Yummy Kefir, Happy Belly

Yummy Kefir, Happy Belly

by Rochelle Griffin

If we want a happy belly, we must have a happy balance of good and bad bacteria. Without this balance, a myriad of symptoms can occur…anything from bloating to diarrhea to mood swings! Because of the crazy lifestyle many of us lead, it’s easy to for this delicate balance to get out of whack. Here’s where probiotics come to the rescue. Probiotics (healthy bacteria & yeast) can be taken in pill form or in a drink like Kombucha tea or Kefir.

I personally prefer to have both Kombucha tea and Kefir homemade. This gives me control over what goes into the drinks.

While I’ve already written an article about how to make Kombucha tea, some people don’t like tea or don’t want to get into the steps and time it takes to make it. I get it. A great alternative for those who can have dairy is milk-based kefir. It’s super easy to make and can be used to make yummy smoothies.

And the great part is that you can drink both Kombucha tea and milk kefir because they are produce different probiotics. I don’t recommend drinking them at the same time though…yuck!

Kefir literally takes a day to make and is ready to be used. To get started, you will need to have kefir grains. My favorite website is Cultures for Health (http://www.culturesforhealth.com.) You can get so many different cultures there…fantastic!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Milk kefir grains
• Organic milk (cow or goat) or raw milk
• Glass jar
• Coffee filter
• Strainer
• Small bowl
• Wood spoon

We make a cup at a time, but you can definitely make more.

1. Pour one cup milk into your glass jar and add the kefir grains to it.

2. Place coffee filter over the jar and secure with rubber band. You want to allow the kefir to breath. Place out of the way on the counter. Do NOT place in the refrigerator (no matter how much you want to…because it’s milk after all.)

3. Allow milk to form into kefir. This will take approximately 24 hours. You’ll notice the milk starting to thicken up, almost like a loose yogurt. It won’t smell stinky like sour milk. It almost smells like yeast bread dough to me.

4. Once the thickening has occurred, pour the kefir through a strainer (non-metal is best) into a small bowl.

5. Use a wood spoon to help separate the liquid kefir from the kefir grains.

6. The liquid kefir is now ready to use in a yummy smoothie or anything else. Place in the refrigerator until you’re ready for it. The kefir grains are ready for a new batch of kefir to begin.

7. Start the process over.

It’s THAT easy!

Up to 80 percent of our immunity is located in our gut. A good 75% of our melatonin (sleep hormone) is made in our gut. It behooves each and every one of us to take care of our gut in order to have optimal health. Now you have an easy way to make fresh, healthy kefir and get some of that good bacteria back into your system. 🙂

To Living Your Best Life,

Rochelle Griffin, RN BSN FDN-P

Rochelle Griffin, The Wellness Detective™, is a Registered Nurse (with over 22 years experience) & a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition™ Practitioner who has transitioned her love for fitness, health, & freedom into a 7-figure International company that now helps others live Their Best Life.

She founded Your Best Life, Inc with her husband Keith after stepping onto the edge of physical ruin with her health & the health of their young son. Having experienced a complete turn-around, they now desire to give hope & support to those who are dissatisfied with their current situation.

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