By Mind Body Green
Weight loss and exercise get the most attention when it comes to getting healthy in the new year, but as we’re coming off a busy holiday season, it’s vital to focus on gut health as part of an overall wellness plan. You can be eating balanced meals and exercising, but if your gut health is compromised, you may not be effectively absorbing all the nutrients in your food, and your body won’t be able to function optimally. What’s more, a huge percentage of immune system function actually takes place in the gut, so making sure our digestive system is in good working order helps us stay well overall—key to meeting our personal and professional goals.
Choosing gut-nourishing foods can help support a healthy gut microbiome by populating the GI tract with those beneficial probiotic bacteria (find them in fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi) and prebiotic-rich foods like onions, garlic, and leeks to give those probiotics something to feed on. Eating enough fiber and drinking plenty of water will keep things moving and promote regular digestion.
Bone broth is one of the best foods to incorporate into your diet when you’re trying to get your system back on track, especially after an indulgent season when we’re feeling off. It provides important minerals to promote efficient brain and body function like magnesium and potassium.
Glycine and proline, two amino acids in bone broth, also support healthy function of the digestive tract.
Glycine aids in digestion by regulating synthesis of bile salts along with the secretion of a substance called gastric acid, which helps break down protein. It also plays a role in the production of glutathione, an antioxidant that helps fight free radical damage and inflammation. Proline helps the body break down proteins so the body can actually use them.
Created by two nutritionists and a chef, Bonafide Provisions Bone Broths are the perfect addition to your healthy new year routine. Available in flavors like Organic Chicken, Beef, Turkey, and a Frontier Blend Bone Broth, they make the perfect base for a nourishing pot of gut-healing soup to start the year off right. Bonafide Provisions Bone Broths can be purchased nationwide in the freezer section of Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, and thousands of natural food retailers. Try these easy recipes.
Chicken Zoodle Soup
Photo: Bonafide Provisions
This grain-free take on chicken noodle soup is a delicious way to warm up on a cold day.
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 6 cups Bonafide Provisions Organic Chicken Bone Broth
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
- 1 large zucchini, spiralized
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrot. Sauté until soft. Add chicken and Bonafide Provisions Organic Chicken Bone Broth. Bring to a boil and lower heat. Allow to simmer 25 to 30 minutes.
- Add zoodles and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Remove soup from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.