, and spices to your preference for a more flavorful broth. Some popular additions include garlic, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, sage, and thyme.
Use the broth as a base for soups, sauces, or gravies.
Enjoy it on its own as a warm and comforting drink.

Turkey bone broth is a delicious and nutritious way to use leftover turkey bones. It’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals, promotes gut health, reduces inflammation, and supports joint health. So, this Thanksgiving, don’t throw away those turkey bones; turn them into a healthy and flavorful broth that you can enjoy throughout the season and beyond.

Tips for Turkey Bone Broth

In a mug, homemade bone broth is a satisfying treat on its own and can be used in a variety of soups and recipes that call for it. The difference between stock and bone broth is the cooking time and taste. Typically, a stock adds liquid or moistens recipes and has a lighter flavor. Because bone broth cooks longer, it is flavorful enough to stand alone. Here are some reminders for making bone broth, followed by a recipe.

Clean off the meat from the bones.
Gather all of the vegetable and fruit trimmings and peels from your Thanksgiving meal, including the carrots, onions, celery, apples, and lemons.
Take out the stuffing, herbs, and other aromatics from inside the turkey.
If desired, use the gizzard, wings, neck, and heart; reserve the liver for another use.
To fit the bones in a large 6-quart pot, slow cooker, or pressure cooker (instant), cut the bones with kitchen shears.
Place the bones in an airtight container and freeze if you won’t be using the broth right away.
Cold water is always best to start with because the finished broth will be clearer.
For extra flavor and anti-inflammatory properties, add fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, garlic, peppercorns, and turmeric.
To aid in the release of all the nutrients from the bones, add an acid to the broth, such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.
Once the broth has boiled, add the miso paste to intensify its umami flavor.

What are the Health Benefits of Bone Broth?

Bone broth is commonly recommended in functional and integrative medicine for gut health, immune support, and weight management. The benefits for gut health are particularly profound (learn more on the health benefits here). The amino acids and nutrients concentrate into all that goodness when the bones, veggies, and herbs cook down into a flavorful and filling broth, including:

Collagen helps control the production of stomach acid, enhances digestion, and lessens inflammation in the gut.
Learn more about the significance of gut mucus here. Gelatin aids in the promotion of a healthy mucosal lining in the stomach, which acts as a barrier to shield the stomach from its digestive secretions.
An amino acid called glycine, which is the main building block of collagen, lowers the risk of inflammation in all parts of the body, including the digestive system. Glycine, like gelatin, has the ability to aid in the healing of the stomach lining.
An amino acid called proline supports the health of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and the intestines, two vital areas of the immune system.
Glutamine plays a role in healing the mucosal lining of the gut and sealing any tight junctions that could be connected to a leaky gut. It also reduces intestinal inflammation.

Is Bone Broth Healthy? Myth Busting With Dr. Nagra

FAQ

Is it healthy to drink turkey broth?

The carcass’s connective tissue can also add collagen, which can be beneficial to joint health. And bone marrow can be rich in iron, vitamins A and K and other nutrients. Adding vegetables to the broth can also add nutrients.

Which is better turkey stock or turkey broth?

We like using stock for soups where the liquid is the star, like chicken and dumplings, lemony turkey rice soup and French lentil and carrot soup. Since broth is thinner, it’s better suited for dishes where you want other flavors to shine, like tomato soup, chili and slow cooker sweet potato soup.

Which bone broth is healthiest?

What kind of bone broth is healthy to drink? Non-gmo beef or chicken bone broth is the healthiest option to drink. Beef and chicken are both great options because they are high in protein, collagen, gelatin and amino acids for gut health and skin hydration.

Is drinking broth everyday good for you?

Thankfully, the collagen and amino acids in bone broth are incredibly beneficial for joint aches and pains. While everyone is different, we’ve seen customers rave about joint pain disappearing with regular bone broth consumption. To see benefits for joints and cartilage, we suggest drinking 2-4 cups of broth per day.