Meet Spring Clean!

March 04, 2021By Amy Cole

You wake up on the darker side of chipper, slightly groggy and needing a pick-me-up, you stumble out to the kitchen. There it is. The FOND.

You pick up the jar. It's heavier than you expected. Golden and enrobed in emerald green it's Spring Clean that catches your eye. There's something different about this bone broth.

You open it, dumping the contents into the pot and warming it until bubbles form on the sides, then back into the jar because it's just that kind of morning.

You sip.

Utterly transported, the flavors envelope your palate in an experience so intense tears form in the corners of your eyes. It's just like this was made for you for right here, right now. You savor the moment.

You drink half the jar and realize you're completely satisfied. Feeling refreshed and back on your feet, you put the jar in the fridge for later use.

Later comes, as it always does and you're in a pinch for dinner. The recipe calls for water, but your mind can't shake the delicious encounter this morning so you opt for the bone broth instead.

Eureka.

Now let's talk about why that delicious encounter is more than just flavor, but health benefits that you just can't ignore.

Lemon

Lemons, sour goodness that boast endless amounts of benefits and give your jaw that inviting tingling feeling.

Everyone knows that lemons are a good source of Vitamin C, but what benefits does Vitamin C actually provide? For one, Vitamin C is great for heart health and lowering cholesterol.

The soluble fiber in lemons could help improve digestive health and the plant compounds in lemons may also help to aid in weight loss.

Have kidney stones? Lemons are great! Citric acid may help prevent kidney stones by increasing urine volume and increasing urine pH, creating a less favorable environment for kidney stone formation.

Iron deficiency anemia is quite common. It occurs when you don’t get enough iron from the foods you eat. Lemons contain some iron, but they primarily prevent anemia by improving your absorption of iron from plant foods.

Onion

Did you know that the medicinal properties of onions have been recognized since ancient times, when they were used to treat ailments like headaches, heart disease and mouth sores?

Onions are nutrient-dense, meaning they’re low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals. They are also packed full of antioxidants that may protect against heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes.

Research shows that eating onions may help reduce heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels and inflammation. Due to the many beneficial compounds found in onions, consuming them may help reduce high blood sugar.

Don't let dairy get all the credit for strong bones, studies show that onion consumption is associated with improved bone mineral density.

Onions may have antibacterial properties that have been shown to inhibit the growth of potentially harmful bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Finally, Onions are a rich source of prebiotics, which help boost digestive health, improve bacterial balance in your gut and benefit your immune system.

Radish

Radishes, you may love 'em, you may not - but rest assured this flavor is subtle in Spring Clean but comes with mighty benefits!

Radishes are high in fiber, which in turn, aids in healthy digestion. Not only good for your digestive system, but radishes may also help to fix acidity, obesity, gastric problems, and nausea, among others.

Radishes are packed with Vitamins E, A, C, B6, and K. Plus they're high in antioxidants, fiber, zinc, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, copper, calcium, iron and manganese. That's quite the list!

Lastly, who doesn't love being hydrated and having healthy skin? Because you guessed it, radishes help with both.

Garlic

Garlic is the ultimate medicinal food. Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often called the father of Western medicine, actually used to prescribe garlic to treat a variety of medical conditions. Garlic is a plant in the onion family and contains a ton of nutrients while yielding few calories.

If you're prone to catching colds, garlic is for you! Garlic may help to prevent and reduce the severity of common illnesses like the flu and common cold.

According to HealthLine, "high doses of garlic appear to improve blood pressure for those with known high blood pressure (hypertension). In some instances, supplements may be as effective as regular medications."

Lastly, garlic contains antioxidants that protect against cell damage and aging. Enjoying garlic may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.