Drinking Bone Broth in the Warm Summer Months

Summer is fast approaching, which means many of us will be trading in our warm cups of tea for sparkling water and
hearty stews for salads. When it’s 90 degrees, an acai bowl may sound like the only appealing choice. These light and refreshing foods help cool down the body and still have their place in a balanced diet, however, both Chinese medicine and the traditional Indian system Ayurveda advocate for eating warm foods year-round. To avoid shocking our system, both practices recommend to avoid ice-cold drinks or food, even in the summer. Unlike the seasons, our internal temperature does not fluctuate. Eating cooked, warm foods nourish our adrenal, nervous, and digestive systems and are imperative for overall health.

So how can you enjoy your bone broth without sweating through meal time? Here are a few suggestions…

Have a cup of bone broth first thing in the morning or right before bed.

The early mornings and late nights are always the coolest times of the day. Starting your day with a warm cup of bone broth will support your digestion for the day ahead. Alternatively or in addition to your morning cuppa, ending your night with a toasty cup of bone broth can soothe your stomach, help your cells repair, and support hormone production as you sleep.

Try “Raw ‘Til 4”

A popular trend is to consume raw foods like salads, smoothies, raw fruits, crudité and dips early in the day when your digestive system is stronger. Then, as the day passes, eat cooked foods at night. Saving your bone broth-based meals for dinner time may be the perfect approach to take for the summer months. Try making fresh soups with a variety of in-season vegetables like summer squash, eggplant, fennel, fresh greens, mushrooms, and asparagus. Explore your farmer’s market for inspiration! Not only will this keep you cool, but you’ll be eating locally and with the season adds diversity to the diet.

Use broth over salads and raw vegetables.

As a “make shift” pho- inspired meal, try pouring bone broth over raw vegetables like spiralized zucchini, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, finely chopped greens, celery, and sprouts. Add some avocado and your choice of a protein and you have a complete meal. When it is especially hot, allow the broth to cool to room temperature before consuming.

Add cooling elements to warm meals.

Top your soups and stews with cooling fresh herbs like dill and cilantro and a dollop of coconut, goat’s milk, or grass-fed dairy yogurt. Use citrus fruits like lime, lemon, and orange to brighten up cooked meals. Prepare grains such as quinoa in bone broth rather than water to add ample flavor and to receive its nourishing benefits! Then, toss the quinoa into salads. Alternatively, you can poach or steam proteins like chicken breast or ground turkey in bone broth in the same way.