Bone Broth – Bye Bye Breakouts

Don’t you wish there was a magic potion that could make breakouts disappear forever and ever? Me too!

For over 7 years my life revolved around acne. The way my face looked dictated every decision, even the simplest ones, like going out with friends or family, talking in public or taking to strangers. I was tired of looking for ways to cover my skin and feel trapped in a body that didn’t resemble my true self.

I tried antibiotics, birth control pills, cortisone injections, diuretics (Aldactone), hormones, topical treatments and extreme diets  that mostly irritated my skin.

I was tired of so many disappointments and feeling self-conscious all the time. When acne began to affect my physical AND emotional health, I knew I had reached a point where I needed to look for other options. I had to  look deeper to find out the root cause of my skin condition.

The more I searched the better I understood the great impact my gut health was having on my skin and this is how bone broth became part of my daily nutrition.

So, how are the gut and skin connected? 

When the digestive system is compromised we begin to experience symptoms and since we are uniquely made those reactions vary.

Some may experience migraines, depression, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, PMS, rashes and so much more. In my case, those symptoms were acne, depression, insomnia, lack of energy, bloating and constipation.

 Learning the root cause of acne is a compromised digestive system changed my skin and life forever!

Healing my gut and consuming nutrient-dense food has helped me achieve clear and healthy skin permanently without harmful side effects.

When I embarked on my healing journey, I found out I had leaky gut.

What’s leaky gut?

When there isn’t enough acid in the stomach proteins don’t get broken down properly into smaller particles such as peptides and amino acids. Instead, these abnormally sized proteins reach the small intestine (where 90% of nutrient absorption happens) and the body tries to pull those proteins through the intestinal lining to start making vitamins and minerals, but since these particles are too big it ends up perforating the intestinal wall.

This allows other undigested foods to attack the immune system, eventually leading to mineral and vitamin deficiencies (Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin A, D, E – essential for healthy skin), poor absorption of fatty acids (healthy fats are extremely important for the skin and hormones), food allergies, autoimmune diseases and more.

Bone Broth 

An amazing food to help heal and seal leaky gut is bone broth. Its rich-gelatin content aids digestion so the body can absorb nutrients better. It is also useful to repair the skin and other body tissues, treat food allergies, boost the immune system, relieve cold and asthma, mitigate infectious diseases, used for treatments of Crohn’s disease and Colitis. And….I think you’re really going to like this one as well….Bone Broths strengthen hair and nails while helping them grow faster.

When bone broths are properly prepared they can be really nutritions because they contain minerals from the bones and electrolytes from vegetables. Adding acidic liquid such as vinegar or lemon juice helps draw even more minerals, in particular calcium, magnesium (food for the skin) and potassium.

If you’re dealing with stubborn acne, it is wise to look within and find out if your gut is crying out for help. Bone broths as with many other wonderful gut-healing foods, lead to better and permanent results when you support the body’s natural healing powers with proper nutrition and mind-set.

The way I drink broths

I like to warm up a cup of bone broth, season it with sea salt and lemon juice and drink it as a tea. It’s delicious! You can also use it in any recipe that calls for water.

Here’s the recipe for Chicken Bone broth I share in my book “Healthy Gut Happy You.” Feel free to use the same recipe using beef or fish bones.

One thing to keep in mind…

Since animals store their toxins in their bones, I highly recommend using only organic, grass-fed bones and wild-caught bones. Also, make sure to use only organic vegetables to really benefit from this powerful healing food.

Chicken Bone Broth 

Ingredients:

• 1 whole organic chicken or 2-3 lb. of bony parts such as organic chicken feet, necks, backs, wings, breastbones.
• 4 quarts cold filtered water
• 2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 3 celery sticks, coarsely chopped
• 1 bunch parsley

How?

1. Place chicken or chicken pieces in a large stainless steel pot with water, vinegar, and all vegetables except parsley.
2. Let stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Bring to boil, and remove scum that rises to the top.
4. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 6-24 hours.
5. About 10 minutes before finishing the stock, add parsley. This will impart additional mineral ions to the stock.
6. Let cool and remove the whole chicken or pieces with a slotted spoon or I also use a strainer. I store my stock in mason jars and leave them in the fridge. It will last for 4-5 days in the fridge and longer if frozen.

Some people can’t deal with the bone situation, if that is you, don’t let the chicken feet scare you. An alternative is collagen powder, which you can mix in teas, smoothies, shakes and even water.

Bone broth is a fabulous addition to heal from the inside, but if you’d also like to learn more about the products I use on my skin, simply click here: Healthier Skincare