I’ve spent a lot of time in the last couple years researching, studying, and experimenting with more healthy diet and personal care products. I’ve done everything from making my own cheese to making my own hair gel. After all my curiosity and excitement died down, I was able to settle into a more sustainable healthy life (meaning, I figured out which things I would spend my time making and which things I would pay for or let go).

I can tell you that my most valuable, most treasured, most important dietary change cost me a whole $4.50.

The Most Probiotic Rich Food

Which food was this? None other than Dairy Kefir.

Gut Health

Why probiotic rich food? I won’t burden you with paragraphs and paragraphs about the scientific research behind gut health. You can easily find it yourself if you’re interested. Suffice it to say, though, anything from ADHD to schizophrenia, from depression to allergies can be improved through making dietary changes that improve gut health.

You can improve your gut health without paying out your ears to buy probiotic pills.

My Messed Up Views of What is Healthy

My grandmother and mom taught me how to can at a young age. We stored up green beans and tomatoes from the garden, sauerkraut, peppers, and jellies. My grandmother would tell me of her childhood days through the Great Depression, and how they stored food through the winter before refrigeration. I stood aghast at her tales of large vats of vegetables and meats with makeshift covers and mold growing on top that must be scraped off to reach the food below.

I thought we were so pristine with our heat-sealed cans and our refrigerators. SO much better than the past-

Until I studied in depth traditional cooking and discovered that canned food, store bought sauerkraut, pickles, and other items had no beneficial bacteria whatsoever. The heat cooked it right out of them. If you want naturally pro-biotic rich foods, you need to lactoferment them yourself. An entirely different process. Simpler. Easier. Better.

I have tried a number of different lacto-fermented foods that I enjoy and that have improved my gut health. My go-to probiotic rich food, though is dairy kefir.

It has the highest amount of probiotics of any food.

What is Dairy Kefir?

Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that tastes like drinkable yogurt. You can buy kefir grains, which are like squishy little semitransparent blobs. One tablespoon is enough to add to milk to create a quart of kefir. Then you just strain them out, put them in new milk and use them over and over indefinitely.

It’s easy, inexpensive, and super good for you. I blend a cup of it with frozen fruit to make milkshakes for the kids. I put it into sherbet. I drink it nearly every morning in my morning shake.

You could buy it at the store. I just am not willing to pay $4 for a quart jug of stuff packed with sugars when I could pay basically that and get grains to make it myself for life.

Nutrition in Dairy Kefir

Kefir is high in:

• Vitamin B12
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Vitamin K2
• Biotin
• Folate
• Enzymes
• Probiotics

The enzymes in kefir stimulate protein digestion and decrease cholesterol in the blood.

Surprising Benefits

It is also thought to improve immunity through stimulating micro-phage production. I didn’t know this, though. I only experienced it. About a year into drinking it daily, mom mom had started drinking it. One day, she called me, with surprise in her voice saying that her allergies had been significantly reduced after starting drinking it. She wondered at it- wondering if it might be the kefir. It was that moment that I realized my normal, seasonal allergies had disappeared completely since drinking it. We’re not doctors- we only know from experience that improving our gut health helped our allergies.

It also has helped a lot with indigestion. I used to feel incredible indigestion pain occasionally. I’d reach for the gas-X. Now when I very rarely experience indigestion, I drink a cup of kefir and go on my merry, pain-free way.

In future posts, I’ll let you know more about how to make it and some great recipes to make with it.

More Like This

This blog is designed with you in mind. My prayer is that you will scooch just a little closer to the Lord’s beckoning arm. That you will nestle in close to Him and learn from Him all He wants to speak to your soul. That He will breathe on you His rest.

Here on Sip Life Slowly and Enjoy It, you will find resources to help you embrace God with all you are, to engage in the relationships you care about with a fresh face erupting from a fresh heart- full and whole, celebrating the intricate good in your life.

I share recipes that our family enjoys in hopes that it adds health and flavor to your life. My prayer is that you can enjoy what you eat and enjoy it with those you love around conversations that draw you closer.   If you enjoy this recipe please like this blog and follow me below. You can also find siplifeslowly on whatever social media you like best Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr. If you liked this, you might like:

• Quinoa- Another Super Grain
• Go-To Cherry Almond Granola
• Black Bean and Corn Salad
• Savory Salmon Patties