Stay Cozy, Nourished and Improve Immune Health—My Easy Bone-Broth Recipe

Bone broth has been associated with a number of incredible health benefits. Perhaps most impressive, however, is its potent effects on detoxification. Studies suggest that bone broth may help improve immune health by reducing inflammation, allowing your body to work more effectively at removing harmful toxins, bacteria and pathogens from the body.

Chronic inflammation can lead to disease, sickness and shortening of life. You can reduce the amount of toxicity in the body by incorporating immunity-boosting foods such as bone broth because it’s rich in collagen and an assortment of amino acids believed to help seal the gut and protect against leaky gut syndrome, a condition that allows toxins and particles to seep from the gut into the bloodstream.

As someone who has experienced autoimmune struggles, I have to be extremely mindful and eat noninflammatory foods for my own personal health and wellness. In September 2014, I couldn’t get out of bed for three straight days—I didn’t have the flu, a fever or a cold. I had no energy and felt like I had been hit by a truck. Something was definitely wrong.

After three days straight of sleeping, I conjured up some energy to get dressed and headed to the doctor. My doctor took blood and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a disorder in which the immune system turns against the body’s own tissues and attacks the thyroid.

The American Thyroid Association (https://www.thyroid.org) reported that an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. And 1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder during their lifetime.

I discovered the food I was eating was contributing to my autoimmune disease struggles and making weight loss a battle I was losing. I dove deep into research about how to balance my thyroid so I could regain my energy and vitality.

What I found is that overcoming an autoimmune struggle takes consistent effort and energy. There are crucial things you can do to holistically stabilize your suffering. The biggest lesson I have learned:

If the foods you eat can cause chronic inflammation that in turn depletes your immune system, then you can use foods to reduce inflammation, boost your immune system and regain health.

No matter what you are dealing with big or small, you are strong, healthy and whole. You can choose to clear and release any toxins, inflammation and disease from your body in an attempt to live a long and healthy life.

Bone broth is this season’s go-to healthy choice to keep my body nourished and satisfied. Make my easy grass-fed beef and vegetable bone-broth soup to boost your immunity with this healing recipe. It’s like a warm, fuzzy blanket in your belly. Also, this version of bone-broth soup is quick and easy without having to simmer the bones for hours. Check it out!

Grass-Fed Beef and Vegetable Bone-Broth Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound thinly sliced grass-fed beef steak
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 large organic sweet potatoes, chopped
• 1 bag organic Brussels sprouts, chopped
• 1 large white or yellow onion, chopped
• ½ cup mushrooms, sliced
• 2 large organic carrots, chopped
• 4 cups bone broth
• ½ cup frozen peas (optional)
• parsley to garnish

Instructions

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add beef, season with garlic, basil, salt and pepper then cook for about 10 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, onions, mushrooms and carrots. Cook for about 8 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Stir in bone broth; bring to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Add peas right near the end of simmering. Top with parsley, remove from heat and divide soup among bowls. Enjoy!

Stay warm and healthy, friends!

Xo, Cort