5 Health Reasons to Make This Basic Chicken Stock At Home

Before you give up on making basic chicken stock at home, think of all the things you can make with it later.

But if that isn’t enough, then surely you’ll want to cook some when you hear of all the health benefits behind this simple food.

Try Making This Basic Chicken Stock for Added Health Benefits

For starters, let’s go over the process of making basic chicken stock

You’ll have to start with chicken cut into pieces, celery, onions, salt, peppercorns, and bay leaves.

Combine the chicken and water in a large saucepan, bring to a boil, and add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for about 2 hours, or until the chicken is tender.

As with a beef or fish stock, to make this basic chicken stock you need a pressure canner. This is truly the safest way to prevent botulism, while also keeping your jars hot at high temperatures and pressure.

After the broth is ready, strain all the liquid, remove the fat once cooled down, and boil the stock up again.

Finally, ladle it into your jars. You will need to let the jars cool down for about 12-24 hours. Check lids once cooled down, and enjoy!

Okay, now that the process of making it is out of the way, let’s get to the 5 health reasons to make this basic chicken stock:

Reason #1: It is high in vitamins and minerals

Chicken stock is full of nutrients, including vitamin A, K, iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. It also contains healthy fatty acids and a good amount of collagen, all of which are beneficial for making your bones, brain, and skin strong.

Reason #2: It can help you treat the common cold or flu

While not a cure, chicken broth has been used to make people feel better during a cold or flu for many centuries. Drinking warm broth is a good solution for congestion, but it is also hydrating and can prevent digestive issues like vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

Reason #3: It can promote satiety as a healthy snack

Most people rule out the basic chicken stock as anything but an ingredient when cooking, but the truth is, it can be a great low-calorie and low-fat snack. Many studies have shown that drinking chicken broth is satisfying and can speed up your metabolism.

Reason #4: It will hydrate you and make your skin glow

Because chicken stock is full of nutrients, especially the electrolytes and potassium, magnesium, and sodium, it can be a hydrating drink. If you are feeling tired and have a headache, it’s probably a sign of needing hydration.

Warm some of this basic chicken stock up and drink it slowly. It will also hydrate your skin daily, which is a great way to maintain a healthy glow.

Reason #5: It can be a healthy substitute for salt in foods

Consuming too much sodium is not good for everyone, but did you know that it is present in almost every form of seasoning out there? It’s a way to keep the food preserved, but it can cause health problems for you, like bloating and high blood pressure.

Instead, use chicken stock as a substitute for seasoning in your meals. Since it’s homemade, you know exactly what is in it and how nutritious it is.