Water kefir. Honey mead. Coconut water kefir. Warning - this is not a comprehensive blog or post on kefir and kombucha - if you want that, see the book links at the bottom.
I have also included links to popular easy to read articles - this is not complicated, and it is becoming more common knowledge.
So here's the shortest most simple intro to kefir and kombucha ever. More importantly, I hope to explain in a simple way, why the probiotics in homemade kefir, kombucha and fermented foods are so good for all of us and our trillions of friends in our guts!
Your gut
Everyone has loads of bacteria/microbes in their gut. Trillions of them, perhaps more. In fact, we have more bacteria than human cells - how funky is that?! Scientists are studying them more and more because they believe they control a lot more than just digestion - they could possibly be the root of many chronic diseases and ailments.
is imbalanced
Many people, have an imbalance of these bacteria. Why? Because our diet has changed over the years and we no longer eat and drink things that the good bacteria like - things like fermented foods. But we do eat lots of things that the bad bacteria thrive on - things like refined flours and sugars and processed foods. Other reasons include increased use of chemical anti-bacterials, and increased antibiotic use for both people and animals.
which means
What does an imbalance do - well for some people it can make them more susceptible to illnesses, for others it could make them uncomfortable or bloated after meals, for quite a few people it leads to 'leaky gut', IBS or other digestion issues. It could potentially also contribute to chronic ailments, mood and more.
probiotics could help you
Solutions include changing one's diet and taking probiotics. Probiotics are good things, they help populate your gut with the good bacterias - and therefore help them multiply and correct the imbalance.
but they are expensive
Well, probiotics are expensive (about 30-60 USD per month), and they are made in factories only out of limited numbers of strains (3-7 or so), and they lose potency from production to ingestion.
so try making kefir and other yummy ferments
There are 35 strains of probiotics in kefir, they in the right ratios and live harmoniously together, and they are alive ready to go and actually take up residence in your body and start working for you!**
easily at home.
So, by making fermented foods and drinks at home. Then you can easily get probiotics, with more strains, fresher, cheaper, tastier and most importantly more effective.
*phew*
Kefir and Kombucha are two easy to make homegrown probiotic drinks. I will post more on them in future posts so stay tuned...
**Special thanks to Louise Kane Buckley who wrote this great kefir FAQ http://loulanatural.com/kefir-faq/ and for reviewing this post.
Related Links
Books
Culture Your Life
Wild Fermentation
The Art of Fermentation
Websites and Articles
5 Ways to Heal your Digestive System
Kefir FAQ
What is Dysbiosis?
Live Science - 5 Ways Gut Bacteria Affect Your Health
The Economist - Gut Instinct
NYT - Some of My Best Friends are Germs
HuffPost - What Your Gut Bacteria Says About You
Daily Mail - The Unlikely New Medicine... Pickled Cabbage
Videos
NPR - Gut Bacteria Cartoon
I have also included links to popular easy to read articles - this is not complicated, and it is becoming more common knowledge.
So here's the shortest most simple intro to kefir and kombucha ever. More importantly, I hope to explain in a simple way, why the probiotics in homemade kefir, kombucha and fermented foods are so good for all of us and our trillions of friends in our guts!
Your gut
Everyone has loads of bacteria/microbes in their gut. Trillions of them, perhaps more. In fact, we have more bacteria than human cells - how funky is that?! Scientists are studying them more and more because they believe they control a lot more than just digestion - they could possibly be the root of many chronic diseases and ailments.
is imbalanced
Many people, have an imbalance of these bacteria. Why? Because our diet has changed over the years and we no longer eat and drink things that the good bacteria like - things like fermented foods. But we do eat lots of things that the bad bacteria thrive on - things like refined flours and sugars and processed foods. Other reasons include increased use of chemical anti-bacterials, and increased antibiotic use for both people and animals.
which means
What does an imbalance do - well for some people it can make them more susceptible to illnesses, for others it could make them uncomfortable or bloated after meals, for quite a few people it leads to 'leaky gut', IBS or other digestion issues. It could potentially also contribute to chronic ailments, mood and more.
probiotics could help you
Solutions include changing one's diet and taking probiotics. Probiotics are good things, they help populate your gut with the good bacterias - and therefore help them multiply and correct the imbalance.
but they are expensive
Well, probiotics are expensive (about 30-60 USD per month), and they are made in factories only out of limited numbers of strains (3-7 or so), and they lose potency from production to ingestion.
so try making kefir and other yummy ferments
There are 35 strains of probiotics in kefir, they in the right ratios and live harmoniously together, and they are alive ready to go and actually take up residence in your body and start working for you!**
easily at home.
So, by making fermented foods and drinks at home. Then you can easily get probiotics, with more strains, fresher, cheaper, tastier and most importantly more effective.
*phew*
Kefir and Kombucha are two easy to make homegrown probiotic drinks. I will post more on them in future posts so stay tuned...
**Special thanks to Louise Kane Buckley who wrote this great kefir FAQ http://loulanatural.com/kefir-faq/ and for reviewing this post.
Related Links
Books
Culture Your Life
Wild Fermentation
The Art of Fermentation
Websites and Articles
5 Ways to Heal your Digestive System
Kefir FAQ
What is Dysbiosis?
Live Science - 5 Ways Gut Bacteria Affect Your Health
The Economist - Gut Instinct
NYT - Some of My Best Friends are Germs
HuffPost - What Your Gut Bacteria Says About You
Daily Mail - The Unlikely New Medicine... Pickled Cabbage
Videos
NPR - Gut Bacteria Cartoon
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