Podcast Episode 14: 5 Foods That Can Change Your Life

These five foods are a must for me. It's how I stay healthy. Check out the five foods that I keep in my diet and the ones that have made the biggest changes in my life. Find out how you can add them to your diet too.
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MY STARTER CULTURES
» Milk Kefir Grains: bit.ly/2rQ99PE
» Easy Kefir: bit.ly/2MQ1nPV
» Kombucha Starter: bit.ly/2g2R9hE
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Warmly,
❤Donna❤

[@ShakiraYah]

I've been eating Kimchi everyday for the past 3days and I'm in love 😍😍😍 I made a huge batch!!

[@katie3235]

I'm just learning how to ferment vegetables. I have been making kefir (and kombucha) for nearly 20 years and love it so much, but I didn't know all the things one can do with it, like the kefir cheese. I have all your books and 2018 is the year I will really get into fermenting. We grow a big garden so I plan to ferment a lot of it as well as can and dehydrate for the winter like I usually do, now that my husband's job is here and we are not traveling. Now, I want to tell you a story. About two years ago I grew Jalapeno peppers. I was beginning then to ferment, but because of my husband's job, which took us to California for a while, I got away from it. I did not know what I was doing back then and left them to ferment in a German crock I bought for saurkraut for 2 months. Of course, they were way too hot and uneatable. They got pushed to the back of the refrigerator and forgotten. Thinking they were ruined I was going to throw them out when we were finally home for good, but when I opened the jar, the smell, texture, and red color were really good, very bright and Christmasy. They would have been perfect if I would have had green in there with them! Before I could stop myself, I did something that is not smart. I tasted them, and low and behold they were delicious. I didn't get sick that evening or the next day. Since then we have used them for everything. The peppers mellowed out and are perfectly preserved. I had them in a half gallon Mason jar. I will definitely make them again this year, but not in a German crock and will definitely not ferment them for two months, nor will anything last in this house for a year, let alone two. I'm thinking of mixing red, green, and purple Jalapenos to make them really beautiful. For my family and friends that enjoy spicy food, they will be getting a jar of Christmas Jalapenos along with my homemade vanilla extract that I also make.

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Love this story Katie!!

[@wmluna381]

Love stories like this because I get distracted and forget a lot if things get just mildly chaotic (dx'd ADHD).

[@arizonaames3182]

HAPPY NEW YEAR DONNA! I was introduced to you about 6 months ago when a woman working at our post office let me adopt some of her little Kefir Grains. Yes, adopt.... because they are like our new family members. If I take good care of them, they will take good care of us! But she also told me about your website, thank goodness. I have been drinking store bought Kombucha for years but now I make my own. Your newest book, a gallon jar, the heat belt, the beautiful Italian bottles and a SCOBY were my Christmas present this year from my husband! The best presents I EVER received. Following your directions, I now make the best Kombucha I have ever had and what money I am saving! We have Kefir Cheese every day, I make my husband Almond Milk Kefir and our German Shepherds also get the Kefir! I have made sauerkraut for years but now I can play with some of your recipes. I made the Cranberry Orange Kraut today and am very anxious to try! Thank you so much for my Very Happy Fermented Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

[@ShakiraYah]

Bless ur channel and endeavors btw I absolutely love cultured foods I'm addicted! Thanks for sharing 😘😘😘

[@ShellyCap9]

Been listening to a lot of these. Kefir has helped me so much like finally I think my gut is getting healthy. I am starting my first ever homemade batch and so excited. My husband has MS and I am going to start him on Kefir too; but he was drinking lots of diet sodas, after kicking the habit for 2 years, and it ended up causing him to have a flare.

[@atzimier6896]

Thank you for sharing your experiences 🙏❤️

[@dugchris2009]

Thanks so much. Enjoying my Almond milk kefir that I am making. Putting different fruits and berries in it. Happy New Year

[@paperwoman0968]

Could you tell me where i could find the article that you wrote . I would love to read it.

[@jancotton2315]

I don’t know if I could eat a cup of Cultured Vegetables yet. I’m working on getting rid of SIBO.

[@graceg1971]

Hi Donna I love these talks however I would really love it if you were actually sitting in a nice comfy chair sipping a tea and talking to us face to face.

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Hi Grace, It's much more difficult and time consuming to film vs record. These podcasts are meant for listening , but do i hope to do some more live videos in the future.

[@marciajohnson1825]

Hi Donna I came across your channel earlier this year which got me interested. After doing further research, in the last few months I've started to make milk kefir, water kefir and kombucha at home. So thank you for planting the seed. I love them all and have even purchased a genuine Jun scoby to start making that too. It's recently come to my attention that these fermented drinks are acidic which isn't good for the human body because it encourages mucous = very bad (as opposed to helping the body become more alkaline which equals a disease free body = very good) so shouldn't be taken regularly and should only be taken during the winter months and not during the spring and sunnertime because they were originally for preserving during the winter months. Is this true??? I'm trying to live a healthier lifestyle and am trying to encourage my family and friends to do the same. But this bit of information is very disturbing. Grateful to hear your thoughts on this subject. Thanks in advance

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Hi Marcie! Sorry for the late reply. Well not all fermented foods are the same. Cheese, wine, beer and canned foods are all fermented but are not LACTO fermented or cultured. Meaning they are made using high heat/sugars/vinegars to preserve them. Unlike lacto fermented/cultured foods which are made using a culture or salt and water. lacto fermented foods are full of good bacteria and are alkalizing to the body. Even though they may seem otherwise (much like lemons). I cant go long without these foods, they train you to eat them. I feel so much better and more alive and after 17+ years i can tell the difference :)

[@paperwoman0968]

Do you sell the kefir grains by itself?

[@CulturedFoodLife]

We do! www.culturedfoodlife.com/store/product/donnas-kefir-grains/

[@marthalucia6941]

Is it okay to freeze raw milk? Will it destroy the beneficial bacteria?

[@CulturedFoodLife]

Hi! I believe you can! I think you'll some of the beneficial bacteria but not all of it , unless you freeze it for a very long time. The longer you freeze it the less probiotics it will have. But a few weeks to a month should be fine.

[@mauracruz6649]

😇😇😇😇🤗🤗👍👍👍👌👌