This recipe has only two cultured ingredients (cultured veggies and kefir cheese) and has more probiotics than any other dip recipe and it's crazy delicious. It's one of my family's most made recipes. Check out how to make it and also the many benefits of probiotic cheese dip. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-172-the-most-probiotic-kefir-dip/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-most-probiotic-kefir-dip/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/43-way...
Sep 07, 2021•17 min•Ep. 172
Kefir grains themselves are made up of many different species of bacteria and yeasts. Within the cell walls of the grains are cellulose microfibrils which are embedded in a polysaccharide matrix consisting of proteins. That's a lot of complicated words, but kefir grains are multi-complex microorganisms. They are mostly fiber and proteins made from milk caseins and I do love them for all they've done for me. Can You Eat Them? Tune in to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/p...
Aug 31, 2021•30 min•Ep. 171
For many years, I'd read thousands of books on what foods are best for you and tried gazillions of diets and still couldn’t figure it all out. What worked for another person didn’t always work for me and I wanted to know why! It drove me insane and it made me a crazy person. And then there was the media. I became really knowledgeable about the body and how it worked but still, something was missing. But then I discovered a few things that made all the difference. Listen in to learn more. Episode...
Aug 24, 2021•31 min
Kefir can be made with many different kinds of milk, be it non-dairy or dairy milk. It differs in calories and nutritional differences depending on which type of milk you use and how long you ferment it. There is much confusion about the carbohydrate content on the packages of fermented food products and I can help you figure this out. Check out the podcast to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-169-how-many-calories-in-kefir/ Check out these links: https:/...
Aug 10, 2021•19 min•Ep. 169
Lactobacillus Plantarum is a very powerful good bacteria. It can remove pesticides from fermented food, lower cholesterol, help with candida, help with IBS, and is a welcome guest that works mightily for you by fiercely attacking pathogenic (bad) bacteria in our bodies. It will strengthen your good bacteria by killing the bad guys and then helps your own good bacteria grow stronger. Listen in to hear more benefits and to find my many recipes for this powerful good bacteria. Episode link: https:/...
Aug 03, 2021•20 min•Ep. 168
I live in a desert climate - hot during the day and cool at night. When it gets hot, it's really hot. Today it's 100°F and I'm looking for foods that cool me down. Fresh fruits and veggies are eaten a lot more in the summertime and prebiotic foods combined with probiotic foods can have such a huge impact on the body. Check out a few recipes to help you stay cool, hydrated, and healthy this summer! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-167-cooling-down-with-cultured-foods...
Jul 27, 2021•22 min•Ep. 167
Fermented Tomatoes have billions if not trillions of probiotics. They are so good for you and one of the easiest cultured vegetables you can make. Check out my recipes and stories of how powerful these foods can be. You won't regret it! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-166-probiotic-tomatoes-tomatoes-are-super-foods/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/probiotic-tomatoes/...
Jul 20, 2021•22 min•Ep. 166
I love kefir grains, but I didn't start my journey making kefir using kefir grains. I started with powder kefir packages and was very glad I did. I was pretty much a wreck at that time in my life and I needed something easy and foolproof or it wasn't going to happen. Making kefir this way was so easy and helpful for many people getting started with kefir. Listen to my journey and hopefully, it will help you to make foolproof kefir too. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episo...
Jul 13, 2021•24 min•Ep. 165
In these summer months, has your kefir been fermenting faster and turning into curds and whey before you know it? In the summertime, kefir can change and many people think something is wrong with their kefir; then they throw it away which gives me complete anxiety! Don't throw it away, it's still good. Let me help you fix it. Check out the podcast for more info. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-164-how-to-make-your-kefir-creamy-again/ Check out these links: https://...
Jul 06, 2021•16 min•Ep. 164
There are many ways to make kefir with many different types of milk, and believe me, I've tried them all. Mostly to try to help you. I have some of my favorites, but I will explain which ones you can use and let you know my favorites. There is a lot to understand about milk and the many ways you can consume it and use it to make kefir. Things like, "What do pasteurization and homogenization do to milk? Why don't you recommend organic milk to make kefir? Can I culture cream and make kefir butter ...
Jun 29, 2021•24 min•Ep. 163
In the early days of making kombucha, I would often let my kombucha go too long and it would lose its bubbliness. There were a few times it turned so sour that it made me squint and gasp and nobody wanted to drink it. Here are the many ways you can help and use your overly tart kombucha. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-162-is-your-kombucha-too-sour/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/help-my-kombucha-is-too-sour/...
Jun 22, 2021•28 min•Ep. 162
You all keep asking . . . What do I do with all these SCOBYs?! If you are anything like me, you have a pile of SCOBYs in a massive SCOBY hotel just waiting. It feels somehow wrong to throw them away when you have taken care of them and watched them grow! Did you know you can eat your SCOBYs and that they're actually good for you and have health benefits? Check out all my recipes and ideas on what to do with all your scobys. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-161-20-sm...
Jun 15, 2021•21 min•Ep. 161
Fermenting, sprouting, and soaking are all ways I enhance my food. These are the heroes that help me stay healthy in spite of all that seems to tell me I need to fear aging and all the disease that could come my way. Sprouting seeds is similar to fermentation. Sprouting seeds makes certain nutrients easier to absorb than when the foods are in their non-sprouted form. Check out how easy it is to make a jar of fresh greens on your kitchen counter. Each meal is a time to start anew and change your ...
Jun 08, 2021•21 min•Ep. 160
It's my favorite time of the year - when I have an abundance of fresh vegetables that I can ferment. Fermented vegetables can last nine months stored in the refrigerator. They can provide you with months of your own probiotics that are much stronger than supplements. We get a lot of questions about making cultured vegetables and we have lots of answers to help you. Check out 16 FAQs about cultured veggies and get the recipe for my Salt and Pepper Kraut too! Episode link: https://www.culturedfood...
Jun 01, 2021•28 min•Ep. 159
I love dates and so do my microbes since they're loaded with fiber and lots of nutrients. Here is what I've learned about dates and why date sugar is my favorite sweetener to use for baked goods. Dates are nature's healthy treats! Check out the podcast and article. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-158-7-healthy-reasons-i-love-dates/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/seven-healthy-reasons-i-love-dates/...
May 25, 2021•18 min•Ep. 158
If I want to feel better from one meal, a salad is just the ticket I need. If I could teach you to eat a small salad every day it could change your life. If you want to feel better, you need salad and probiotic dressing with a little fat in them to help you absorb the nutrients in a more profound way. Eating salads provides fiber for your microbiome and this reduces inflammation and so much more. Check out all the ways to eat salads and probiotic dressings on this week's podcast. Episode link: h...
May 18, 2021•18 min•Ep. 157
Watching tea turn into kombucha is quite a thing to behold. You give it the ingredients and let it work its magic. Billions of microbes and yeasts transform the tea into a bubbly probiotic tea that you will love. When you first start making kombucha you might be concerned and not know what to expect, so I made something to help you. I took pictures day by day, step by step, as well as top and side views so you can see what is happening each day. I have a time-lapse video for you as well, and hop...
May 11, 2021•16 min•Ep. 156
The process of healing from seasonal allergies was a long process for me because there was much to learn and I continue to do so. Food is powerful medicine and learning to harness its power is really important and especially if you're struggling with allergies of any kind. Knowledge is key and there are special foods that can help you, but first let's start with your body's reaction to pollen. Tune in to listen. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-155-your-immune-syste...
May 04, 2021•19 min•Ep. 155
Kefir is my favorite cultured food. It has the most probiotic strains of any cultured food (over 50 strains) and is also super easy to make. It was the first cultured food I tried and it made me well in so many ways that I started on a journey to learn all I could about this magical food. Kefir is a living food and can change in texture and taste as it adjusts to changing temperatures and fermentation times. So, before you think things have gone awry and throw out your kefir, check out this podc...
Apr 27, 2021•30 min•Ep. 154
I think carrots are something special and that we should include them in our diets as much as possible. I love the flavor of fresh carrots. Nothing shouts, "Get back to your roots!" quite like carrots. I have many recipes with cultured carrots and a carrot kombucha recipe which is pretty spectacular. Check out the podcast for 19 cultured carrot recipes! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-153-19-healing-cultured-carrots-recipes/ Check out these links: https://www.cultu...
Apr 20, 2021•21 min•Ep. 153
Nobody really wants to talk about constipation and diarrhea, but it's something everybody deals with at some time in their life. I've had so many people find help with these ailments that despite most people not wanting to talk about elimination, it's something that can be your best teacher if you know what to look for and how to help your body. Check out this podcast to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-152-fermented-foods-can-help-with-constipation-and-...
Apr 13, 2021•22 min•Ep. 152
Almost two decades ago I had a revelation. No longer could I rely on any individual to solve all my health problems even if it was a medical professional. Although I have a lot of respect for what they do, I realized that they are very limited since they only get two weeks of nutrition in medical school. That's simply not enough information and since we need to eat and drink to survive, and so do our cells, I wanted to know how our cells ingest nutrients, fluids, proteins, and other molecules to...
Apr 06, 2021•29 min•Ep. 151
Jun is a cultured food similar to kombucha but supposedly its own separate thing. It is brewed with a SCOBY culture that is light in color and is made using green tea and honey. It ferments for a few days less than kombucha and has a wonderfully tangy floral taste that is lighter than traditional kombucha. There is a little confusion about where it came from and how to make it, so listen to today's podcast to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-150-jun-komb...
Mar 30, 2021•16 min•Ep. 150
I want to share with you my favorite cultured vegetable recipe and how it came to be. It's been quite a journey and I love all the things I learned from making cultured foods. Tune in, listen, and get the recipe too! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-149-my-favorite-cultured-vegetable-recipe/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/my-favorite-cultured-vegetable-recipe/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/7-reasons-i-eat-cultured-vegetables/ https://www....
Mar 23, 2021•19 min•Ep. 149
I have used bone broths and collagen as a form of natural healing in my life and in the lives of my family members. The older I get, the more I find how essential these foods are to my body. I first noticed how crucial it is to consume these foods about eighteen years ago when my daughter had IBS. I made her tons of soups made with collagen-rich bone broths and she had at least one cultured food at every meal. In a month she began to heal in a powerful way. As I've gotten older, I notice how muc...
Mar 16, 2021•29 min•Ep. 148
Sometimes you have to fight through some bad days to find the best days of your life. As a young woman, I always had a sense of urgency but never knew what it was. When several crises hit I had to change and started looking for answers. The truth is all of us are going through a change. Maybe we're transforming from what we used to be to a higher, better version of ourselves - trying to find our way through all the confusion and bad habits of the past. Changing is just a journey, but you can't c...
Mar 09, 2021•26 min•Ep. 147
No, you do not need a starter culture to make cultured veggies. However, by using a starter you will receive more probiotics and a lot of other benefits. Let me explain your options and you can better choose which is the best method for you. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-146-do-cultured-veggies-need-a-starter/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/do-cultured-veggies-need-a-starter/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-cultured-foods-hurt-me/...
Mar 02, 2021•19 min•Ep. 146
I've been making sourdough bread for almost 18 years and it is one of my very favorite cultured foods to make. Our baking traditions have changed down through the last few centuries. Sourdough starters used to be the standard mode for rising bread, but today so many don't use these anymore but rather instant yeasts that wreak havoc on their guts and bodies. Learn how to make your own bread and reap the benefits. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-145-why-you-should-ea...
Feb 23, 2021•26 min•Ep. 145
For many years people thought I was crazy for eating and making these cultured foods. I didn't care, for I had gone from hoping they would work, to believing, and then to a strong knowing that they would work. Nothing in the whole wide world could now convince me that these foods aren't powerful medicine that will heal and make well. Listen to learn how these foods can help you too. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-144-gain-wisdom-from-your-kraut/ Check out this lin...
Feb 16, 2021•20 min•Ep. 144
More and more people are eating raw and unprocessed whole foods which is a good thing - unless they're loaded with enzyme inhibitors and phytates. From what I've seen, these can cause quite a disturbance in the body. There are special things you can do to allow more nutrient absorption and also remove inhibitors from these wonderful foods. Check out the podcast for more info. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-143-why-and-how-you-should-soak-your-beans-nuts-seeds-and-...
Feb 09, 2021•18 min•Ep. 143
