Search Results: kombucha

L. Reuteri Superfood Yogurt Starter

By Donna Schwenk / February 17, 2022

Lactobacillus Reuteri Superfood Outside the USA? Perishable LR Superfood is cultured dairy, made with completely different strains of bacteria than conventional yogurt.  These beneficial bacteria – Lactobacillus reuteri – impart…

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Prebio Plus

By Chris Johnston / January 12, 2022

Introduction Prebio Plus is food for your bacteria. I love, love this product and so do my kefir and cultured veggies. Prebio Plus has three different strains of prebiotics, making…

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Reasons to Have Fermented Foods During the Holidays

By Donna Schwenk / December 11, 2021

As the holiday season hits, we spend more time with friends and family. One thing I have noticed is that there is more and more talk about the health issues that so many are struggling with. Extended family whom I don’t talk with often mostly talk about how sick they are and all the medications they’re on. . .

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An Apple Peel a Day Keeps The Doctor Away

By Donna Schwenk / December 4, 2021

The Bacteria that keeps your gut lining intact Do you know the old English-language proverb that appeared in the 19th century that said, “An apple a day keeps the doctor…

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Vegetable Starter by Cutting Edge Cultures

By Chris Johnston / November 30, 2021

Introduction Boost your fermented foods and nurture your microbiome! Nothing pleases me more than to introduce you to the vegetable starter, Cutting Edge Cultures. Several experts on fermentation and probiotics…

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20 Ways To Use Fermented Garlic!

By Donna Schwenk / November 20, 2021

There are certainly many ways to enjoy garlic, but having a jar of fermented garlic in your fridge is easy and convenient to use. You can use this in so many ways, and it is even great to hand on hand for heated recipes. […]

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Fern Foth

By Chris Johnston / November 4, 2021

Hi Donna, I am so excited today. I just finished harvesting my first seeds, making cream cheese from the Kefir I put out last night to ferment. Taking my second…

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Candida and Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / October 23, 2021

I get hundreds of emails about the subject of Candida, and a lot of them are asking me why so many health care practitioners don’t recommend the consumption of fermented foods if you have Candida. […]

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How To Make Your Own Vinegar — 5 Different Recipes!

By Donna Schwenk / October 16, 2021

Homemade Vinegar In the fall, I like to make homemade vinegar for Christmas gifts. It’s the perfect time of year since temperatures cool down and vinegar likes cooler temperatures (68…

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How to Make Kefir Cheese and Whey

By Donna Schwenk / October 5, 2021

Kefir Cheese and Whey Making kefir whey and cheese is something I do many times a week. It doesn’t take long, and the whey will culture a multitude of foods.…

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Water Kefir or Kefir Soda? Two Different Ways to Make Probiotic Soda

By Donna Schwenk / September 25, 2021

Which Is Better? Kefir Soda Versus Water Kefir I love kefir soda, but this is a slightly different process from making water kefir that is made with water kefir crystals.…

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Episode 174: Resistant Starch – The Key To A Healthy Gut

By Donna Schwenk / September 21, 2021

Listen To My Podcast Resistant starches are a type of fiber that plays a major role in digestive health, but it is also essential for achieving incredible overall health. These…

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7 Ways To Change Your Gut

By Donna Schwenk / September 11, 2021

Gut Health Gut health is more important than you can imagine. Having a healthy gut means your gut contains large amounts of healthy bacteria and immune cells that ward off…

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Resistant Starch — The Key To Extraordinary Health Benefits

By Donna Schwenk / September 4, 2021

Feed those Microbes and watch what Happens I’m constantly learning new things about the benefits of bacteria but especially what feeds these tiny microbes that keep us healthy and thriving.…

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Your Microbes Love Coffee Just As Much As You Do

By Donna Schwenk / August 21, 2021

I love coffee, and I drink a cup every day. Some believe it’s not good for you, but I’ve gotten so many benefits from it that I just knew this couldn’t possibly be true. I have a philosophy about the foods I eat. If I eat or drink something that I know is bad for me, I can never get a positive result from it. […]

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Food For Thought — Fix Your Gut Fix Your Life

By Donna Schwenk / August 7, 2021

For many years, I’d read thousands of books that I had stacked by my bed – and thank goodness for Kindle!  I read books on what foods are best for you and tried gazillions of diets and still couldn’t figure it all out. […]

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Episode 168: The Probiotic Superstar in Cultured Vegetables

By Donna Schwenk / August 3, 2021

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. […]

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Cultured Chickpea (mock tuna) Sandwich

By Donna Schwenk / July 15, 2021
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Creamy Vanilla Kefir Ice Cream

By Maci / July 8, 2021
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Cooling Down With Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / July 3, 2021

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. […]

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10 Ways and Reasons to Use Your Cultured Veggie Brine!

By Donna Schwenk / June 26, 2021

Cultured vegetables are super powerful, but so is the brine they are made in. The powerful bacteria in cultured vegetables called Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) is a powerful weapon against pathogens that can invade your body and try to make you their host. […]

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The Probiotic Superstar in Cultured Veggies

By Donna Schwenk / June 19, 2021

I have been getting a lot of letters asking if you can ferment vegetables with water kefir or kombucha. You can ferment vegetables with these two different cultures, but the vegetables tend to get mushy and don’t last very long. […]

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Seven Healthy Reasons I Love Dates

By Donna Schwenk / May 8, 2021

It’s Mother’s Day and I’m thinking about my mom who lives 2,637 miles away from me in Leesburg, Virginia. My mom loves, loves dates so this blog is for her. […]

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Probiotic Salads and Dressings and Why Your Microbes Need Them

By Donna Schwenk / May 1, 2021

There are many reasons you should eat salads. They are one of nature’s perfect foods – they work like medicine. The benefits are many and they’re delicious too! Having fermented dressings is a mainstay in my house and is one of the many ways I add cultured foods to my family’s diet. . .

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Kimchi Ginger Dressing

By Donna Schwenk / April 28, 2021
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Your Immune System and Seasonal Allergies

By Donna Schwenk / April 24, 2021

I have had seasonal allergies since I was twelve or thirteen years old. For months in the springtime, I locked myself inside the house and turned to drugs and steroids that harmed my immune system. This seemed to be what everybody did and I did the same because I had nowhere else to look. . .

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Episode 153: 19 Healing Cultured Carrots Recipes

By Donna Schwenk / April 20, 2021

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! […]

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19 Healing Cultured Carrot Recipes

By Donna Schwenk / April 3, 2021

I was young, nine years old, and sitting in a classroom staring at my teacher’s desk. She had a thermos; and from it she poured a bright orange liquid and I would stare in wonder. I found myself obsessing about what she was drinking. I should have been working in my workbook, but I would watch her every time she went to take a drink. […]

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Milk Kefir FAQs

By Donna Schwenk / March 27, 2021

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. […]

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Fermented Foods Can Help With Constipation and Diarrhea

By Donna Schwenk / March 20, 2021

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…

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My Favorite Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / March 13, 2021

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. […]

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6 Ginger Sodas That Can Do Amazing Things

By Donna Schwenk / February 27, 2021

Pain touches everyone in some way; and when this happens, all of us reach for something that we believe will help us. The older I get, the more I find that every ounce of pain is here to teach me something. […]

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Grape Ginger Kefir Soda

By Donna Schwenk / February 27, 2021
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Matcha Tea Water Kefir

By Maci / February 25, 2021
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Reasons And Recipes To Have More Miso

By Donna Schwenk / January 16, 2021

When people think of miso, they mostly think of miso soup, but it is so much more. It has an incredible microbial makeup and is a nutritional powerhouse and is so simple to make and use in recipes that I’ve found myself making and consuming it almost every day. […]

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Miso Dressing

By Donna Schwenk / January 14, 2021
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Joelle Anthony

By Chris Johnston / January 10, 2021

I was diagnosed with stomach ulcers (no scope) by my GP and given something to block acid. It didn’t help at all, and neither did anything I got from the…

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H. Pylori and Fermented Foods

By Donna Schwenk / January 9, 2021

Last October, someone asked a question on my forum.

“Hi! I am a new member, diagnosed with H. Pylori bacteria in July, currently on my second round of tough antibiotics. […]

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Cindy Baird

By Chris Johnston / December 8, 2020

About six months ago, I was playing with my granddaughter and noticed that I couldn’t concentrate on her because I was vaguely nauseous. I just assumed it was something I…

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Sourdough Cinnamon Swirl Bread

By Donna Schwenk / December 5, 2020

When I was growing up, my mom always made a Christmas braid on Christmas morning that was filled with cinnamon and nuts and covered in frosting. […]

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Probiotic Pumpkin Recipes

By Donna Schwenk / November 21, 2020

Pumpkin smoothies are eggnog for morning people. I love, love pumpkin. It has many wonderfully healthy qualities and a creamy consistency that makes it a wonderful treat, especially around the…

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Why and How You Should Soak Your Beans, Nuts, Seeds, and Grains

By Donna Schwenk / November 14, 2020

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. […]

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You Are The One Thing In Life You Can Control

By Donna Schwenk / November 7, 2020

This is the week of the 2020 presidential election. Needless to say, whatever side you’re on, it’s been an intense week and a lot of people are struggling with strong emotions. I’m surprised to say that I’ve lived a long time (60 years) and now have some life experience that really serves me in times of uncertainty and fear. […]

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Robin Bragdon

By Chris Johnston / November 4, 2020

I am a mother of four and our oldest has profound cerebral palsy. At about 4 years old he required a g-tube as he could not swallow his food without…

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Can Cultured Foods Hurt Me?

By Donna Schwenk / October 31, 2020

I get a lot of people writing me letters indicating that they are afraid they are going to get sick from eating cultured foods. They don’t understand cultured foods and how they work; preconceived ideas and the media have created fear, a lot of fear. […]

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Three Foods That Can Change Your Life ~ The Trilogy and More

By Donna Schwenk / October 17, 2020

Fermentation is an art form and each individual cultured food is, in and of itself, unique. The three foods of The Trilogy each provide different good bacteria and yeasts that enhance the trillions of bacteria in the body and allow them to thrive, grow, and multiply. […]

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Episode 136: IBD – Crohn’s, Ulcers, and Fermented Foods

By Donna Schwenk / October 6, 2020

I’ve seen cultured vegetables, kombucha, and kefir help with so many gastrointestinal disorders, and I’ve even witnessed firsthand my son healing from an ulcer that was causing him severe pain every time he ate. […]

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I Was Lost, Until I Did This. . .

By Donna Schwenk / September 26, 2020

“How do I apply all this cultured food stuff to my life? Where and how do I get started?” This is something that I hear quite often. People want to change their life and feel better but don’t know where to start. […]

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IBD: Crohn’s, Ulcers, & Fermented Foods

By Donna Schwenk / September 19, 2020

I’ve seen cultured vegetables, kombucha, and kefir help with so many gastrointestinal disorders, and I’ve even witnessed firsthand my son healing from an ulcer that was causing him severe pain every time he ate. […]

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Episode 133: Grow Your Own Probiotics

By Donna Schwenk / September 15, 2020

Making your own probiotics is one the best ways to change your health. Buying probiotic supplements are expensive and are often trapped in the acids of the stomach, and the probiotics are killed before the body ever gets a chance to use them. […]

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Probiotic Foods for Different Ailments

By Donna Schwenk / September 12, 2020

Probiotics have become an exciting frontier in health and wellness. Most people only think about probiotic supplements in a bottle, but today we’re talking about foods that have probiotics in them. These probiotic foods have billions more probiotics than supplements. . .

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Preserving Gut Health As You Age

By Donna Schwenk / September 5, 2020

This last year I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to live the rest of my life. My husband’s father and stepmom died and so did my dog. It is times like these that help me to reevaluate things in my life and how I want to live and be remembered.[…]

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Grow Your Own Probiotics

By Donna Schwenk / August 29, 2020

A lot of suffering in this world comes from the fear of discomfort. In my own personal life, pain has come to teach me things and get me to change. […]

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Food Care is Health Care

By Donna Schwenk / August 1, 2020

It’s pretty crazy these days listening to all the talk about health care and what to do about it. It’s causing a lot of fear and one I am well acquainted with. Do you ever wonder why your life takes certain paths and contains certain challenges? I do, and I was contemplating that this week as I listened to people debating on TV about health care. […]

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Your Body Was Designed to Heal You

By Donna Schwenk / July 18, 2020

How did I get here? I was a new mother at 41 years old, falling apart, and paralyzed with fear. I was sick with diabetes and suffered from high blood pressure. I also had a brand new premature baby girl in my lap. I knew that I was in trouble and I desperately needed help. I begged for help. […]

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Super Healing Summer

By Donna Schwenk / July 11, 2020

It’s summertime!! And all kinds of things can happen in the summertime that otherwise might seem impossible. Let me explain a few things that happen in the summertime that can help you be healthier, heal from all manner of diseases, and support good health! […]

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The Must-Have Food Medicine – in Your Fridge

By Donna Schwenk / July 4, 2020

One day my daughter Holli came running into the room and burst into tears. She cried and said, “Help me! My stomach hurts so bad.” And then she ran to the bathroom and started throwing up. She had spent the night with a friend who had just had the same thing, so I’m pretty sure she picked it up from her. […]

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Will Eating Probiotic Foods Make Any Difference?

By Donna Schwenk / June 27, 2020

Most of you don’t know what processes are actually happening inside of you every day. There are microorganisms everywhere and you can’t see them, but they are inhabiting you and everything else. […]

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Episode 125: Why You Should Know About Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Fermented Foods

By Donna Schwenk / June 23, 2020

Short-Chain Fatty Acids will help you and your body to become a force of wellness in this world. SCFAs are produced by bacteria in the gut during fermentation and they’re essential for your gut, body, and even brain health. […]

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Why You Should Know About Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Fermented Foods

By Donna Schwenk / June 20, 2020

I’m constantly learning new things about the benefits of bacteria. It’s been almost two decades of eating fermented foods and the new discoveries have never stopped. […]

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Trilogy Coleslaw

By Donna Schwenk / June 17, 2020
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My Favorite Cultured Vegetable Recipe

By Donna Schwenk / June 13, 2020

A few years back, a woman named Shelley came to my cultured food class. I couldn’t stop staring at her while I spoke, and I told my daughter that I thought I saw a light over her and was trying to figure out where it was coming from. […]

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Two Ways to Make Fermented Red Onions

By Donna Schwenk / June 6, 2020

I love red onions and we eat a ton of onions on everything. Making a jar of fermented red onions allows us to eat them often because they taste so good and are stored in my fridge – already chopped and ready to eat. […]

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Balsamic Pear Kefir Soda

By Maci / May 25, 2020
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Breakfast Sourdough Bread

By Donna Schwenk / May 23, 2020

This is the bread I make at least two or three times a week. As my business has been growing and I found myself with less time, this bread recipe has become the bread I make most often. It only has four ingredients and takes about 5 minutes to throw together. […]

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Kefir Ranch Dressing

By Donna Schwenk / May 16, 2020
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Does Your Body Need a Miracle?

By Donna Schwenk / May 9, 2020

Do you believe that healing requires a miracle, or do you believe that our trillions of cells govern themselves and create the bodies that we have? So how does the eye know how to focus or the muscle know how much energy it will need during your walk today? […]

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JLH

By Chris Johnston / May 6, 2020

Hi Donna, two years ago I almost lost my life to heavy metal toxicity. I had served in the US military for 9 years and over the course of these…

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Help Is On The Way

By Donna Schwenk / March 21, 2020

It’s March 18th, 2020, and the novel coronavirus has everybody staying home and worried about the future. This day also happens to be my 60th birthday so I’m making my own healthy birthday cake and baking a loaf of sourdough bread. […]

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Anti-Viral Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / March 7, 2020

There is a lot of fear flying around about the flu and especially the coronavirus. If I can help you understand what happens in your body and how it works when you get the flu, or what it can do to protect yourself, then perhaps it will […]

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Tips That Nobody Else Talks About

By Donna Schwenk / February 29, 2020

Years ago when I was young and raising my kids, I was often influenced by well-meaning friends and family. They scared me to death with the latest news they had heard and would say, “Don’t eat this and don’t let your kids do this and did you read that story about how bad this is for you?” […]

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Fermented Foods and IBS

By Donna Schwenk / February 15, 2020

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is usually identified by a group of symptoms: abdominal pain, bloating, and a change in bowels that can alternate between diarrhea and constipation. […]

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Pumpernickel Sourdough Bread

By Donna Schwenk / February 8, 2020

I have always loved dark pumpernickel bread. Its rich, sweet flavors have been one of my favorite breads to eat plain, or with soups, or with sandwiches. […]

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Everybody’s Favorite Kefir Dip

By Donna Schwenk / February 1, 2020

I’ve been eating cultured foods for two almost two decades and this recipe has been on the blog almost from the very beginning. I’m always scrambling to make recipes that my family would enjoy and eat that have probiotics and prebiotics. […]

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Whey – The Liquid Gold in Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / January 25, 2020

Don’t throw out your kefir if it separates into whey and curds. Your whey, although less appealing to many individuals, is a superfood which contains a lot of healing properties. There is something known as “The Whey Cure” which was used throughout history. In fact, Hippocrates and Galen, two founding fathers of medicine, frequently recommended whey to their patients to heal them. This whey was often referred to as “liquid gold.” […]

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Learn about The Trilogy at the Sourdough Bread Festival

By Chris Johnston / January 22, 2020

I’ll be speaking about The Trilogy (Kefir, Kombucha, and Cultured Vegetables) in Cherry Valley, CA at the Sourdough Bread Festival on both February 22nd and 23rd at 2 PM. These…

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My Kefir Is Too Sour!

By Donna Schwenk / January 4, 2020

Perhaps you’ve seen this happen, and it even happens to me from time to time: My kefir will get really sour. This can happen for several reasons. During your first ferment, you let your kefir ferment too long on your counter, or your house might be warmer than usual. […]

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How To Second Ferment Your Water Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / December 7, 2019

Water kefir tastes pretty plain unless you second ferment it. You can choose your favorite juice and make a delicious bubbly drink that is loaded with probiotics. Here is an easy recipe to give you an easy guideline to follow. […]

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How To Make The Probiotic That Inhibits Candida

By Donna Schwenk / November 16, 2019

I love kombucha and not just because it tastes fantastic but because it has a special probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii). It is an incredible probiotic and when you make kombucha you can get lots of this powerful probiotic yeast. […]

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Tara Stanley

By Chris Johnston / November 12, 2019

I was faithful for two years with consuming fermented foods. I felt great. I lost 30lbs had more energy and no colds for those 2 years. Then my daughter last…

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Episode 104: Which are the Best Sweeteners?

By Donna Schwenk / November 11, 2019

It’s been quite a journey for me trying to find the right sweeteners for my family and me. It was always really important to me to find ones that wouldn’t spike my blood sugar but also wouldn’t harm my gut flora. Check out my favorite sweeteners, you might be surprised by what you learn! […]

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Brandi Mayberry

By Chris Johnston / November 11, 2019

In 2012 after a high-stress year, we finally made our dream of moving to Colorado a reality. I could not understand why I couldn’t feel complete joy, why my stomach…

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Fibromyalgia and Fermented Foods

By Donna Schwenk / September 14, 2019

Fibromyalgia is one of the fastest-growing disabling conditions. It affects 2-4 percent of the population and has no known cure. It seems to affect mostly women, and I see it cropping up everywhere. […]

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Kefir Spiral Rolls

By Maci / September 12, 2019
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Which Are The Best Sweeteners?

By Donna Schwenk / August 24, 2019

It’s been quite a journey for me trying to find the right sweeteners for me and my family. It was always really important to me to find ones that wouldn’t spike my blood sugar but also wouldn’t harm my gut flora. […]

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The FODMAP Diet for SIBO, IBS, and Probiotic Foods

By Donna Schwenk / July 27, 2019

We all know that food choices can drastically impact health symptoms. So, it’s no surprise that diets are continuously developed for different health conditions or symptoms. IBS and SIBO sufferers have a difficult time finding things to eat that don’t flare symptoms. […]

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Episode 88: Microbes That Change Your Home in 24 Hours

By Donna Schwenk / July 2, 2019

When you and I find the courage and strength to be better in any regard, we help everyone around us. This goes for every area of our lives and even what we eat. You have trillions of hitchhikers that live in and on you, and they play a huge role in keeping you healthy. Your home, too, is covered in your bacteria, and every room is teeming with your unique bacterial signature. […]

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Episode 85: What to Do With Your Cultures While You’re on Vacation

By Donna Schwenk / June 11, 2019

Your cultures (kefir, kombucha, sourdough, and water kefir) are all living organisms and need to be cared for just like a pet. I love them like family and have found ways to take care of them when I go on vacation. I can teach you how to keep them thriving and healthy even when you’re gone. […]

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Get Cultured at The Green Dragon 🐉

By Donna Schwenk / June 1, 2019

Spend a day and immerse yourself into the world of making and eating cultured foods. Donna combines an inspiring day of information with lessons on how to make our trio, The Trilogy: kefir, kombucha, cultured vegetables, and extra info on sourdough bread, and water kefir. You’ll receive a delicious lunch and you’ll be taking home your own jar of cultured vegetables that will give you a starter for many more vegetables to come. . .

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Episode 83: Fermented Sauerkraut and Breast Cancer

By Donna Schwenk / May 21, 2019

Sauerkraut is an incredible food. I teach people to make it at all my classes. I received letters and posts from people who are undergoing chemo and finding help with kraut and other cultured foods. Check out the new research on sauerkraut and cancer! […]

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Episode 80: Can Your Gut Heal Your Joints?

By Donna Schwenk / April 30, 2019

Your body is a host to trillions of microbes. These microbes can influence your health and your joints in a powerful way. Check out the podcast to learn more. . .

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Thoughts and Habits That Changed Everything

By Donna Schwenk / April 20, 2019

In March 2010 I was turning fifty years old and facing down demons in my life. Our home was going on the auction block on my birthday. I was fighting fear and had two voices in my head. One was filled with hope, the other with panic and fear. Looking back on this time, I remember it so vividly. Months of fear slowly began to turn to hope and for no other reason than I stopped listening to the voice of fear and started to believe that no matter what, I was guided and loved and it would be ok. . .

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Episode 78: Fermenting Tips That Nobody Else Talks About

By Donna Schwenk / April 16, 2019

Are you confused about how to make kefir, kombucha, and cultured veggies? I have lots of ways to help ferment faster and easier than other methods. I’ve been doing this for 17 years and I have tips that can really help you. Tune in to find out more. . .

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You Are What Your Bacteria Eat

By Donna Schwenk / April 6, 2019

You are what your bacteria eat. It sounds like a science fiction movie, that deep within our gut is an entire ecosystem which is affecting both our cravings and moods to get us to eat what they want. . .

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Jan Mueller

By Chris Johnston / April 2, 2019

Our Shining Star of the Desert! Dear Donna, I thank God for you and your valuable information EVERY day! Our miniature poodle, Star, developed health issues in mid-January this year…

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Episode 76: Can Cultured Foods Hurt Me?

By Donna Schwenk / April 2, 2019

Many people are afraid to make cultured foods for fear they’ll mess it up and get sick. They don’t understand cultured foods and how they work, and preconceived ideas have created fear. Check out today’s podcast and learn the science that will help you gain confidence and remove the fear. . .

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10 Natural Miracles I Found To Lower Stress

By Donna Schwenk / March 2, 2019

Stress is an alarm clock. It’s your body trying to communicate with you, sending you alert notices; but so few of us listen and I am no different from you. This is a very personal subject for me. Stress made its presence known to me in 2016, but I didn’t listen. I just ignored the signs. I was working like crazy for years and adding more and more pressure to myself. . .

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Episode 71: Sugar Drops Your Immune System By 75%

By Donna Schwenk / February 26, 2019

One of my favorite things that cultured foods do is to boost your immune system. Your gut is responsible for 80% of your immune system. Find out how sugar can drop your immune system by 75% and how cultured foods can help. . .

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7 Reasons I Eat Sourdough Bread

By Donna Schwenk / February 23, 2019

So as I write, I’m waiting for my starter to become bubbly. Sourdough bread is only flour, water, and salt. It’s hard to believe it […]

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Personal Reasons My Family Eats Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / February 16, 2019

Everybody I know leads busy lives, but did you know there is always help for you? My family had a lot of big changes in 2017, but a constant through it all was the way each member of my family used and ate cultured foods. Maybe this could be the answer for you, too. But first, the journey. . .

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Easy Ways To Heal Your Microbiome

By Donna Schwenk / February 2, 2019

I talk a lot about your body and what your body is made out of. Those 100 trillion microbes (which is more than ten times the cells in the body) that call you home are your constant companions. Most of you don’t even know your microbes because you can’t see them, but they know you and work their darndest to keep you alive each day. . .

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Can Your Gut Heal Your Joints?

By Donna Schwenk / January 19, 2019

When I first started with cultured foods almost two decades ago, one of the first things I noticed was the relief of joint pain in my knee. This was in the very beginning of drinking and making kefir every day. If I quit drinking kefir, it only took about three to four days before the pain would return, so I kept drinking my kefir. . .

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Best of Cultured Food Life 2018: Our Top Articles!

By Donna Schwenk / January 5, 2019

I hope 2018 was a wonderful year for you. I hope you incorporated cultured foods into your life and saw the difference they can make. I’ve been making and eating these foods for over sixteen years and they never cease to amaze and teach me. I hope you will look to this next year as a chance to find the you that you were always meant to be – healthy and happy. . .

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Deborah Oskwarek

By Chris Johnston / December 21, 2018

Hello, My story starts about 55 years ago and it has to do with cancer and probiotics! Let me start about two years ago, though, when I first got interested…

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Overeating During the Holidays? Cultured Foods Can Help

By Donna Schwenk / December 15, 2018

One of the most important things I’ve learned about health and wellness is that overeating can be just as stressful on your hardworking liver as drinking too much, but most people don’t know this. Overeating or having too much fatty food on your plate can make it difficult for the liver to function smoothly. . .

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Episode 61: Fermented Foods for the Holidays

By Donna Schwenk / November 27, 2018

If you’re not eating cultured foods during the holidays you’re missing out! It’s a new and old way to take care of your body when decadent food is everywhere. You don’t have to give up your favorite foods, just include some of these options and watch what happens. . .

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Episode 58: Easy Ways to Heal Your Microbiome

By Donna Schwenk / November 6, 2018

It’s so important to heal and nourish your gut. Hippocrates stated, “All diseases begin in the gut”. I found seven ways to accomplish the task and it changed everything for me. Let me show you easy ways to heal your gut. Love your body and let it shine for you. . .

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Jasmin Griggs

By Chris Johnston / November 5, 2018

Donna, I want to thank you so much for putting this life-changing information out for people to discover. There was a point in my life when I was going through…

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Symptoms of an Unbalanced Gut

By Donna Schwenk / November 3, 2018

Sometimes I wonder how I got here. Symptoms of disease struck my life almost two decades ago and it broke me. Those symptoms shook me to my core and I didn’t know that my body was desperately trying to get my attention to help me heal. And heal I did. With a grateful heart, I’m here trying with all I know to help you too. . .

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Karen Sommer

By Chris Johnston / October 23, 2018

Donna Schwenk’s Cultured Food Life It’s saved my life. No kidding! After four serious bouts with diverticulitis and two hospital stays for abscesses, I knew I needed to make a…

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The Flu Shot in a Jar

By Donna Schwenk / September 29, 2018

Fall through winter is the time of year they call “flu season.” People are really afraid of it but I have often said, “The flu should be afraid of me!” When you build up the good bacteria in your body, you create an army that goes with you everywhere you go and touches every person you come in contact with. . .

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Susie Florian

By Chris Johnston / August 30, 2018

Hi Donna, I just wanted to share that I had my 6th-month check-up this week. In 2011 I was diagnosed with breast cancer (stage 1). I completed chemotherapy treatments as…

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Episode 48: Candida and Probiotic Foods

By Donna Schwenk / August 28, 2018

More often than not, if you have a yeast problem, your gut bacteria are out of balance. You have to have lots of good bacteria to keep candida in its rightful place. Join me to find helpful ways to keep it in balance with probiotic foods and gain wisdom into how your body really works. . .

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Which is Better – Water Kefir or Milk Kefir?

By Donna Schwenk / August 4, 2018

People often ask me about water kefir and milk kefir and which type of kefir I think is more beneficial. Water kefir is a non-dairy kefir that is gaining in popularity. Many people start with this method of making kefir because it’s so easy and fun and they want a non-dairy option. . .

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Fermenting Tip: Put a Lid on It?

By Donna Schwenk / July 18, 2018

When making milk kefir, many people have been taught to use a cloth and rubber band over the jar. This is one of the most common things that cause problems. When a cloth is used to cover a vessel for kefir, there is a risk of cross-contamination with wild yeasts in the air or even from other cultures, or foods nearby. . .

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Episode 42: Does our gut bacteria control our behavior to get the best nutrients?

By Donna Schwenk / July 17, 2018

Do you have cravings for certain foods? How about Alcohol? Do Bacteria give us cravings? Can we control it to achieve new habits? Check out today’s show to find out what your second brain is doing every day that you’re not aware of. . .

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Episode 37: Summertime Healing

By Donna Schwenk / June 12, 2018

Certain foods and sources available in the summer time have nutrients that super charge the immune system. Check out my favorite cultured recipes and summer foods that are fun, easy to make, and oh so good for you. . .

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Episode 36: Ginger – Nature’s Medicine Designed to Help You

By Donna Schwenk / June 5, 2018

Explore the many reasons why you should have ginger every day. It’s a powerful tool for allergy season and for reducing inflammation. I can show you how I include this powerful food in my everyday life, and why it can make such a difference for you too. […]

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Lemon-Lime Kefir Soda

By Maci / May 24, 2018
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Cocoa Kefir Krunch Puff Breakfast Video! 📹

By Donna Schwenk / May 19, 2018

This is my daughter Holli’s favorite breakfast. I make extra servings of the crunch topping and store it in a jar for her to use whenever she makes her morning smoothie. This was the recipe that really changed her more than any other recipe. My family is like everybody else. . .

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Barbara Moore

By Chris Johnston / April 17, 2018

Hi Donna, I was reluctant to try cultured food because I have spent more money than I can afford on things that might help me feel better and I really…

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Learn How To Make Water Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / April 7, 2018

Water kefir grains, or we call them kefir crystals, are unlike milk kefir grains as they thrive on sugars and not lactose. These special probiotic yeasts and beneficial bacteria in the water kefir crystals consume the sugar in the sugar water, and they produce probiotics, new enzymes, vitamins, and help repopulate your gut flora. . .

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Maryanne Carter

By Chris Johnston / March 15, 2018

Dear Donna Thank you very much for the ebooks and for sharing your story. Finding you online and following your information has made a big change in my life. It’s…

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Orange Julius Kefir Soda

By Maci / March 15, 2018
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Jennifer Klaverkamp

By Chris Johnston / February 27, 2018

I’ve told my story to anyone that will listen but realized tonight I never said thanks to you. About 3 years ago I was frustrated at the never-ending infections, breathing…

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Episode 20: How To Keep Your Gut Healthy if You Have To take an Antibiotic

By Donna Schwenk / February 13, 2018

If you have to take antibiotics we have good news! Let me show you how to keep your healthy bacteria alive and thriving, even when you must take antibiotics. It’s really important that you help your good gut flora thrive. This can prevent you from ever needing to take antibiotics again. Your body knows how to keep you well! […]

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I Stopped Eating Cultured Foods ~ Here’s What Happened!

By Donna Schwenk / February 10, 2018

I’ve been eating cultured foods for almost sixteen years. I eat them most every day with very few exceptions. When I first started eating cultured foods, I had diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, and felt discouraged and depressed […]

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Episode 18: The Flu Shot in a Jar

By Donna Schwenk / January 30, 2018

Find out how to avoid the flu/cold this year. This is what I use for my family, and myself and is an all-natural flu/cold remedies that work to keep you healthy for years on end! Listen in as I tell what happened to me when I stopped eating cultured foods for a month and a half. I did an experiment on myself and the results were shocking […]

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Pomegranate Kefir Soda

By Donna Schwenk / January 6, 2018
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Autism and Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / November 25, 2017

Her name was Mary and she changed my life the day I met her. It was the very beginning of my journey with cultured foods, and I was in hiding with my newfound knowledge. People didn’t understand what I was doing, and the thought of letting food ferment on your counter […]

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Episode 10: Cancer and the Power of Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / November 13, 2017

There are powerful reasons to eat cultured foods if you have cancer. In fact, new research says it can make all the difference, especially if you’re going through chemo. I’ll explore the research and will have a special guest to talk more about the benefits of eating cultured foods while battling cancer. […]

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Mr. Picky and Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / September 30, 2017

Do you have picky eaters at your house? Do your friends and family scoff at eating cultured foods? Well, let me tell you about Mister Picky Eater, my husband. When I married him (30 years ago) he ate nothing green. […]

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Episode 3: Do Microbes Control Your Food Cravings?

By Donna Schwenk / September 18, 2017

Do you crave junk food and can’t stop eating it? You can manipulate your gut microbes and start craving foods that love you back. […]

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My New Book “Cultured Food in a Jar”!

By Donna Schwenk / August 22, 2017

Cookbooks — I have a lot of them, 229 to be exact, and as you can see from the picture of the bookcase in my living room, I have quite a collection. My daughter Maci said to me, “I have a lot of cookbooks too, but you know which one I use the most?” […]

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Wendy Bartsch

By Chris Johnston / August 15, 2017

About a year after menopause I started getting recurrent UTIs. I was on an antibiotic roller coaster. The final straw was going from one antibiotic right to another. A whole…

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Cultured Food in a Jar

By Chris Johnston / August 7, 2017

YOU WILL love Cultured Food in a Jar Order now! Hi friends! I am so excited to present my new book to you all — Cultured Food in a Jar…

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Kefir is Your Ally Against Toenail Fungus

By Donna Schwenk / July 15, 2017

So, do you want to know why you have certain persistent problems with things like ringworm, toenail fungus, and athlete’s foot? All of these are caused by a fungus that can spread and grow like crazy and last for years and years. […]

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You’ll Never Think of Fruit Salad the Same Way Again 🍓🍎

By Donna Schwenk / July 1, 2017

It was a warm summer day and I needed a salad, and a fruit salad was just the ticket. When I said I needed a salad this is not just because I think that it’s good for me, but rather because I needed certain nutrients that only these special foods could provide. […]

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Stainless Steel Strainer

By Donna Schwenk / June 27, 2017

Description This 3″ fine single mesh strainer is perfect for straining kefir and kombucha!! The 3″ round size of this strainer makes it perfect for smaller cooking or baking tasks,…

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The Real Reason Men Need Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / June 14, 2017

My husband was the last one in my family to try cultured foods. I experimented on my children first. My kids were sick and I wanted them to be well, so we all ate cultured food; and much to my surprise, everybody got better. […]

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Lemonade Kefir Soda

By Donna Schwenk / May 27, 2017
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9 Ways to Use Extra Kefir Whey!

By Donna Schwenk / May 27, 2017

If you’re making kefir, and especially kefir cheese, you’re going to wind up with a lot of whey. Whey has been called liquid gold, and it has been used throughout history to help with many diseases. In fact, Hippocrates and Galen, two founding fathers of medicine, frequently recommended whey to their patients to heal them. […]

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What Are Cultured Foods? Restorative Foods for the Body

By Donna Schwenk / April 8, 2017

Cultured Foods and LACTO-Fermented Foods are the same thing. The “lacto” in “lacto-fermentation” comes from the bacteria “lactobacillus.” Many strains of lacto-bacteria and yeasts are involved in culturing or fermenting foods. […]

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Nicole Neville

By Chris Johnston / April 8, 2017

Debilitating tiredness – getting much much better! Severe asthma symptoms – gone! Cravings for carbs and sweets – gone! I’ve been drinking kefir and kombucha on a daily basis for…

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Six Easy Ways To Store Your Cultured Foods

By Donna Schwenk / March 25, 2017

Having lots of fermented foods in your fridge is the same as having a medicine cabinet stocked with natural remedies. We reach for these foods not only to keep us healthy and disease free but also when we find ourselves struggling with a virus, stomach ache, or any other kind of ailment that requires extra body support. […]

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Should I use a lid or cloth when making water kefir?

By Donna Schwenk / March 1, 2017

A Should I use a lid or cloth when making water kefir? Just like kombucha, you should never use a lid when making water kefir. Always use a cloth and…

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Apple Ginger Kefir Soda

By Maci / February 17, 2017
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Can I Eat Probiotic Foods While Taking Antibiotics?

By Donna Schwenk / February 11, 2017

I routinely talk about each member of The Trilogy (Kefir, Kombucha, and Cultured Vegetables) and how each member has specific things your body needs to help you change your life. But here is even more good news about this trio. […]

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Can I cut up my SCOBY?

By Chris Johnston / February 10, 2017

A Can I cut up my SCOBY? Yes, absolutely. You need only part of the SCOBY to ferment the tea. You can even make a pot of kombucha without the…

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My tea has a terrible odor. Is it safe to drink?

By Chris Johnston / February 10, 2017

A My tea has a terrible odor. Is it safe to drink? Your kombucha should have a neutral odor at first, and then gradually take on a more vinegary smell.…

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