As per usual, I feel like I'm one of the last to jump on a particular health band wagon. Dr. Bronners soap was a biggie. I got all excited and wanted to share it with other people, but my enthusiasm was slightly curbed by their response "Oh yeah. Great stuff. Been using it for years." **sigh** In any event, I am on a "new-to-me" health food adventure and want to share my discoveries. In case you are on the forefront of health discoveries, I say "Onward Ho!" and thanks for forging the way for the rest of us.
Considering my newest health journey is with bacteria, I guess you could say I have a growing interest. Haha, okay it's a bad joke, but stay with me.
Lately I've been seeing a lot of blogs and articles about the benefits of growing your own cultures for yogurt, cheese, sour dough breads, and a bevy of fermented beverages. One of the drinks, kefir, is made using kefir crystals which according to The Google, are "a combination of bacteria and yeasts in a matrix of proteins, lipids, and sugars". It's a symbiotic matrix that goes to work on cleansing your gut with it's (probiotic) good bacteria. And to think that just the word "matrix" gets me excited!
The benefits of consuming kefir (it can be used in both milk and water) are astounding. A quick internet search will bring up studies and testimonies of people who claim kefir has cleared up their skin, regulated their menstrual cycle, healed intestinal issues, improved digestion, decreased gas, strengthened hair and nails, and the list goes on.
A friend of mine sent me a link to a probiotic lemonade which led me to a site called "Cultures for Health". They have some awesome products and tutorials to make getting started easy. I purchased a starter kit of their kefir cultures and was SO excited to get them in the mail today!
Water kefir cultures for 24-48 hours before it's ready to drink. After that, it can be flavored in numerous ways, with fresh or dried fruit, vanilla extract, herbal tea...it all sounds so yummy. Right now my little kefir babies are rehydrating and culturing in a glass jar on the counter, working their magic to create a delicious probiotic drink. I can't wait to try it!
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You go on that kefir! I tried it and can't stand the stuff. I want to try again and mix it with a million things to make it palatable just because it's so healthy. It's like...sea monkeys...or something..."it's ALIVE!" hehe! Keep sharing the journey! There are far more behind you than ahead of you, I'd wager ;-)
ReplyDeleteOooh, have fun!!! But I should have told you...(and here it comes...*ahem*) I've been doing water kefir for a while now and would have GIVEN you some of my crystals for free! I have tons and tons and TONS. They are quite prolific little guys. ;) But they are definitely my favorite way of getting probiotics--much tastier and easier to make than kombucha. My favorite recipe so far is this one: http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2009/09/how-to-make-homemade-kefir-soda-pop-why-make-kefir-soda-pop-and-how-does-it-taste.html.
ReplyDeleteOh, and once you have your own immense stash of crystals (it'll happen before you know it!) you can toss them in your compost pile or straight into your garden for a little boost to the soil. I've also heard that people eat them straight, but they're a little gooey for my taste. ;)
And reading this, I realize it looks like a damper on your excitement and I really hope it isn't!! You inspired me with your comment on my blog regarding making your own detergent with any bar soap - not just a laundry bar - and I'm trying it! You blazed the way before me!
ReplyDeleteHannah - no damper at all. Your sea monkeys comment gave me a good laugh! We'll see how the stuff turns out...the first batch should be ready tomorrow morning. *cue epic music* ;)
ReplyDeleteRachel, I should have known to ask you! I still need to get a kombucha mother from the girls so I can try that, too. Thanks for the soda pop recipe - we'll see how it all turns out. I'm excited to start experimenting.