Broths are my Botox!
“I gotta focus. I’m shifting into soup mode“.
George Costanza
Soup is witchcraft you know! We put plants, spices, and dead animals into a cauldron and follow instructions from a bookwritten by people long ago! It also warms you in winter, cools you in summer. Oh and it contains a magical potion called collagen, which is highly bioavailable (your body might absorb more of it), providing nutrients to support the body's natural collagen production!
Spring and Fall/Autumn are change months. They’re neither consistently cold or hot but a bit of both. And as someone so effected by the weather - moods, decisions (more than what clothing to wear!), movement choices, adventures to be had - broths are my choice of ‘focus mode’ (thanks George Costanza!).
Why should broths help you focus? You’re body is 60% water on average with organs like your brain topping 95%, your lungs at 83% and your heart 73%! That’s enough to realise you’re made to work on water don’t you think.
We all know the lure of a cuppa tea or soup in winter for instant warmth. But eating hot foods like soup in warm weather can also benefit your body by cooling you even more than cold foods. Interesting, right? Eating hot food increases your body's internal temperature, which causes you to sweat more. When your sweat naturally evaporates, your body becomes cooler than before.
Broth specifically contains a high quantity salts and minerals in water that nourishes your body cells and keeps your skin fresh a lot like scaffolding. Then you eat wondrous nutrients and they’ve the perfect structure to house on. Like collagen in Botox right?!
FOCUS ON HYDRATION
Water is the basis of all life and that includes your body. Your muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transports nutrients is 82% water; your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90%
water; your brain that is the control center of your body is 76% water; even your bones are 25% water. Thirst is the last sign of dehydration. Low urine volume, dark smelly urine, dryness, itchy skin, headaches, fatigue and creakiness of joints or muscle fatigue are signs of dehydration.
HYDRATE WELL
-Avoid dehydrating fluids such as caffeinated drinks, energy drinks, processed tea and coffee, chocolate drinks and alcohol.
-Avoid juices, unless they are freshly made and the whole fibre or pulp is added back in.
-Choose vegetable juices over fruit juices.
Avoid soft drinks and cordials as they contain sweeteners, additives and devoid of nutrition.
-Avoid processed electrolyte drinks, which are full of additives, colours, flavours, sugar and refined salt and synthetic nutrients.
-Drink 15 minutes before and 1or 2 hours after a meal. Drinking copious amounts of fluids with meals dilutes digestive enzymes which effects the digestion and absorption of nutrients. If you are thirsty during a meal,
take small sips. This may be a sign that the
-Add a sprinkle of natural salt to drinking
water, if the water is taken from the tap or a
poor water filter. This will help re mineralise
your water.
-Drink filtered tap water. The Water Shop in
Australia offers the best water filter service.
-Carry your water in a stainless steel or glass bottle. Avoid buying plastic bottled water. Plastic water bottles are not really recycled, but are down cycled. This means they are converted into another product only if they are put in the recycled bin. The true meaning of recycling is when that plastic bottle can be reused as a water bottle. And why pay for water?
-Drink herbal teas as these hydrate like water. Make sure they are organic (non-organic are often irradiated for longer shelf life - who knows what that does to your body?)
-Broths and soups are superpowered hydrating fluids.
-Fresh fruit and vegetables also offer a higher water content compared to dehydrated, processed foods.
-Drink 3% of body weight per day. Weight in
kg X0.033 = number of litres required per day.
DO YOU LIST:
How much water do you drink?
Do you urinate often?
Do you sweat a lot?
Do you work in a hot environment?
Do you drink with meals?
Do you get thirsty?
Can you quench your thirst?
RECIPES:
GOLDEN TURMERIC LATTE
INGREDIENTS
1 cup coconut milk (or 1/2 coconut milk and half bone broth!)
1/4 tsp each turmeric, cinnamon, ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp maple syrup (or less!)
Grind of black pepper
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and whisk constantly over a gentle heat, ideally with a milk frother if you have one. Once hot, pour into mugs. For a guilt free indulgence sprinkle with cinnamon and vanilla powder.
SPRING EGG FLOWER BROTH
INGREDIENTS
1.5 cups chicken stock
1 cup sliced spring onion, diced or spiralized zucchini or carrots, fresh green peas, diced celery or spinach leaves
2 whole eggs
Juice 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Season with natural salt and freshly cracked pepper
METHOD
Bring 1.5 cups of stock to the simmer.
In a bowl, whisk 2 eggs and followed by the lemon juice.
While whisking drizzle in 1 cup of stock until emulsified through and stir back in to pot of stock.
Add vegetables and cook for 7 minutes or until cooked through.
Season well with salt and pepper and lemon zest
A MUG OF BROTH
A warm broth stimulates digestion, an excellent appetizer before each meal. It offers a whole lot more than lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in warm water.
TURMERIC, LEMON & PARSLEY BROTH
INGREDIENTS
3-4 frozen, plain beef bone stock ice cubes or ¾ heated bone stock
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
¼ teaspoon dried turmeric or ½ teaspoon fresh turmeric root
½ teaspoon lemon zest and juice of half a lemon
Season with natural salt and freshly cracked pepper
METHOD
Top with boiling water and stir.
LEMONGRASS, LIME & CORIANDER BROTH
INGREDIENTS
3-4 frozen, plain beef bone stock ice cubes or ¾ heated bone stock
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh coriander
1 teaspoon thinly sliced lemongrass
½ teaspoon lime zest and juice of half a lime
Season with natural salt and freshly cracked pepper
METHOD
Top with boiling water and stir.
GINGER, LEMON & SEAWEED BROTH
INGREDIENTS
3 -4 frozen, plain beef bone stock ice cubes or ¾ heated bone stock
1 tablespoon finely chopped dried seaweed
½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
½ teaspoon lemon zest and juice of half a lemon
Season with natural salt and freshly cracked pepper
METHOD
Top with boiling water and stir.
TIPS
• You may omit the water if you are used to
digesting straight bone stock. In this case, simmer 5 frozen ice cubes of bone stock with ingredients above.
• Try other fresh garden herbs such as sage, thyme, oregano, dill, spring onions, basil etc.
• Heat or spice up your broth up with extra spices such as cinnamon, chili, paprika and sumac powders.
Hydrate (with deliciousness!) before you’re thirsty!
