The cheapest way to get collagen into your diet

In today's health and wellness market, collagen supplements command premium prices, with some brands charging upwards of £50 for a month's supply. However, as a nutrition consultant and functional health coach, I've discovered that one of the most potent sources of collagen is likely sitting in your kitchen right now: your leftover roast chicken carcass that you were about to throw away (or turkey, or any other roast with a bone).

Many people are unaware that they can create their own collagen-rich bone broth at home, potentially saving hundreds of pounds annually while reducing food waste.

The Science Behind Bone Broth

When slowly simmered, animal bones release:

• Type II collagen (crucial for joint health)

• Glucosamine and chondroitin

• Essential amino acids (collagen contains 8 of the 10 essential amino acids)

• Minerals including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus

Quality Matters: The Organic Advantage

While organic chicken typically costs 30-40% more than conventional options, the investment is justified when creating collagen supplements. Organic chickens, raised without artificial hormones and antibiotics, provide a purer source of collagen, offering better bioavailability and fewer contaminants.

Your elixir shopping list: 

✔️ 1 roast chicken carcass 

 ✔️ 1 carrot 

✔️ 1 celery stick 

✔️ Sea salt (the good stuff!)

 ✔️ 1 bay leaf 

✔️ Fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, or thyme - or go wild and use all 3! 🌿) 

✔️ Filtered water 

✔️ That slow cooker collecting dust in your cabinet 😉

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker

2. Set to low temperature overnight

3. In the morning, cut larger bones to release additional collagen (the extremities of the bones are easier to cut than right in the middle)

4. Simmer for one additional hour

5. Strain and store 

6. Leave in the fridge only 1, maximum 2 days as the histamine content increases the longer it stays in the fridge. I like to put half of my batch in an ice tray and freeze straight away so I can add it to soups and sauces at a later date without the worry of high histamines.

The best part? You're saving money AND reducing food waste! 🌍✨