Looking to sip from the fountain of youth? Well, I hope you like the taste of bone broth, because according to celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow the flavorful caldo made from leftover animal bones is a wrinkle-fighting, belly bloat-blasting super food! Hmm, those are some pretty big claims, if you ask me. Can a simple broth made from animal bones really do all of that? Well, that's been the word on the street for centuries.
Read more ¿Qué más?: 10 Satisfying sopitas & stews that will help you lose weight
Traditionally prepared by countless cultures around the world for hundreds of years, bone broth is said to be chock full of healthy vitamins and minerals, as well as age-defying collagen and tummy-flattening properties that may aid digestion, reduce joint pain, and do all kinds of wonders for your nails, hair and teeth. Incredible, huh? Well, it kind of makes sense. When cooked, animal bones provide some essential age-defying nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, and a bit of collagen. So there's that. However, we don't know exactly how much of each nutrient the broth actually provides, so it's hard to say just how much the broth aids in your ability to ward off wrinkles and fight the good fight against stubborn belly fat.
That said, it can't hurt to sip on some bone broth every once in a while. It's low-cal, warm and yummy. Also, the broth makes good use of animal bones that would otherwise end up in the trash. Besides, I've seen the broth work small miracles for some of the women in my family. My abuelita and mami have sipped on bone-based caldos for most their lives, and they both look quite young for their respective ages. Sure, we could chock it up to good genes, but I'd like to believe bone broth had something to do with it.
Personally, I'm willing to try the broth, if for no other reason than it's really easy to make. The supposed slimming and beautifying benefits are just added bonuses. To make the caldo, you just put animal bones in boiling water, add veggies to taste (my abuelita uses carrots, celery, chives, and sometimes a whole jalepeno pepper for good measure), and simmer. The longer you let the broth cook, the darker and more sabroso it'll become. And should you have zero time to sit around and watch water boil, you can make the caldo in a Crockpot. Just toss all the ingredients in before you head out for work, and come home to a warm and filling caldo at the end of the day? Honestly, that, in and of itself, is enough to get me to make this broth at least once a week. How about you? Are you game?
Image via iStock
