A MUM-of two lost six stone and transformed her life – by drinking home-made broth.
Rachel Down hit 15st and became depressed after two difficult pregnancies.
Nothing she tried helped her to lose weight until she did her own research and cooked up her own broth – made from just animal bones, water and apple cider vinegar.
Combined with home-made kefir water, and switching to eating a diet of whole foods, Rachel lost an amazing 6st over two years.
She has developed her health kick into a thriving business, and she now has 10,000 customers, supplying both human and pet broth to more than 17 countries worldwide.
Rachel, 44, from Dorset, says: “I’m thrilled at the transformation in myself, and I want to share it with others.
“It’s not just about how I look, I feel healthier inside too.”
Rachel was fit and healthy and weighed around 10st when she fell pregnant with her first child, Jack, who was born in June 2014.
She says: “I was delighted to be pregnant, but I had one health issue after another.
“I suffered with thrush and a string of UTIs and I seemed to be on antibiotics constantly.
“I was back and forth from the doctor, and I felt generally very unwell.”
By the time Jack was born, Rachel weighed 15st, and despite breastfeeding and diets, she could not shift the extra pounds.
“I was back and forth from the GP, still struggling with infections, yet their only advice was to take either antibiotics, anti-fungal treatment or the contraceptive pill,” she says.
“I felt more medication was the problem and not the answer.”
Rachel had a second child, Skarlette, in January 2016, but her health problems continued.
She says: “I had digestive issues, and horrendous thrush, which I felt certain were linked to all the antibiotics I was taking.”
Rachel, who had previously worked in marketing and as a personal trainer, began her own research.
I remember how desperate I felt at 15st, with two babies and unable to lose weight. Gut health has transformed my life, and I want to do the same for others
Rachel Down
“I read about gut health and how antibiotics can affect the gut microbiome,” she says.
“I was sure I had a condition called Candida overgrowth, caused by too much sugar and too many antibiotics.
“I came across an ancient broth recipe – so old it was even mentioned in the Bible – to help with gut health.
“By now, I was desperate. I was sick of being overweight and feeling sluggish all the time with little energy to enjoy my children.”
In 2017, Rachel began boiling her own broth, made from animal bones, water and a little apple cider vinegar.
She also fermented her own kefir water (similar to kombucha) and switched to eating only whole foods – no sugar.
She says: “I drank my broth and kefir every day and followed a low sugar whole foods diet.
“Within three months, I’d lost two and a half stones.
“Better than that, I felt amazing. My health issues vanished.
“People started asking how I was losing weight and if I could make broth for them too.
“I had people knocking on my front door and taking broth away in old ice cream tubs.”
BONE broth is liquid made from boiling animal bones.
It’s often used as a base for soups, sauces and gravies, but many people drink it on its own.
Experts say it can great health benefits, including:
Source: WedMD and MedicalNewsToday
Rachel realised she had the perfect idea for a new business and in 2018, she launched her own company – The British Broth Company (formerly Boil and Broth).
She also began a health science degree.
“At first, it was just a local business, around Dorset, but then I got an order from London,” she says.
“I was so excited, but panicking about how I would ship the broth, and how it would all work.
“I had nine slow cookers bubbling away in our conservatory whilst I coped with the growing demand.”
In 2019, Rachel obtained a pet licence and now supplies broth for dogs, which is said to be beneficial for issues with digestion, joints and ligaments, or for weekly maintenance.
A recent study showed significant improvements in gut health for dogs who have the broth.
As the business grew, Rachel and her husband, Simon, 56, moved house three times.
She now works out of a commercial unit.
Rachel employs six staff, including her husband, and the company has thousands of customers from around the world.
Rachel says: “It’s great that I have a thriving business, but the real reward is helping people, their dogs and other family members.
“I remember how desperate I felt at 15st, with two babies and unable to lose weight.
“Gut health has transformed my life, and I want to do the same for others.”
RAMEN WITH CHICKEN BROTH
Filled with heaps of nutrition, this is a great meal for all of the family.
Serve with warm bread, sourdough is best.
Ingredients:
Method:
You can find the full recipe here
