Search Results: kefir
I love, love pumpkin. It has many wonderfully healthy qualities and a creamy consistency that makes it a wonderful treat. I use pumpkin in multiple ways, but some of my favorites recipes are ones I make with kefir. Fermenting pumpkin is a way to enhance all the nutrients and add probiotics, too. Check out all the recipes and health facts about why you should be adding more pumpkin to your diet. […]
Read MoreAt 12 years old I was diagnosed with a goiter. I experienced many issues due to my thyroid. Finally, at 28 I broke out in hives from head to toe…
Read MoreI 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…
Read MoreIn 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…
Read MoreOne of the first friends I ever told about cultured foods had a little boy with asthma. Making and drinking a kefir smoothie every day allowed him to get off his asthma inhaler and live a normal life. I was quite surprised and thrilled that it worked so rapidly and since that time research has caught up with the connection between the microbes in our gut and asthma. Tune in to listen and learn more! […]
Read MoreFibromyalgia 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. […]
Read MoreI remember the day I learned that the human gut held as much as six pounds of bacteria. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t known this and wanted to know more about my trillions of microbes. Could I help them grow and thrive, and in the process live a healthier, longer life? […]
Read MoreHaving plenty of digestive enzymes is one of the keys to optimal health. Learn how to give your body what you need to absorb and break down your food into micro- and macro-nutrients that can then be absorbed and used by your body. Listen to today’s podcast to learn how. […]
Read MoreIt’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. […]
Read MoreWe 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. […]
Read MoreIn 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. I honestly thought I had killed my uvula. You know that little thing that hangs down the back of your throat. […]
Read MoreYou don’t need to add tons of cultured foods to your diet to see benefits, and I am going to show you how easy it is. It might surprise you that small amounts can make a big difference. […]
Read MoreLow-carb and Keto diets are very popular right now. I think we’re all different, and what works for one doesn’t always work for another. This is why I love cultured foods. They fit into any diet, but you need to know a couple of things to do it right. Check out the podcast to learn how. […]
Read MoreWhen 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. […]
Read MoreMy husband is used to my crazy new ideas and has become accustomed to my enthusiasm for whatever happens to be my latest discovery. He goes along for the ride but never jumps in with both feet until coaxed. Kombucha was the first food he really grasped on to, and here is why. […]
Read MoreYour 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. […]
Read MoreGinger is powerful medicine! I have been consuming ginger every day and found it to be very effective in helping with any kind of inflammation – especially hay fever in the springtime. Ginger is anti-viral and anti-inflammatory as well as being a powerful antiseptic and antihistamine.
Read MoreSpend 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. . .
Read MoreSauerkraut 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! […]
Read MoreI have only been using kefir for about 3 months, but it has caused a miracle in my life! At the age of five, I had a bout of head-to-toe…
Read MoreMany people wonder if probiotic pills provide the same benefit as probiotic foods since they seem to be marketed in the same way—healthy bacteria for our guts. Probiotic foods work significantly better because of their construction. Tune in to listen and learn more. […]
Read MoreYour 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. . .
Read MoreIn 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. . .
Read MoreAre 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. . .
Read MoreYou 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. . .
Read MoreOur 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…
Read MoreHi Donna, This is a story I never really thought I’d share outside of my family and friends. But I’ve decided to change that because it’s something that needs to…
Read MoreBefore I found cultured foods I was a different woman physically and emotionally. New research shows that you make chemicals in your gut that affect your emotional state. Check out the podcast for more info. . .
Read MoreStress 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. . .
Read MoreOne 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. . .
Read MoreSo 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 […]
Read MoreResearch is now finding that children with autism have altered gut flora that needs restoring. Listen to the research and miraculous stories of how cultured food are helping those with autism. These are some of my favorite stories of healings. . .
Read MoreEverybody 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. . .
Read MoreI 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. . .
Read MoreWhen 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. . .
Read MoreAbout ten years ago I went to a class on “How to Make Sourdough Bread.” My daughter had gluten intolerance and we found that she could eat sprouted bread without the side effects created by regular bread. I had heard that sourdough bread achieved similar results to the sprouted bread, and I wanted to try it. What I learned shocked me. . .
Read MoreI 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. . .
Read MoreHello, 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…
Read MoreOne 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. . .
Read MoreI have been ill for 30 years. Terrible fatigue, brain fog, food allergies, chemical sensitivities. I had been to many, many practitioners, mostly natural. The only thing that helped was…
Read MoreIf 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. . .
Read MoreAll of us find ourselves in situations where we’re under tremendous stress which can cause anxiety. Here are the ten things that have helped me calm my mind and body in miraculous ways. It may not be what you think. . .
Read MoreDo you overeat on Thanksgiving and Christmas? Overeating is as stressful to the liver as drinking too much alcohol. But there are ways to help your liver and your body, and also get more nutrients from your food. I’ll share what I do and the foods we eat and drink. Let this be the year that Thanksgiving makes you healthy. . .
Read MoreIn 2017, we moved across the country from Kansas City to Southern California to be closer to our two older children. Our family – Ron, me and our three kids and our son-in-law – are thick as thieves. I’ve always lived far away from my mom and dad and sisters who mostly reside on the east coast. […]
Read MoreIt’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. . .
Read MoreDonna, 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…
Read MoreSometimes 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. . .
Read MoreDonna 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…
Read MoreUse Your Body and Brain to Feel Younger and Stronger. Cultured foods are my secret weapon to staying young. Let me show you how easy it is to retrain your body, using your second brain – that resides in your gut. . .
Read MoreDear Donna, My story starts about ten years ago while battling Lyme’s Disease. I was in the throes of raising our 7 children and needed to remain active, yet that…
Read MoreFall 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. . .
Read MorePets need our help, and I have seen and heard countless stories of pets healing with the addition of kefir to their diet. We’ve seen dogs, cats, birds, horses, cows, hedgehogs, hamsters, and so many other animals heal from UTI’s, gastro issues, cancer, and so much more when they were given kefir. Check out the show and help our furry friends. You might just need this info at some time and you’ll be glad you listened. . .
Read MoreHi 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…
Read MoreWhen 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. . .
Read MoreThere is so much misinformation about cholesterol. So many don’t understand how cholesterol works in the body, and how good bacteria helps keep your cholesterol in perfect balance. Gain wisdom and understanding about cholesterol and learn how you can keep it in control. . .
Read MoreCertain 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. . .
Read MoreThis salad is one of my very favorite cultured meals. It’s perfect for summertime and a wonderful way to change your microbiome from the inside out. I try to eat fruits and veggies at every meal. It is one of the best ways to stay balanced and it’s fantastic for lowering inflammation, balancing your hormones, and keeping those little microbes in your gut fed and happy. . .
Read MoreMost people don’t understand the hundreds of processes in the body that happen 24 hours a day. What things can you do to be healthy? What do probiotic foods actually do? Check out today’s show to learn new information to achieve your best life ever. . .
Read MoreFind out how important it is to feed your microbes. If your trillions of microbes don’t get what they need, they can start to eat the mucosal lining of the gut, leading to leaky gut, IBS, and more. Find out how to keep them happy and fed. […]
Read MoreHi 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…
Read MoreDear 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…
Read MoreI’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…
Read MoreUse this cheesecloth for making cottage cheese, straining yogurts, wrapping hard cheeses, or even creating herb and spice bouquets for your signature stocks. Cheesecloth is used for draining large curd…
Read MoreIf 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! […]
Read MoreI’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 […]
Read MoreFind 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 […]
Read MoreCultured vegetables are so easy to make with just a few exceptions. First of all, this is one of the safest ways to preserve your vegetables. It is scientifically impossible to get botulism from cultured vegetables. […]
Read MoreOpen minded health providers are starting to prescribe probiotics for different health ailments. Learn which probiotics they’re prescribing and how you can heal yourself by eating probiotic cultured foods. […]
Read MoreI hope 2017 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 fifteen years and they never cease to amaze and teach me. […]
Read MoreI have used Kefir for over 15 years, and I absolutely swear by it. Prior to using it habitually I had severe allergy attacks, a constant struggle with heartburn (…
Read MoreHer 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 […]
Read MoreHormones can rule the day! Help your hormones out when things get out of whack by keeping your gut in check. Learn how to keep things in balance with the help of your microbes. […]
Read MoreDo 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. […]
Read MoreCookbooks — 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?” […]
Read MoreAbout 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…
Read MoreYOU 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…
Read MoreHi there, Donna! I bought milk kefir grains from you back in early 2014, after watching your moving testimonial video. My son, Hudson was 4 years old at the time…
Read MoreIt 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. […]
Read MoreDescription 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,…
Read MoreMy 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. […]
Read MoreCultured 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. […]
Read MoreDebilitating 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…
Read MoreHaving 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. […]
Read MoreI 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. […]
Read MoreBack in December of 2016 I have the car but my hands to come pick me up once they got there I’m a heart rate was completely out of control…
Read MoreSoup can not only comfort your mind and your gut, but soup also has secret healing modalities that perhaps you’re not aware of. I think combining soups with cultured foods can help cure what ails you in a myriad of ways, but soup can stand on its own as a powerful kitchen medicine. […]
Read MoreTwo years ago my son and I developed eczema shortly after he was born. I knew that it was somehow connected to the IV antibiotics I received while I was…
Read MoreI love to eat and make yogurt. I love kefir with every fiber of my being and have it every day, but there were bacterial strains that kefir didn’t have…
Read MoreAs we close out 2016, 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. This is our top content of the year that you may have missed. Below you’ll find some of our most popular blogs of the year. […]
Read MoreHello to all that are healing: I am 56 years old and have struggled all my life with weight issues, digestive issues, and hypoglycemia. I am a Naturopathic Healer, attended…
Read MoreI was taking my daughter to acting class this week, and I got a text from one of my team members. He told me to get a box of kleenex and to read the email. I stopped the car to read the email, and with tears streaming down my cheeks I was reminded once again how thankful I am for all the struggles that have brought me here. […]
Read MoreOur story of healing is quite a miracle to us! I play the role of supermom (without the cape) to five sons, the youngest of which became extremely ill for…
Read MoreA 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. I resisted it, fought it, and finally changed when I could do nothing else. […]
Read MoreNot sure how to start one of these, but here goes. Several years ago, about 6 or 7 years, I began to get really sick. Just all of a sudden…
Read MoreIt was a classic miscommunication. I was running out of the house to an evening meeting at the end of an activity-packed day. The night before we had shared a…
Read MoreApple cider vinegar has many health benefits. Kombucha vinegar is very similar and has many of the same properties. This recipe uses the convenience of kombucha to speed up the process of making vinegar and uses apple scraps to give it that tangy apple taste. […]
Read MoreProudly Made in the USA: Our half gallon glass jars are USDA certified food grade. Our glass jars are perfect for displaying food in cafes, bakeries, restaurants, or in your…
Read MoreThe “ginger bug” has grown in popularity over the years and is a fantastic way to make soda for your family. You don’t need a starter culture or even kefir whey. A ginger bug is a mixture of sugar, ginger, and water that captures wild yeasts and beneficial bacteria. […]
Read MoreWe offer free shipping to all 50 states for products in this category that total over $99. US territories do not qualify for free shipping. (sorry!) We will determine the…
Read MoreSo, let’s talk about starter cultures! I would like to clear up some confusion involving starter cultures and ratios. In my first book, Cultured Food For Life, the recipe for kefir called for 1 cup of milk to 1 tablespoon of kefir grains. […]
Read MoreA Do you ship outside of the U.S.A? No, we don’t ship outside of the United States. Sorry! When dealing with live cultures, there are just too many factors that…
Read MoreI started making my own kefir once I learned about your blog and I learned how to make kefir first I started making kombucha and now I’m a keeper and…
Read MoreEverybody knows we should eat more salads, but if you make probiotic salads you quadruple the benefits. The most powerful food combo you can have is prebiotics (food for bacteria)…
Read MoreIf you add a starter culture to your cultured vegetables, like Cutting Edge Cultures or another starter culture, then you’re going to have extra bacteria in your culture that are stronger than just using salt and no culture. […]
Read MoreThis little guy in the picture is my puppy Scoby (pronounced like kombucha SCOBY) enjoying his kefir. Kefir is incredibly good for dogs and we hear many stories of how it helps them in so many ways. Did you know that your pets need probiotics, too? […]
Read MoreA I’m going on vacation. How do I keep my grains alive and happy while I’m gone? If you don’t want to make new kefir and want to store it,…
Read MoreSkin Care Hi everyone! My name is Maci Dierking, formerly Maci Schwenk. I am Donna’s eldest daughter and I love cultured food too! I wanted to share with you some…
Read MoreDonna, I cannot THANK YOU enough! I am so amazed. I ALWAYS knew the answer was in the food but could not figure out which ones. I was on anti-depressants…
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