I have been struggling to try to comprehend if probiotic Sugar Water Kefir is beneficial on a Low Carb and Anti-Candida Diet. Considering the high sugar content you would think that it goes against common sense to consume it when you are trying to avoid sugars.

At the beginning of the fermentation the sugar is composed of glucose-fructose. The probiotic sugar kefir grains break down the glucose-fructose disaccharide into fructose which is a mono-saccharide.  The sugar kefir grains themselves are composed of glucose and therefore need the glucose in the sugar to grow. The result of the fermentation is a probiotic rich fructose water. Depending on the type of sugar you use, there may also be minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron.

Water kefir is extremely high in probiotics that work in symbiosis. This is so important as life itself IS symbiosis. When there is an unbalance problems occur. A good example of this is a sauerkraut fermentation project gone bad! The balance of bacteria has changed resulting in a foul smelling, horrible tasting food.

Probiotic supplements are expensive compared to cheaply made probiotic food. We do not know if the strains in the supplements will actually be beneficial and work to repopulate our gut flora. Good brands like Bio-Kult are very expensive.

Normally it is fructose that is associated with Insulin Resistance, Diabetes, Obesity, Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and heart disease but…

This Study shows that good gut health is associated with better blood glucose control as well as being  beneficial for weight loss.

This report talks about how gut dysbiosis and pathogenic gut bacteria lead to Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity and Heart Disease.

This study done by John Hopkins Medical Institution shows how optimizing gut flora can reduce insulin resistance and non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity and related health problems…

So is the fructose in water kefir really bad? Do the probiotic microbes neutralize the side effects of the fructose?

Share your thoughts..

This post is part of Real Food Wednesday hosted by Kelly The Kitchen Kop

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Did you know that your gut is your body’s primary defense against pathogenic bacteria and viruses that create illnesses?

I have been reading Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr.  Natasha Cambell-McBride and found the chapter on our Immune Systems so incredibly fascinating.

Here is a very brief summary of how our immune system is related to our gut flora:

• Bad intestinal flora weakens the immune system
• Antibodies (immunoglobulins) start to attack our own body tissues such as brain and nervous system
• The bifidobacteria (good gut bacteria) cell wall creates Muramil Dipeptide. These muramil dipeptide initiates the production of lymphocytes.
• Lymphocytes are what protect us from viruses and tumours.  They are able to recognize and kill or neutralize any foreign invader virus/cells. Source
• People with damaged gut flora have a lesser amount of lymphocytes
• Lymphocytes create immunoglobulins including Secretory Immunoglobulin A (IgA).
• IgA is one of the most important as it is secreted in our bodily fluids and mucus membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, genitals).
• Bad bacteria, viruses and parasites enter our bodies through our mucus membranes.
• IgA is critical for good mucosal immunity.
• IgA breaks down quickly but the good bacteria in the gut are able to slow down this process.

There is a lot more wonderful information in this book. As well as methods and supplements on how to heal your gut flora. You can also find out more information at the GAPS diet website.

Lacto-fermented foods have traditionally been used for keeping our gut flora healthy. These foods include milk kefir,  water kefir, kombucha, clobbered milk, yogurt, lacto-fermented fruits and vegetables. I have created videos on how you can make lacto-fermented sauerkraut and how to lacto-ferment fruit. All of these foods are loaded with beneficial flora for gut health.

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There are many tasty ways that you can add probiotics and enzymes to your diet. Lacto-Fermentation is an ancient way of preserving your food and was done before the invention of refrigerators. By adding whey to your food and letting it sit out at room temperature allows the food digestion process to start before it even reaches your mouth.

The enzymes, lactic acid and beneficial bacteria created during this process ease the strain on the pancreas which is the part of our body that secretes pancreatic juices and digestive enzymes to the small intestine.

Lacto-fermentation helps heal the digestive system by reintroducing beneficial bacteria and discourages the growth of the bad bacteria and pathogenic yeasts. Lacto-fermented foods are crucial for healing from Candida Yeasts.

In these videos I show a wide range of lacto-fermented foods, from homemade mustard, salsa, pickles, sauerkraut, and the makings of fermented milk. I also share how easy it is to make home made sauerkraut.

If you choose to buy your own sauerkraut read the labels to see if it contains live cultures. The ingredient list should only contain “cabbage” and “filtered water” and “salt” and be unpasteurized.

Adding Lacto-fermented foods to your diet will do great things for your health.

To your health and wellness,

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Last week I took the kids and myself to the dentist. The kids normally have a checkup every six months, but I was a bit nervous about this appointment. You see I also made an appointment for myself. I have not seen a dentist since I was 12 years old – that was 20 years ago! Everything went well and no cavities in any of us so far.

My eldest daughter Aliena has had some issues though. When she was a small baby she developed small black pits in her front teeth and white discolourization in some others. I was concerned because she also was classified as failure to thrive and was losing weight. We were vegan at the time (due to milk and egg allergic skin reactions in Aliena) and I had a vegetarian pregnancy.  I was very concerned about her growth. [Read more →]

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