Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder + Buttery Mashed Potatoes

Cozy, insanely good & slowly cooked for max flavor + nutrients. This is an ideal protein + collagen-rich meal to support hormones during the menstrual phase.

Mark my words when I say I’ll be making this meal all.fall.long.

It’s so warm and cozy, maintains the perfect balance of savory and sweet (pork + apples = match made in heaven!), and omg the buttery mashed potatoes?! SO.GOOD.

But if you know my cooking style by now then you know along with an abundance of rich flavor, it’s also packed with nutrients, thanks in part to a slow-cook method.

Not only is slow-cooking an easy, mostly hands off and fool-proof way to cook more affordable cuts of meat, but it also tenderizes the connective tissues and fat, resulting in an abundance of flavor and easily digestible nutrients such as collagen, gelatin, minerals and amino acids.

While protein is a literal building block that structurally makes up hormones, collagen and gelatin are perhaps best known for their role in improving gut health (which goes hand in hand with hormone health).

Lesser known but just as important, they’re also rich in amino acids like glycine, which has been shown to promote serotonin production (key for mood!) and lower cortisol levels, helping to reduce stress and promote better quality sleep (who doesn’t want that?!)

Glycine also aids in muscle growth and repair, regulates insulin sensitivity (leading to better blood sugar balance, critical for balanced hormones) and even supports the function of digestive hormones like GLP-1, potentially improving weight loss outcomes.

Last but certainly not least, glycine acts as a pre-cursor to the antioxidant glutathione, helping to prevent against oxidative stress and liver inflammation.

Bottom-line, slowly cooking and consuming animal protein (especially large, tougher cuts of meat with their connective tissues and bones) is one of the most effective (and delicious!) ways to absorb these nutrients in their most bio-available form, with you reaping all of the benefits, including a healthy menstrual cycle and symptom-free period.

Aaaand if you don’t currently have a cycle, are entering into perimenopause, menopause or just cooking for your whole fam and worried whether or not this meal is suitable for everyone, you can rest assured everyone can benefit, whether from supporting muscle mass and growth (especially critical during perimenopause/menopause) or promoting optimal gut health, blood sugar balance and satiety (helping to keep those kiddo meltdowns at bay).

With that, let’s get into the nutrient-specific details and recipe!