It may have a short name but pho is big on taste, big on flavor, and big on nutrients. You don’t have to go to a Vietnamese restaurant anymore to treat yourself to some healthy pho.

With the right ingredients and an Instant Pot, you can make your own Pho anytime you want. This simple bowl of broth over noodles will warm you up on a cold day, treat your taste buds when they are bored, and boost your health all year round.

The Benefits of Pho

While certainly not the same, pho shares many of the same ingredients and benefits of bone broth, only to a lesser extent. This soup has been used for centuries for nutritional and medicinal purposes.

Studies have found there are certain health advantages to consuming pho, making it a sought-after commodity these days. The good news is that you can easily make your own.

Healthier Kidneys

The nutrients in pho support kidney function and can prevent kidney disease. Adrenal fatigue results from overworked kidneys. By preventing stress and by giving your kidneys the nutrients they need, you can be assured of optimal filtering and reduced risk of kidney disease or failure.

Joint Protection

Depending on the bones used to create the stock, pho can contain a healthy dose of collagen. With arthritis becoming more common each day, your joints could benefit from the additional collagen.

As you age, your cartilage naturally starts to break down, which increases your risk for joint conditions and pain, but pho can delay this. Gelatin is also found in pho which helps cushion your bones and allows for more fluid movement and reduced friction.

Gut Restoration

Poor diet and inflammation can wreak havoc on your intestinal lining, increasing your risk of leaky gut syndrome. When this happens, digestion is less than optimal and nutrient absorption is negatively affected. Pho helps to restore gut health by repairing the mucous lining and healing any tears or holes.

You can improve this by using more fiber-rich vegetables in your pho recipes, which is why the addition of zoodles to this recipe is so important.

Slow the Aging Process

Glutathione, which can be found in pho, is an important antioxidant that works to support the metabolism and function of your cells. Antioxidants can also be found in zucchini, further working to slow down aging.

Why Zoodles Are Better Than Noodles

While pasta is certainly delicious, it also is packed with carbohydrates (and gluten), meaning it can easily cause unwanted weight gain. When you make zucchini noodles, you avoid any upset in your digestive tract and receive the surprising health benefits that zucchini can bring you.

| Related: Why Is Fiber So Important for Good Health? |

Zucchini is full of fiber and essential nutrients that can boost your overall health, including liver health, in a number of ways:

♦ By making you feel full, the fiber content promotes weight loss, as you no longer overeat or fill up on unhealthy snacks

♦ Vitamin C and magnesium are both found in zucchini and both protect your heart

♦ The nutrients and antioxidants in zucchini protect you from numerous diseases.

Instant Pot Pho With Zoodles

Ingredients:

Pho:

1 tbsp coriander seeds

3 whole cloves

1-inch piece fresh ginger peeled, thickly sliced, and bruised

1 large yellow onion, halved and thickly sliced

6 cups water

4-lb whole chicken

1 small apple peeled, cored, and diced

1/2 cup cilantro coarsely chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp fish sauce

For serving:

4 medium zucchinis, spiraled

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 green onions, green parts only thinly sliced

1/4 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Turn the Instant Pot on Sauté. Add coriander and cloves and cook about 3 minutes or until fragrant. Add sliced ginger and yellow onion and sauté an additional 4 minutes or until onion is translucent. Then, add the water to the pot along with chicken, apple, 1/2 cup of the cilantro, salt, and fish sauce.

2. Secure the lid, select Manual, and cook at high pressure for 15 minutes. When finished, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and then manually release any remaining pressure. Remove chicken and set aside to cool. Strain the broth and skim the fat off the top. Once chicken has cooled, remove from bone and shred.

3. Divide chicken between 4 bowls, or 6 for smaller servings or for kids. Add zoodles evenly among bowls. Fill each bowl with broth and top with sliced red onion, green onion, cilantro and any desired additional garnishes.

The Bottom Line

Pho has been used for centuries in traditional practices to promote good health. The health-enhancing nutrients found in bone broth can elevate your mind and body. Pho is essentially broth, so it is versatile in that you can add any of your favorite ingredients.

When you opt for vegetable alternatives like zoodles, you will get even more benefits and delightful tastes. Make yourself a bowl of Pho today and say goodbye to whatever is ailing you.

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