Gut Healthy Holiday Pet Treat (and People Treat!)
Learn the best way to spoil your pet while secretly bolstering their health!
Don’t throw out your holiday bird carcass, organs and parts!
Use the stuff that you would normally discard to make yummy, gut healing Bone Broth.
According to research:
“Bone broth offers a nutrient-dense option for enhancing overall health and may offer an alternative to dietary supplements with claims for enhanced gut health.”
When bones are simmered for a long time, especially in a slightly acidic environment with something like apple cider vinegar, they release healing amino acids, minerals and collagen. By including the joints, tendons, skin and even exposing some of the marrow cavities, you increase the nutrient release. Herbs, spices and veggies added at the end, increase nutrient levels and beneficial components.
When your cooled product jiggles like Jello, you know you have some potent bone broth!
Bone broth contains nutritious amino acids like: glutamine, glycine, proline, histidine, arginine; and essentials minerals like: calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, zinc; not to mention up to 12 mg of collagen per cup of broth contribute to the benefits listed in this article.
Benefits of bone broth based on research;
- Enhances gut health
- Alleviates inflammation in the intestinal barrier
- Improves intestinal barrier function in both healthy and sick pets, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease
- Enhances nutrient absorption
Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
Ingredients:
- Turkey carcass including skin, the neck and any other parts not eaten as well as any juices collected from cooking (that are not used for gravy) or the serving platter
- 4-6 quarts filtered water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Additional healthy ingredients as desired- added in the last hour of cooking. Consider adding ginger, turmeric, garlic or mushrooms.
Instructions:
Bone Broth, Regular Stove-top Method
- Place turkey carcass along with fat and skin in a large stock pot; save the accumulated juices to add later. If the carcass doesn’t fit, break the carcass down into smaller parts. Add apple cider vinegar and cover with water until the carcass is submerged and covered by 1″ of water.
- Bring pot to a boil over medium heat. Turn down heat to low and simmer for 7 -24 hours.
In the last hour of cooking, add the garlic, ginger, turmeric and/ or mushrooms to add additional health benefits.
If using a slow cooker, turn the slow cooker on high for 4 hours, then lower temp to the low setting for 8 hours. You can repeat the 8 hour cycle up to twice more. When there are two hours left on the slow cooker, add the garlic, ginger, turmeric and/ or mushrooms if desired.
Filter, Chill, and Remove Fat (for Both Stove-top and Slow-Cooker Methods)
- With a pair of tongs, remove large parts of bones and vegetables from the pot. You can throw the bones and mushy vegetables away.
- Carefully pour the stock through a strainer into another large pot or bowl. To cool quickly, place the bowl of hot stock in another bowl that is filled with ice water. When the ice has melted, drain some of the water, and add more ice. Do this a few times until the stock is cool enough to touch.
- Ladle the cooled stock to storage containers and refrigerate overnight to allow fat to rise to the top and solidify. After fat has solidified, remove and discard.
- Store stock in refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months.
Note: This recipe yields anywhere from 2 -4 quarts of bone broth. Human members of the family can take 4-8 ounces daily, either as a warm drink or as stock for soups or to make rice.
Cats and dogs can get 1 oz for every 10 lbs. of body weight daily. This can be added as a healthy and tasty food topper.
Pair with Freeze Dried Foods Dr. Evelyn Recommends!
The brands listed below are freeze dried foods that Dr. Evelyn includes in her “Best Foods for Your Dog” eBook! If you would like to know what other dog foods Dr. Evelyn recommends, check out her FREE eBook by clicking this link! (If you would like to know the cost breakdown of each of the recommended brands and how they compare to each other, then be sure to download the Premium version of the eBook here.)
Freeze-dried food is dehydrated to about 1/3 the weight of raw food. That’s why freeze-dried food pairs so well with bone broth. It adds both nutrition and hydration in the same step!
Here are just some of the benefits of the ingredients I suggest adding. You can also add additional veggies for flavor.
Ginger decreases inflammation and a great source of manganese. Studies show that it is beneficial for:
- Decreasing pain
- Managing blood sugar
- Decreasing nausea and vomiting
- Managing healthy cholesterol levels
- Decreasing inflammation by decreasing inflammatory cytokines
Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, helping to control oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress is the basis for chronic inflammation and aging, its wide range of benefits is not surprising.
- Oxidative stress management
- Inflammation management for many conditions including arthritis
- Blood sugar control
- Cholesterol control
Garlic with its nutrients and sulfur containing products like allicin, it has many documented health benefits including;
- Decreased risk of diabetes
- Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease
- Boosts the immune system
- Has antibacterial and antifungal benefits
- Anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties
And yes, garlic is perfectly safe and beneficial for your pets in small amounts.
See our garlic post here!
Mushrooms- All mushrooms are beneficial and nutritional powerhouses. Each type of mushroom has its own special property, but they have many in common. So add whatever type of mushrooms you have in your fridge. Even the lowly white button mushroom can do great things!
Benefits of mushrooms include:
- Great source of B vitamins and other nutrients
- Help manage oxidative stress
- Inflammation control
- Support gut health
- Support the gut microbiome
- Cancer prevention
- Blood sugar management
Ready to Nourish Your Pet?
This holiday season, give your pet the gift of gut healing, fresh, whole food nutrition. Whether you serve this bone broth as a treat or pair it with a freeze dried food, you’re providing nutrients that are as wholesome as they are delicious.
Check out Dr. Evelyn’s eBook for more complete and balanced whole food dog foods to feed anytime of the year!
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