Bone broth has made a huge comeback in recent years due to its health benefits. From aiding in the healing process for a leaky gut to helping fight off infections, bone broth might be just what you need to add into your daily diet.
Meanwhile, homemade meat stock also offers numerous health benefits, and GAPS Intro Diet participants consume it with every meal throughout all six phases. Despite both being good for the body, many people confuse bone broth with meat stock.
What are the difference between the two?
Monica Corrado, a GAPS cooking instructor, reveals the differences between meat stock and bone broth in "The Heal Your Gut Cookbook: Nutrient-Dense Recipes for Intestinal Health Using the GAPS Diet." Making meat stock for the GAPS Intro Diet is easy and inexpensive for most people. In the cookbook, she explained that meat stock is made from cooking pieces of meat that still have the a joint in them in a large saucepan of water.
"Both meat stocks and bone broths are healing foods."
You can choose from many types of meat, ranging anywhere from turkey legs or thighs, beef or lamb shanks or whole chickens. For poultry, you will cook meat stock for an hour and a half to three hours, while you should cook beef, lamb or bison for no more than six hours.
Meanwhile, you make bone broth from bones that still have a little bit of meat on them. You cook these for much longer than you would meat stock – between 6 and 24 hours – and GAPS Intro Diet participants should only introduce these broths to your diet after they complete the six phases and are following Full GAPS.
It's important to note that you should not use commercially available soup stocks or bullion cubes, as these are extremely processed and will not offer the same amount of nutrients as homemade stocks or broths.
What do they have in common?
According to the GAPS Diet cookbook, both meat stocks and bone broths are healing foods. Both bone broths and meat stocks offer soothing benefits for inflammation of the gut or gut lining. For centuries, they have been known to aid in the digestion process, yet only recently has it been reintroduced to the health community.
The gelatin found in the joints and knuckles of bones is one of the more prominent "super foods" for repairing a leaky gut. It works to protect and heal the lining of the digestive tract and regenerate damaged cells. This gelatin also helps the absorption of key nutrients, while marrow strengthens bones and connective tissues. Additional healing properties include supporting a healthy immune system, reducing irritation caused by food intolerances and promoting the development of healthy joints, hair, skin and ligaments.
To learn how to make meat stock, consider purchasing the Official GAPS DVD, which includes tips for each of the six GAPS Intro Diet stages. For additional information about the GAPS Diet and how to get started, you can consult with a Certified GAPS Practitioner and visit our website today!