No fancy molds for me :)
This past week I spoke to a small group of Holistic Nutritionists in Halifax all about liver health and the key aspects of detoxification (Side note - Join me for my Annual Spring Cleanse at the end of April online!). At the beginning of the talk Lisa mentioned what the top 5 health trends are predicted to be in 2017 and gummies were on the list! No, not the sugary gummy bears or jujubes unfortunately. I am assuming they mean gut healing gummies you can easily make yourself and that I have been making for awhile now. This recipe is adapted from a great website autoimmunewellness.com.
If you've had your ears open to talk about gut health lately you no doubt have heard about the importance of bone broth. It is filled with important nutrients to heal your gut lining and decrease inflammation such as minerals like calcium, magnesium, as well as gelatin and collagen. Taking a note from our ancestors, you boil the bones from good quality meat you've eaten for a prolonged period, up to 24 hours even, and use that as broth for soups, quinoa, rice etc or to drink on its own. I recommend using a slow cooker or pressure cooker to speed the process up and cut down on the bone broth smell in your house. Honestly, I don't make bone broth enough myself due to the size of my kitchen so these gummies come in handy! For more on how to make bone broth check out this post.
These gummies use grass-fed gelatin. Gelatin contains two amino acids that are typically lacking in our diets, glycine and proline. Glycine in particular is important for healthy skin, nails, hair, as well as connective tissue. A good source of grass-fed gelatin is from Great Lakes which you can order online.
Tips: You can use any kind of frozen fruit you want and adjust the quantity of lemon to make it a little less sour for your kiddies or you. Store in the fridge for up to a week.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup lemon juice (or a mixture of lemon and water for a less sour taste)
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries (or just strawberries or raspberries)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup grass-fed gelatin
Directions:
- Place lemon juice and frozen berries in a blender and blend on high until completely mixed. Pour into a saucepan.
- Add the honey and gelatin and whisk together. You will have a thick paste. Turn the heat on low, and continue to whisk the mixture for 5-10 minutes, until it becomes thin and everything is mixed. Take off the heat.
- Pour into small baking dish (or fun silicone holds!). Set in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Remove from the fridge and cut into bite-size squares. Otherwise, remove gummies from their molds and enjoy!
Please don't eat too many at first as they could be a little difficult for your belly to get use to! Do you have a favourite gummy recipe? If so, I'd love to hear about it.
In health & happiness,
Dr. Karen
p.s Want more support for your body using food? Join me for my Annual Spring Cleanse coming up April 26th-May 6th!