Love Local Feature - Gold Bone

At Red River Co-op we take pride in supporting and watching locally owned businesses thrive! It’s important that we come together as a community, particularly in these difficult times where there is a silver lining for the need to take ownership and responsibility of our own health. Red River Co-op’s Health and Wellness advisor had the pleasure of sitting down with 35 year-old Mike Germaniuk who is the face and founder of Gold Bone Broth where he explains all of the amazing health benefits that bone broth can provide!

RRCHW: When and why did you start your business, Gold Bone Broth?

Mike Germaniuk: I started Gold Bone in 2016. My mom was having issues with her gut and was presenting symptoms of leaky gut. As a diabetic, she has to be careful with what she consumes. After researching natural alternatives to help her, bone broth kept coming up. I started learning everything I could about it, making it for her and drinking it daily for myself. I myself felt so great after adding it to my daily routine that I knew I had to share it with the world.

RRCHW: What products do you carry and what are in each of your products?

Mike: Gold Bone bison broth contains organic veggies, grass fed local bison, non GMO and gluten free spices and herbs. The vegan broth has seasonal local veggies (organic whenever possible). Our lamb broth (pet treat) is made of grass fed local lamb, apple cider vinegar and Manitoba spring water.

RRCHW: What is your favorite go-to recipe when using your broth?

Mike: I do a lot of soups, I can eat soup 365 days of the year - even in the summer - but I also love experimenting new foods and recipes. Some of my favourites are bone broth protein smoothies, vegan sweet potato chili, and cashew chicken lettuce wraps. Oh and bone broth marinated Greek potatoes… and I could go on.

RRCHW: What are the health benefits of bone broth?

Mike: Bone broth has amazing health benefits. Some of these health benefits include: healthy joints, healthy digestive system, increase mental health and better sleep, reduction of inflammation, improves IBS, improves thyroid function, liver detox, stronger hair skin and nails, and combats colds and flus.

RRCHW: What adds the mineral/nutritional value in your vegan broth?

Mike: Mushrooms (Shitake) improves digestion, reduces effects of allergies, and are phyto nutrients that help maintain blood pressure and improve circulation, boost energy and brain function, have anti-microbial properties (kills harmful micro-organisms and stops their growth), are high in B vitamins and vitamin D, promotes skin health, promotes growth of good bacteria in the gut and immunity boosting, contains the same amino acids that make up animal protein, and improves digestion.

Seaweed improves thyroid function, provides iodine (important for hormone production), activates healthy microbiota, is necessary for proper health, and provides production of collagen.

RRCHW: Tell us about your dog! And how your dog loves the new pet treats! How do the new pet treats benefit a dog’s overall health?

Mike: My dog’s name is Ivy. Ivy loves the lamb broth as a treat, as well as on her food or her water dish. It helps her when she has a upset stomach and everything basically applies to the same things as humans. It will help their coat, improve joints, and helps digestion. Ivy is a German shepherd husky.

RRCHW: What is something else we should know about Gold Bone Broth?

Mike: Something else to know about Gold Bone Broth is our commitment to sustainability our products are made in a facility that is built on a mission of sustainability and we have followed suit with our production. For example, left over bones and veggie scraps feed animals at Fort Whyte Farm. Our packaging is eco-friendly and we source our ingredients locally wherever possible to reduce our carbon footprint and to support other local companies.

RRCHW: Tell us a fun fact about you!

Mike: I will be a new DAD very soon! I am excited to welcome our little girl into the world as of September!

Come stop by at the Red River Co-op food stores in Grant Park or Southdale to pick up some delicious Gold Bone Broth. As we now enter into the chillier months, bone broth is the perfect addition to your healthcare regime!

Shop Local, Support Local, Love Local!

Pictured: Mike Germaniuk; Owner of Gold Bone Broth