Recently I was doing a research on probiotics.
My Mom is not vegan, and nowhere near being all raw, although she consumes a diet better than 75% of the US population—more liquid dishes—mostly soups, more fruit, if soft or ground. Unfortunately, she also loves dairy products. Meat is not too big of a problem, but milk, sour cream and cottage cheese are her weakness. She also loves to down an unhealthy portion of mayo with her soups, along with a constant supply of bread. The good thing about bread is that she bakes it at home with the flour I buy for her (most of the times, at least, unless she sneaks in something my siblings buy for her). I am hoping to find a good meal to make my own flour, in the near future, so that will make it even better for her.
As a result of her diet Mom often ends up with a UTI (urinary tract infection) and is then prescribed antibiotics. I had contemplated about the ways I could improve her health, without her becoming too defensive about it. I came up with a genius plan—the one that most mothers use on their children—make the foods, that are good for her, more interesting and more attractive to her, and excite her about them.
Smoothies were a no brainier—they are delicious and are loaded with great vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Once I recently discovered that she has a juicer, I found a way to get her excited about juices as well. After all, who would say no to juices? Unless they are hooked on poor sugary imitations sold at local supermarkets, they won’t. With Mom, I just have to make sure to make juices taste delicious. I constantly look for various combinations, and, if I have to, sneak in a spoonful of honey to make juices taste better. Eventually, after I get a better juicer, I will start making her green juices, which are a sure way to help her body heal itself.
My goal is also to improve and restore Mom’s immune system. It is being systematically destroyed by antibiotics that are always generously prescribed by her doctors. About a month ago Mom was bit by a spider. The first thing her physician did... put her on antibiotics. I could not take any more of the abuse, so I asked her not to take them. Instead, I went to the local nutrition store, Country Village Nutrition, and bought a few bottles of the Kombucha Tea. Kumbocha tea is known as a great probiotics. It originated in the East and made its way to Russia by 1850s. Ever since then, the Russian people have been using it as a drink and as medicine. In Russia it is called KVASS.
The tea It is made by growing a culture in black or green tea, mixed with sugar. The tea ferments. When consumed it helps to plant good bacteria into the intestinal tract.
Here is a quick 411 on Kumbocha (from Mayo Clinic web-site):
"Long popular in other countries, Kombucha tea is now gaining popularity in the United States. Although frequently referred to as a mushroom, Kombucha is not a mushroom — it's a symbiosis of bacteria and yeast. When sugar and black or green tea are added to Kombucha, a fermentation process results in the "tea" — a liquid containing vinegar, B vitamins and a number of other chemical compounds. Kombucha is most commonly prepared by taking a starter sample from an existing culture and growing a new colony in a fresh jar."
The Kombucha beverage is food unusually rich in nutritive properties. The bacteria are a great source of nutrition. In addition Kombucha has a wide range of organic acids, vitamins and enzymes that give it its extraordinary value. It contains the range of B vitamins, particularly B1, B2, B6 and B12, that provide the body with energy, help to process fats and proteins, and are vital for the normal functioning of the nervous system. There is also vitamin C, which is a potent detoxifier, immune booster and enhancer of vitality.
The tea that I found at the nutrition store tasted great, however, it was expensive at $4-$5 per bottle. When I found the tea, I realized that it is not something new that I found--growing up we used to "brew" this kind of tea very often. It tasted great (if made right), although, it would be an acquired taste to most U.S. Americans, and, not having a huge variety of commercially made drinks overseas (at that time) we gobbled it up. Kvass is a jewel that was lost, but now is found to me : )
With the cost of store-sold tea in mind, I had to find a way to make it myself. The store did not carry the culture that I needed (the mother), so off I went to search online. I was able to find what I was looking for! Here is the buyer that I used:
stichingtime (the link will take you directly to the seller's store). The seller was great! Great product, fast delivery and detailed instructions came along with the “mother” culture.
My first batch of Kombucha tea was ready in 15 days (I gave it little extra time, since it was shipped to me across the country). It was just as I remember it from my childhood :) It did not look as clean and attractive as the one sold at the store, but neither did it cost that much either :)
Since it was a familiar drink to Mom, she did not protest a bit, when I filled up a glass full of it and commanded her to drink it. She fully enjoyed it! It is now going to be a part of her daily food intake, as well as for the rest of us.
I found different ways to incorporate it.
1. It can be drunk the way it is made (you have to make sure to make the tea with organic ingredients, and unrefined organic sugar).
2. It can be mixed with honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice, to enhance taste and nutrient intake.
3. It can be mixed with freshly squeezed juices. Kvass will give juices a delightful zing.
I enjoy drinking Kvass myself. I found that I feel a bit more invigorated and less hungry after drinking it, and I seem to have more energy.
If you are adventurous and decide to buy a culture of your own, use the seller that I found on e-bay (you can trust me that I get nothing out of this, since I don’t even know the person, except from a great personal experience I recently had with her). If you are not going to brave it yet, try one from a local nutrition store—you might change your mind. Only make sure to get ORGANIC product.
Here is a recipe of this morning’s tonic I made for our family.
CARROT KVASS
• Fresh juice of carrots, mixed with juice of 1 apple
• Kombucha tea (Kvass)
• Teaspoon of honey (optional)
• Lemon juice (optional)
Make sure to drink the tonic right after making it or within no longer than a couple of hours of making it, to avoid oxidation. As for me, I am working on the new batch of Kvass—only now I have two culture, thus two different jars going—the “mother” Kombucha and the “baby” that grew in my last batch.
DRINK HEALTHY! BE HAPPY!
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Our Longview (WA) Fire Department came out shortly (by they way, they have been working out there all this time). They contained the fire the best they could, after making sure there were no people in the house. Thank you, men!
