Using the Whole Chicken to Balance Hormones, Boost Fertility & Immunity, & Save Money!

Use the whole hog – well the whole chicken anyway.

It's good for your wallet and your health.

I love buying a whole (organic, pasture raised) chicken on Sunday. I rinse it off, cover it in ghee, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary, and roast it on 375 for a couple of hours (or air fry it on 400 for one hour when I'm pinched for time). When I take it out, my family runs in the kitchen to tear it apart (and snack on it the whole time) and we use it for a salad.

After we've removed all of the meat, I take the bones and drop it in the crockpot, along with a roughly chopped onion, carrots, celery, and maybe an apple. Then I add in a couple of tbsp of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, salt, pepper, and some parsley stems, and cover it in water. That night, I set the crockpot on high, and once it’s boiling I switch it to low.

Then, the magic happens. It simmers for about 18-24 hours, and then we come home to a delicious bone broth. I have happily made the habit of swapping one of my daily cups of coffee for a cup of this broth instead. Every couple of weeks, I also refill my ice-cube tray with the broth, which I later dethaw and use to sauté vegetables, or as the base in a soup.

You can click here for a similar recipe, but feel free to manipulate it to your taste! Try ginger, or turmeric, or both!

You need to add a bone broth into your life, because it is packed with macronutrients.

Which ones??

1. Gelatin (collagen)

think bone health, skin health, anti-inflammatory, eases joint pain, gut health

2. Amino Acids (glycine & proline)

3. Glycine

assists the body in producing DNA, phospholipids, and collagen; this makes it vital for digestive health, the nervous system, and healing wounds

supports the brain and the nervous system

helps with regulation of blood sugar & detoxification

4. Proline

antioxidant

helps regulate gene expression, protein synthesis, cellular metabolism, wound healing, and immune responses

a part of collagen that supports tissue, skin, tendons, and bone

prevent oxidative stress in the brain (oxidative stress is not a friend of fertility)

>Moreover, these 2 amino acids support gut health and healing, structural support (creation of creatine, and slows muscle deterioration), anti-aging, and improvement of sleep.

^^That entire section needs a giant exclamation point.

The cherry on top, now we use the organs...

WHAT? DID SHE SAY ORGANS?!

Yes, after research, I have concluded that liver is an essential in our diet.

One 3.5 oz serving has much more than the RDA of Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2 Riboflavin, and Copper, and very close to the RDA for Vitamin B9 Folate, Choline, and Iron.

"Liver is possibly the most nutrient-dense food in the world. It’s packed with essential nutrients, rich in protein and low in calories."

-A. Rowles, Healthline, June 2017

"Liver and other organ meats offer hormonal support to both males and females. When recommending food as medicine to clients, liver is amazing for those who may not absorb iron supplements properly or have methylation issues with B- vitamins. Pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum mothers who desire to increase iron intake, but want to avoid the added constipation caused by supplements, can rely on eating pasture raised liver for more effective iron absorption that doesn’t disrupt the digestive process."

-Nutritional Therapy Association, Culinary Wellness Pt. 1 Student Guide, 2021

That quote above, could honestly be describing the blood test analysis for so many women battling infertility. And liver can even support progesterone and testosterone levels in men!

Click here for a fantastic chili recipe that uses liver (but no one will ever know...)

Best part about using the whole chicken? Well besides the incredible health benefits of bone broth and liver - it is way more affordable than buying parts on their own! If we don't eat all of the meat for dinner, then we put the extra chicken ina. to go container and snack on it, or if there is a lot, we add it to a soup the next day.

Try it out on a Sunday when you feel a little creative, and enjoy the broth all week and the energy from the extra iron and vitamin A! Also, notice your joints feeling a little less achy and your brain fog clearing up. After a few weeks you might even notice shinier hair and stronger nails. And, God willing, you might even ovulate on your own after years of inconsistency with those hormones balancing themselves out!