#31 Make Your Own Probiotic Soda & Braggs Apple Cider Natural Cleanser!!!!

Click here for my Kombucha recipe:  http://ohtasteandsee2.blogspot.com/2013/10/2-kombucha-tea-review-from-wholefoods.html

Just recently I attended a class taught by a home school mom, Kim Lebbing with Healthy Tummies (www.healthytummiesonline.com) and she shared all about Probiotics.  Kim had cooking classes at Whole Foods Market and decided to bring those classes to her home in Missouri.  After reading my blog, she contacted me and asked if I would be interested in one of her classes.

 

I knew nothing about Probiotics but wanted to learn.   She invited me to attend the class for free and unfortunately I was unable to hear the entire class but what I did hear was really interesting --  a drink called Kombucha.




The Fermenting Process

When Kim passed around a sample of the drink to try -- I was skeptical and at the same time impressed with the taste.  She said that it could replace soda in your home and would be good for your digestive system (good for the tummy).  She brought it out from her pantry -- a large jar wrapped with a kitchen towel tied together with a rubber band.  Inside were "scobies."  What's exactly is Kombucha you ask and where can you get it?  You can learn about it at this link http://whatiskombucha.com/ and purchase your own scobies from this link : http://www.kefirlady.com/kombuchacultures.htm. 

They look like rubber pancakes and are called a mushroom (although they are not).  It sits in this mixture of liquid and ferments for about a week or so and in the end it produces another pancake shape called a "scoby."  After the fermenting process you can add 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup of organic juice (so far my favorite is grape juice).  Afterwards you bottle this up and place it in a room temperature area (I put it on my counter top) for 24 hr.  Afterwards refrigerate and drink.



After a week of fermenting -- I add my juice and after 24 hours it's ready to drink!
I added grape juice but when poured it looks red!

After Kim talked about the benefit of this probiotic that she and her family uses (read about her story here: http://www.healthytummiesonline.com/About_Me.html) and how it helped them -- she wanted to share it with others who may be having problems with their tummies.  Because of my past issues with constipation I was eager to have a healthy tummy -- I took home a scoby of my own.

I have always felt like the person who tries all the "different" stuff among my circle of friends and family -- and I would have to say that I fall into that category with this. But I'm glad I did.

I was also introduced by my good friend Linda to a Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar cleanse that she shared.  She uses it for a month -- here's her recipe.  She states that it's an amazing natural cleanser.

• 1 cup Braggs organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a gallon of water and try to drink the whole gallon in one 24 hour period.

I tried it for three days and could not get pass the apple cider vinegar taste.  I had no side effects after the three days of it (positive or negative) -- but I could not see doing it everyday for a month because of the taste.  But if you want a natural cleanser and you are perhaps familiar already with Braggs apple cider vinegar or even if your not and want to give it a try -- this just might be the natural cleanser for you. 

On the other hand, this Kombucha for me was pleasantly surprising.  It's not a natural cleanser but there are many benefits mentioned in the link above.  I could really get into the taste of it.  It reminded me of soda.  One thing that I can say about the Kombucha is that I got my energy back.  My natural ENERGY DRINK!!!  I would fall asleep at the drop of a hat.  Don't let me sit down to read with my boys or sit down for bible study with my family -- I would find myself falling asleep during the weirdest times of the day. 

Talk about embarrassing!

I'm perky and full of energy.  Love it!!!  So now I'm making my own NATURAL soda -- and I have so many scoby's and nothing to do with the extras.  I don't believe my friends or family would ever do this process themselves (but hey they may surprise me, drop me a comment if you would like a scoby).  I bought my one for $10 -- and I know Kim said they run for more (or you can skip the whole process and purchase it already made and bottled up at Whole Foods Market -- but keep in mind when you ferment your own you will grow another one -- I grew two in one batch once) -- but I would be willing to just give mine away to whomever is willing to give them a try for the first time.  (Keep in mind I'm only talking to those who live in MO and are willing to come pick them up from my house - lol).  Nevertheless, I've found a great way of helping my tummy and enjoying "soda" like taste in the process.  Not to mention my energy back -- YEAH!

Here are some testimony's regarding Kim's classes:

 Testimonials:

Went to your previous Wed. class and so glad I did.  Learned so much, and am incorporating what I've learned into my journey to health.  It made an immediate difference in my G.I. tract, and I continue to improve!  Thank you so much Kim.  I look forward to your other classes that are certain to come!
Ruth Harper R.N.

I was referred by my N.D. to the Healthy Tummies class at Whole Foods.  I am very passionate about health and wellness so this was right up my alley.  In the class, I was exposed to so many new things.  I just made my first kombucha and it wasn't that hard to make.  For me, some of the things were overwhelming at first, but just take baby steps and gradually change.  Also, Kim is a wonderful person and great resource.  She is quick to get back to you if you have a question.  I highly recommend this class to EVERYONE. Also, if you need more personalized attention, check out her group and one-on-one sessions. 

Jill

My kids love the lemonade and Kombucha drink.  We do not take anymore probiotics and my leaky gut is healing. Thanks for a great class.
Sandy

Until next time...


Please note:  The information on this blog are my results and for informational purposes only. It's not meant for medical advice or to make any health claims.  Please discuss with your own, qualified health care provider before making any changes in your diet.

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#30 My February Favorites!

 

What???  What???  February almost over!  Where did the time fly yawl??  Well you know what that means?  

 

 

I had to share two things that I enjoyed for the month of February.  First of all, bare with me because this is perhaps the longest blog post I've ever done -- but I felt these two things that I'm sharing is worth it.  Please stick around and READ and LISTEN to both.

My First Favorite thing for the month of February is a video that speaks for itself:

31 Status!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyXSFnZijSs

The second is encouragement that was sent out to us homeschooling moms and dads.  And now I'm sending it out to whomever will take the time to read it.  Here it is:

DAFFODIL PRINCIPLE


Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive to her home.  "I will come next Tuesday, " I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call.


Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!" My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.


"I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car." "How far will we have to drive?" "Just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this." After several minutes, I had to ask, "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the garage!"  "We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "by way of the daffodils." "Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around."  "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."



After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign that  read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns - great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink,  saffron, and butter yellow.  Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.
 

"But who has done this?" I asked Carolyn. "It's just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.  On the patio, we saw a poster. 

"Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking" was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958." There it was, The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was a life-changing experience.
 
I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun - one bulb at a time - to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Still, just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world. 

This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of indescribable magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time - often just one baby-step at a time - and learning to love the doing; learning to use the accumulation of time.  When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.
 
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn.
"What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
 
So, stop waiting until ..
your car or home is paid off
you get a new car or home
your new job comes along
your kids leave the house
you go back to school
you finish school
you lose 10 lbs.
you gain 10 lbs.
you have kids
you retire
summer
spring
winter
fall
you die...

There is no better time than right now.

 A story I hope will encourage you today, shared with me by New Zealand Christian Home Schoolers. 

Until next time...




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#28 Consistency Is Key!

I am proud to say that I have been blogging CONSISTENTLY by posting every Friday since August 2012.   That is exciting and I have God to thank for that.  "Thank you Lord for giving me the creativity, the "want-to" and the mindset to do this thing call blogging!!!"

It is an outlet for me.  I have learned when you enjoy something you are more apt to continue with it.  The same is true for anything.  The job you hold, the hobbies we pursue, the exercise you do etc.  

Let's think about that --- think about all the books on healthy living, diets, and infomercials out there vying for our attention.  Let's just say you got serious about your health and you decided to change the way your eating or the way you workout CONSISTENTLY.  Not for a week, a month -- but for a lot longer.  (If you Google how long it takes for a habit to set in, you will find out no one really knows.)  So lets say, for example my blog -- I just kept going, and going and going -- I did not think about the days because I enjoyed it so much.  So therein lies the solution -- I believe you must enjoy it in order for it to be a CONSISTENT pattern in your life.  

Perhaps You're Doing the Wrong Exercise

But, if you find something you enjoy -- it's is more likely you will stick with it.

I'm not saying that in life you should NEVER do anything you don't enjoy.  That's not realistic.  But what I am saying is -- there are lots of alternatives that will make what you're doing a lot more enjoyable.  When it comes to some things like exercising and the life-style food choices you choose -- you have plenty of choices.  I remember I thought I would enjoy running and I actually participated in two 5K races.  



Me Crossing The Finish Line...

I told myself this was the exercise I had to do to actually see significant changes with my body.  Not true.  I did not love to run.  It was not something I wanted to do long term.  Hence, I did not stick with it!  I found out that I enjoyed walking a lot better.  It was better on my knees and I could do it at a fast pace or moderate pace and still see results with my body.


So find things that you can do on a CONSISTENT basis and make sure it's things you are willing to stick with!

Until next time...

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