Podcast Episode 12: Have A Love Affair with Almond Kefir

Almond Kefir is special. It has wonderful properties that have huge health benefits. Let me tell you how to make the best almond kefir and explore all the benefits it affords. You'll get addicted to it and won't want to stop making it. I'm crazy for almond kefir.
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Warmly,
❤Donna❤

[@Nicolee7764]

Wonderful info provided. Thank you so much.

[@mari_marmm5787]

Can't wait to try this tips for a new option for non-Dairy kefir, thank you Donna, never miss any of your uploads! 💚💚💚

[@CulturedFoodLife]

I have a ton of non dairy kefir options you can find here: www.culturedfoodlife.com/dairy-free-kefir-every-kind-you-can-imagine/

[@ShakiraYah]

I just orfered some grains im super excited. Im a fluent Kombucha brewer as well as saurkraut maker this this falls right in !!! Thanks for the vid 😘😘😘😘

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Woohoo! There is gonna be a probiotic party at your house!

[@gooberfries6692]

Thank you for sooo much great information I knew nothing of. Can't wait to order from your store and make my own. I absolutely must have your recipe book.❤❤❤❤❤

[@advex4428]

I love that idea of making it in continuous 2nd ferment. Its because I also see my cultures almost like pets, and when people tell me you can use milk kefir grains twice in vegan milk, before they die, I don't wanna do it. I always think if Rocky Balboa punches me in the face and the third punch would be lethal, I don't want to be punched twice and then sent to recovery. So that second fermentation is in general the way to go for fermenting vegan milk. None of the end product will be 100% vegan either way.

[@annerieder4183]

I looooove almonds !!!

[@cainsholisticapothecary4083]

Hi Donna I love your podcast. I have a question. I’m allergic to cows milk and would be making an almond kefir, can I use the kefir grains or are they made with cows milk?

[@mama_j5041]

can I add regular plain whey protein to unsweetened almond milk to make thick almond kefir?

[@dugchris2009]

Thanks so much, was wondering about almond milk. I can't drink cow's milk, so this will be great!

[@CulturedFoodLife]

You can also try these other options: www.culturedfoodlife.com/dairy-free-kefir-every-kind-you-can-imagine/

[@chsgls]

Wonder how long to notice a difference in cholesterol when starting kefir daily. Love your information. Thank you.

[@CulturedFoodLife]

It's different for everyone as other factors affect cholesterol as well. But i've seen it do wonders!

[@pamsvqh]

Oops yes you have just explained you can on your blog. Thanks 😊

[@adorableadornments1101]

I agree with the fact that veggies feed our microbiome. Many people who adopt the ketogenic diet do not eat veggies because of the carbs, and apparently there is no evidence that we need carbs to survive, but if they are a source of fiber, then maybe that supposition is wrong. I love veggies, but I don't love my diabetes. Got that reversed on Keto, but now want to feed my good bacteria. Thank you for your programs.

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Hi! I am for whole real foods! Veggies are essential to health even in regular unfermented form. So much good fiber, nutrients and vitamins!

[@karenkelly6692]

Unfortunately we can get silk in NZ. Can we add something to almond milk to feed the kefir?

[@materesahilis6099]

hello donna im new to making kefir. i bought kefir fresh kefir online and im surprise to see the very small amount of grains inside the pouch which in fairness well pack, i do believe that is hygienic , but is it enough to start 1 tsp or less hahaha ? i feed it with 120g of milk for 3 days now straing replacing rhe milk with fresh pour it is thickening it is making it sour and i want to know if im doing it right how many days more before i see multiplication of the grains. thanks donna

[@gloriahallen4740]

where do I get easy kiefer culturing product?

[@TheBzybees]

What about half cow’s milk & half almond milk. Think it would thicken. Might try this.

[@paullemay3218]

I struggle with culturing almond kefir. I use the kefir starter powder culture and still have little luck. Hopefully this podcast will help🇨🇦

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Hi Paul! i'm so sorry i'm just seeing this. Almond kefir is very different from milk kefir but just as easy. You should add 1/2-1 tsp of sugar or a date paste to each batch though to give the kefir grains or kefir culture some food to consume to make the probiotics, since there is no lactose. Also keep in mind that all nut milks will separate this is normal because of the water content in the nut milk and not to be worried about. Also the nut milks wont get thicker like dairy kefir but will still be tart in flavor.

[@annaacland496]

Maybe you should mention that there is gluten in the Almond and cashew milk from Silk that you recommend. Also carrageenan is not healthy so better make almond, and cashew milk, adding pea proteins and Sea Moss for the texture maybe? Thanks for letting me know about the suggestion.

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Hi Anna, I've tried making the protein milk from home and it doesn't work very well (so far). I'll keep experimenting!

[@pamsvqh]

Can I use my Kefir grain that I already have?

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Yes you can!

[@misssquizza5616]

Do probiotics also feed the bad bacteria? If theres an unbalanced gut, would you need to fix that before you add prebiotices with the kiefer??? Ive been told to do the lowfod map diet... This is low in fermentable fibres (prebiotics). But it doesnt make sence to me... I just dont want to feed the dysbiosic or bad guys.

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Hi probiotics can only feed the good bacteria and yeasts which will increase the numbers which help to balance the bad gut bacteria. Having high numbers of good bacteria are the only way to crowd out the bad and bring them into balance. The best way to do that is to feed the good bacteria. As far as prebiotics I only encourage them if you are consuming prebiotics to promote the good bacteria so that is the main source getting fed. But start out with just probiotic foods for now and then add in the prebiotics as you detox/heal. :) I will be posting more information about the prebiotics soon!

[@misssquizza5616]

Donna Schwenk thanks... I got ur book and im loving learning from you. You make it simple and not scary!!!

[@cathleensmith4717]

Almond and Pistachio skin hard to digest

[@KathleenWHempaliciousWishes]

Have you researched the ingredients on Silk? Some are not that wonderful

[@CulturedFoodLife]

You can make your own almond milk at home as well. But kefir is such a wonderful helper either way

[@binathere2574]

Pea Protein upsets many people.

[@majamoo1894]

Donna please clarify. I'd truly like to believe your preaching about the benifits of cultured food. Is this lifestyle really suitable for people with histamine intolerance? !

[@CulturedFoodLife]

People who have a histamine reaction are usually missing the enzyme DAO. You can supplement with this enzyme and most people have the symptoms go away. This is usually a sign that the gut is out of whack and needs healing and you need the enzyme which is easy to find. Here is an article that explains more about this. www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11175/everything-you-need-to-know-about-histamine-intolerance.html Don't be discouraged it's just a warning sign that you need a little more time and attention to finding the culprit and then the symptoms go away. Coconut water kefir is one fermented food that seems to help those with this problem and doesn't cause symptoms and can help you heal the gut. www.culturedfoodlife.com/a-love-affair-with-coconut-water-kefir/

[@majamoo1894]

Dear Donna, thanks so much for taking the time to reply! I’ve been on a gut healing mission since I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease about a year ago. Because I’ve read up on a lot of natural cures, I knew healing my gut was a good start.. I considered myself a healthy eater but after the diagnosis I cut down on a lot of foods I used to eat such as fruit,nuts, seeds and grains, and foods from the night shade family. That seemed to have helped reduce a lot of my symptoms. I was so eager and your vids and podcasts have motivated me to make Kombucha, ferment veggies and make coconut yoghurt, bone broth etc. But I stopped all of this because blood results showed that I had a lot of food sensitivities, allergies, fructose malabsorption, leaky gut etc. The more I read the more I hesitated to ferment because all the articles I read stated to stay away from histamine rich foods. There are so many theories out there which makes it so confusing... Now having read your comment I’m going to continue to ferment and just try to listen to my bodies response. I made Almondmilk yogurt and that just made my throat and nose extremely itchy... Thanks again for your support and creating a community to share our paths to a healthier life.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

When I eat almonds I become CONSTPATED

[@CulturedFoodLife]

You can make kefir out of any kind of nut milk or dairy milk. But almond milk is made from water and almonds with the meat strained out so it's a completely different thing than eating almonds straight. Also kefir helps with constipation :)