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After the births of my second and third children, I was fortunate enough to have a number of friends with extensive knowledge of traditional food preparation bring my family meals until I was back on my feet. In addition to enjoying the benefits of bone broth and nutrient-dense meals, potassium broth was one of the most helpful tonics these caring friends made sure I had in the refrigerator to help me recover very quickly.
Potassium Broth Benefits
Potassium broth is best sipped warm like tea. It is an incredible rejuvenator! When a tablespoon of liquid whey is stirred into each cup, it assists digestion and absorption of the copious amounts of potassium and other minerals present in the broth. The liquid whey also adds enzymes and probiotics.
Potassium broth is an excellent present to bring to a dear friend after she’s had a baby. It is also a wonderful tonic for someone who has recently had surgery or suffered an extended illness.
I’m often asked what is the best thing to bring to a relative in the hospital. Without a doubt, homemade soups and Potassium broth in a thermos top the list! It is easy to load up a small cooler with 3 or more thermoses for the days’ meals. Liquids stay warm in a thermos for many hours.  I have not found a nurse that objects to a small cooler by a patient’s bedside.
One other excellent use for potassium broth for pregnant and newly postpartum moms. It is fantastic for eliminating issues with leg cramps at night. People sometimes suffer from these as they get older as well. A mason jar of this tonic in the refrigerator for sipping at night before bed is a great home remedy for this problem.
Another dish that is perfect for recovery is Kitchari porridge. Of course, the healthiest bone broth loaded with gelatin is a wonderful food to offer as well. Potassium broth is much quicker to make, however. It is also a good option for friends/relatives who are vegetarian.
How to Make Potassium Broth
Potatoes are nightshade vegetables. As a result, be sure to use very fresh, preferably organic potatoes in this recipe. They should never be green under the skin or have any visible sprouts, as this could add the toxin solanine to the potassium broth.
Inspired by the recipe in Nourishing Traditions Cookbook.
Potassium Broth Recipe
Recipe for homemade potassium broth that is an excellent tonic postpartum or for those recovering from surgery or illness in the hospital
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes well scrubbed, preferably organic
- 3 carrots peeled, chopped, preferably organic
- 4 celery stalks chopped, preferably organic
- 1 bunch parsley preferably organic
- 4 quarts filtered water
- 1 Tbl liquid whey
Instructions
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Peel potatoes. Place the potato peelings, carrots and celery in a large pot with the filtered water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add parsley and simmer for 5 more minutes.
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Cool and strain the finished potassium broth into glass containers in the refrigerator, reheating small amounts as needed. Add 1 TBL whey to each cup for a big boost to mineral assimilation.
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Potassium broth freezes beautifully, so freeze what you will not use in about one week.
Recipe Notes
Potassium broth lasts about 4 days in the refrigerator. Freeze what you will not use in that time.
The cooked and strained veggies are ideally tossed into the compost bin (all the minerals are in the broth!).
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This looks like a great recipe! You might want to be careful about using parsley for new mothers. Parsley is an herb used for helping to dry up milk supply!! I’ve never had milk supply issues so I’m sure I could tolerate it just fine, but if there is a mom whose milk isn’t coming in then it might be best to leave out the parsley! Thanks Sarah!
Thanks for sharing! Is there anything else you know of that is good during and after giving birth?
I drank about a quart of kombucha after giving birth to my kids. Very rehydrating!!! 🙂
Do you have to use whey? If you do use whey, can you add it to the broth and then freeze… If you’re making it ahead of time??
Hi Shannon, the whey is optional but does give mineral absorption a nice boost. You can add the whey and then freeze no problem.
Is there anything you could add instead of the whey for that mineral boost??
This broth should be fine on GAPS as you are not consuming the starch portion of the potato. Yes, this broth would be wonderful for someone recovering from a hospital ordeal.
I second the legal question of potato for the GAPS diet 😉 I will pass this on to my niece whose husband had a nasty small and large intestine tear in the hospital last month (almost died!). He is home after 24 days. She made smoothies for him to replace the “Ensure” (yuck!) drink recommended when he was able to eat once again. Wonder if this could help him too?!
This is great Sarah! Thank you, I’m going to share it with my FB page of pregnant mamas 🙂
Thanks for this recipe. I’d never heard of potassium broth before. I’m going to have to try it.
I notice no salt added–is there a reason it is omitted? I like the sound of this broth–
Julie
I’m on a GAPS diet now and can’t have starch, and also like KC I’m nightshade sensitive. Therefore, the potato peelings are of concern to me. Should I leave them out if I make the broth? Or are they pretty much the whole point of the broth?