The ONE Trick I Use To Stay Slim: A Nutritionist Explains

Tempting foods are everywhere (especially during the holiday season). If you want to resist them, you need a secret weapon—and brothing is that weapon!

De-stressing is one of the most important things you can do for your health—and it’s also crucial if you want to lose weight. That’s because stress elevates your levels of cortisol, which can add pounds around your waist (I call it a “cortisol tire”). In addition, stress makes you crave fat and sugar.

Bone broth is filled with nutrients that soothe and relax you, making stress melt away. For instance, it’s rich in glycine, which helps to calm anxiety. It also gives you a dose of highly bioavailable magnesium, a mineral with powerful calming properties.

So when I’m tense and wound-up after a long day and don’t feel like cooking, here’s what I do instead. I put on soft music, light some candles, and sink into a warm bath with a good book and a mug of steamy bone broth. It relaxes me all over, and it helps me sleep like a baby!

Place all the bones and meat in a slow cooker or large stockpot. Add the vinegar and enough water to cover everything by one inch. Cover the pot and bring the water to a simmer over medium heat. Use a shallow spoon to carefully skim the film off the top of the broth. If you’re cooking in a slow cooker, wait for about two hours until the water gets warm before skimming, but continue with the next step.

Add the carrots, celery, onion, tomato (if using), cloves, and peppercorns and reduce the heat to low. You want the broth to barely simmer. Skim occasionally during the first two hours. Cook for at least six hours or up to eight, adding water as needed to ensure the bones stay covered with water. (You’ll need to add water during the cooking process.)

When your broth is done, turn off the cooker or remove the pot from the heat. Using tongs or a large slotted spoon, remove all the bones and meat. Pour the broth through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids. Cool and refrigerate.