December 30th, 2015 | Posted By: Magdalena Wszelaki | Posted in Adrenals, Anti-Candida, Entrees, Estrogen Dominance, Menopause, PCOS, Recipes, Soups & Stews, Thyroid

Chicken Soup

L1030088-1024x576

I’ve been very focused lately on using food to amplify the process of repairing the gut. As you may or may not know, our immune system lives in our small intestine (aka “the gut”). Conventional medicine does not make the connection between people having digestive issues with the state of their immune system. This is contrary to the alternative medical world (as much as Traditional Chinese Medicine) which sees the gut as the center of our health. As a nutritional coach I see consistent improvements when my clients’ digestion improves, their overall health starts turning around.

There is growing evidence and cases of people with seriously compromised immune systems and autoimmune disorders (such as thyroid conditions, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, autism, etc.) as well as food allergies and intolerances experiencing significant health improvements from animal- and bone-based broths.

Chicken soups and broths are present in almost every culture. They are never shy from using most of the animal parts; skin, bones, heads, organs and feet included. This is not surprising; animal bones and cartilage contain high amounts of gelatin which can be extracted when simmered for a few hours. Gelatin has powerful healing properties – not only is it good for gut repair (which, as mentioned, is key in dealing with autoimmune disorders hence thyroid conditions) but it gets your through colds and flus in no time. There is an old Jewish saying that a “good broth will resurrect the dead”.

Together with my clients, we are now discovering the power of bone-based broths and soups – returning energy, less colds, less allergies and less food sensitivities. I strongly urge you to start going back the way we used to make food. Real food. Not packaged, not processed, not dried, hydrogenated, fortified or vacuum-sealed. Just real food.

Chicken Soup
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 4 quarts of broth
Ingredients
  • 1 whole free-range organic chicken or 2-3 pounds of bony chicken parts such as necks, wings, backs, feet, head
  • gizzards from one chicken (optional)
  • feet from the chicken (feet are very high in gelatin)
  • head from one chicken (optional)
  • 2-4 tbsps coconut oil
  • 3 quarts (liters) of cold filtered water
  • 2 tbsps of apple cider vinegar
  • 3 medium onions, peeled and diced
  • 8 carrots, sliced
  • 6 celery sticks, sliced
  • 2-4 zucchinis, sliced
  • 4-inch ginger root, grated
  • 5 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 1 bunch parsley
How To Make
  1. If you are using a whole chicken, chop off the wings, the neck and the head if you are using them. Using organic, free-range chicken is vital, do not penny-pinch on this one.
  2. Cut chicken parts into several pieces.
  3. Place chicken parts, water, vinegar and all the vegetables except for parsley in a large stainless steel pot.
  4. Let it stand for 30 minutes to an hour.
  5. Bring to a boil, cover the pot and then reduce the heat to simmer.
  6. Simmer for 12-14 hours on low heat; the longer you cook the stock the more flavor and nutrition you will get from it.
  7. About 10 minutes before finishing, add parsley – it will impart additional minerals to the broth.
  8. Remove large chicken pieces, let them cool and remove the flesh from the carcass – add it back to the soup.
  9. Keep in glass container(s) and freeze some of the soup for maximum freshness.
This soup is key in the Thyroid Diet and in repairing the gut. Love it for its diversity; it can easily be your breakfast as much as lunch or light dinner.

Inspired by “Restoring Your Digestive Health” by Jordan Rubin, N.MD and Joseph Brasco, MD

One Comment to Chicken Soup

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *