Beauty Foods | Living Earth Beauty

Category Archives: Beauty Foods

Beauty Foods Recipe: 5-minute yum salad with Ginger Mint Tahini Hemp Dressing

May 13, 2010

fast easy yum salad

I literally made this salad spontaneously while sitting on the floor of our tiny RV (the RawVee). Don’t worry – the floor is very clean, carpeted, and no food touched it. I just used the ingredients we happened to have here in our little refrigerator and fruit and veggies basket. My husband, Jed, gushed over how good it was, so I thought I’d share it. It took me only about 5 minutes to make!!

Salad

All Organic & Raw:

Add any greens you happen to have around to a bowl the size of your hunger. I used Spinach.
I did not have an abundance of spinach, so I added handfuls of fresh curly Parsley and fresh Cilantro.
I tore all of these up into pieces.
Next, I diced 2 stalks of Celery and tossed it in.
Then, I diced a Radish or two.
I cut plenty of Cherry Tomatoes in half and added them to the bowl.

Dressing

Add the following to your Vita-Mix or blender.

All Organic & Raw:

1/2 inch fresh Ginger
6 -10 fresh Mint leaves, depending on your love for mint
2 Tbl Tahini
3 Tbl Hemp Seeds
Half a Lemon (seeded) or Lemon Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 – 1 clove garlic
1 Tbl of Flax, Hemp, or Olive Oil (optional)
1 tsp Billy’s Infinity Greens
5-8 Shakes of Herbamare (to taste) or Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt
add Living Spring Water, or at least purified water to just cover the ingredients in blender, or depending of how liquidy or creamy you want it.

Blend until smooth, pour over salad, and toss.

Enjoy in love and gratitude!

Also posted in Food, Recipes – 1 Comment

Ode to the Miraculous COCONUT

March 17, 2010

Photo Credit: pielad

The Endless Health Benefits of the Coconut

Known as the “tree of life” in tropical cultures the wonderful fruit of the coconut palm has possibly the most health, skin, and functional benefits of any food on Earth. In recent years the incredible coconut has finally begun escaping the myths that had tarnished its name. Many still believe that it is fattening and will clog arteries because of its high saturated fat content, while in fact the opposite is true! Processed coconut products, such as sweet coconut cream, coconut sweets, and anything that has added sugar, trans fats, and chemicals will hurt your body and your waistline. Yet, fresh, pure Coconut is one of the most health-giving plants on the planet!

The following is from the Coconut Research Center , www.coconutresearchcenter.org/:

For thousands of years in traditional medicine around the world coconut has been used to treat a wide variety of health problems including: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds.

Published medical and scientific research also shows the following benefits:

* Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
* Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
* The caprylic acid found in coconut kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
* Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
* Provides a nutritional source of quick and lasting energy.
* Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
* Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
* Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
* Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
* Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
* Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
* Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
* Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
* Helps protect against osteoporosis.
* Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
* Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
* Improves digestion and bowel function.
* Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
* Reduces inflammation.
* Supports tissue healing and repair.
* Supports and aids immune system function.
* Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
* Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
* Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
* Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
* Functions as a protective antioxidant.
* Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
* Does not deplete the body’s antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
* Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
* Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
* Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
* Reduces epileptic seizures.
* Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
* Dissolves kidney stones.
* Helps prevent liver disease.
* Is lower in calories than all other fats.
* Supports thyroid function.
* Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
* Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
* Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
* Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
* Protects from the UV Rays of the sun
* Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
* Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
* Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
* Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
* Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
* Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
* Helps control dandruff.
* Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
* Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.

Coconut Oil: The “Healthiest Oil on Earth”
What makes coconut oil so amazing?
“The difference is in the fat molecule. All fats and oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids. Fatty acids consist of long chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached. In this system you have short-chain fatty acids, medium-chain fatty acids, and long-chain fatty acids. Coconut oil is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids, also known as medium-chain triglycerides. The vast majority of commercial fats and oils, whether they are saturated or unsaturated or come from animals or plants, are composed of long-chain fatty acids.” – Coconut Research Center
All animal fats are extremely damaging to health. Refined Vegetable oils should also be avoided. Only use oils that are cold-pressed, unrefined, and FRESH.

“Our bodies respond to and metabolize each fatty acid differently depending on its size. So the physiological effects of medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are distinctly different from those of long-chain fatty acids more commonly found in unhealthy foods. They do not have a negative effect on cholesterol and help to protect against heart disease. Medium-chain fatty acids help to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease.” – Coconut Research Center

Isn’t Coconut Oil Fattening?
Absolutely not! Coconut oil promotes weight LOSS. Long-chain fatty acids nearly always go to fat storage, while the medium-chain fatty acids are burned for energy. It is a high energy, long-lasting energy superfood! Coconut oil also helps to stimulate metabolism, so you burn more calories each day, which helps with weight loss and energy levels.

Coconut Oil is a Potent Immune Booster
Coconut Oil is overflowing with powerful Lauric Acid.   Lauric Acid boosts immunity and destroys harmful bacteria and viruses. Coconut oil is actually one of the closest foods on Earth to human breast milk.
And Coconut water is the closet thing found in nature to human blood plasma. Drinking it is like receiving a blood transfusion! The water of the coconut is also beneficial to the detoxifying organs, such as the kidneys and liver, it recharges you full of electrolytes, and it is the perfect thirst quencher.

“Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is converted by the body into monolaurin. The action attributed to monolaurin is that of solubilizing the lipids, in the envelope of the virus, causing the disintegration of the virus envelope.” – Tom Mountford, The Health Benefits of Coconuts

“Scientists in the Philippines researched the effects of coconut oil and lauric acid on patients with the HIV virus that causes AIDS. Most of the AIDS patients showed a dramatic drop in the HIV virus count, in some cases to “undetectable” levels.” -Sheryl Walters, citizen journalist   (NaturalNews) Hopefully, more research will further substantiate these findings.

P.S. Good News: If you are allergic to coconuts, you may use coconut oil. Proteins in the coconut meat, not the oil extracted from it, cause the allergy.

Coconut: One of the most perfect Skin and Hair Beautifiers on the planet

The following except for ‘Coconut Oil for Hair and Scalp’ is from http://www.coconut-connections.com, Adapted from The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil by Bruce Fife

Conventional body care products that are made with refined vegetable oils and animal oils generate free radicals both in and outside the body. If you use a lotion or cream with refined oil in it you are in fact causing your skin to age faster. Though it may seem to bring temporary improvement, the product will actually accelerate the aging of the skin and even promote skin cancer through the free radicals that are formed from the refined vegetable oils.

The small molecular structure of coconut oil allows for easy absorption through the skin. It prevents destructive free-radical formation and provides protection against them. It can help to keep the skin from developing liver spots, and other blemishes caused by aging and over-exposure to sunlight. It helps to keep connective tissues strong and supple so that the skin doesn’t sag and wrinkle. In some cases it might even restore damaged or diseased skin. The oil is absorbed into the skin and into the cell structure of the connective tissues, limiting the damage excessive sun exposure can cause. Coconut oil will not only bring temporary relief to the skin, but it will aid in healing and repairing long-term damage.

Coconut oil for Hair and Scalp
Saturating the hair and scalp with coconut oil and leaving in for 30 minutes or even overnight for greatest benefit will condition and soften the hair and scalp and help clear dandruff and other scalp conditions.

How Coconut Oil Protects the Skin in total Harmony
Healthy skin has a pH of about 5, making it slightly acidic. Natural skin oils, also known as Sebum, also contain medium chain fatty acids, in the form of medium chain triglycerides. The combination of slightly acid pH and medium chain fatty acids in Sebum provides a protective chemical layer on the skin that prevents infection from disease-causing organisms. Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of medium chain fatty acids. Coconut also has about the same pH as the skin, supporting its natural chemical balance.

When bathing or showering, soap washes the protective layer of oil and acid off our skin. By using a coconut oil product you can quickly help reestablish the skin’s natural antimicrobial and acid barrier.

Gorgeous Products Featuring Beautiful COCONUT OIL!

Radiant Love Butter
Delectable edible love lotion for moisture, massage, and play. For body, hands, lips – everywhere. A body or massage oil that glides, slides, smoothes and soothes skin. An organic orange swirl of vanilla and cinnamon dipped into raw oils of cococreme, jojoba and cacao butter for body, hands and lips.

Jai Baby Joy
Fresh infused vanilla beans dipped in coconut crème, jojoba and marula creating a loving oil to glide over a baby’s Jubilant skin. A beautiful libation for the whole family: beauty and baby massage oil for all faces to tiny toes, a blessing for pregnant tummies, for soft supple skin after bathing, and a very kissable men’s aftershave. Babies and bellies get yummier!

Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Let the sunshine in! Nourishment for sun-soaking and sun-soaked skin. Rich oils of the desert: jojoba plant, virgin coco-crème, red raspberry, seabuckthorn, schizandra berry, immortelle, carrot, rose, cape-chamomile, lavender, turmeric, lemon, palmarosa are a cooling canopy to restore and adore your heavenly body. So nourishing it is, the deep drink your whole body has been thirsting for. This Beautiful formula harmonizes your time in the sun.

Best Skin Ever and Ultra Restore & Ultra Sapphire also feature Coconut Oil

Enjoy the Coconut Love!

Also posted in Coconut, Coconut Oil, Food, Healing, Health, Nutrition – 1 Comment

Oral Health from the Inside Out

February 25, 2010

Photo Credit: sweetbeetandgreenbean

Proper oral care is extremely important, but the health of your teeth and gums is also primarily determined by how healthy your body is on the inside. Using the best oral care products possible and brushing 10 times a day will not protect against decay if your diet is high in refined foods. The further away a food is from it’s natural state, the more harm it can bring your teeth. Refined foods lead to higher acidic levels in your body. This damages teeth and gums. When the body is acidic, it borrows the calcium and other minerals it is depleted of from teeth and bones.

A diet high in vitamins and minerals is essential for oral health – particularly calcium and vitamins A and D. Vitamins A and C are needed for the absorption of calcium, and calcium is an important element in our teeth.

Choose these foods that are abundant in vitamins and minerals and foods that naturally fight bacteria, remove plaque, strengthen enamel, and freshen breath:

1. Sea Vegetables
Sea vegetables are very rich in calcium and they also contain large amounts of vitamin C. They also has contain Fluorine, which fights tooth decay.

2. Vegetables
Green plants have large amounts of chlorophyll, phosphorous, and vitamins A and C, all of which are needed for calcium absorption. Chlorophyll helps build enamel and prevents tooth decay. Vitamin C helps reduce plaque from building up. Broccoli, carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin are all vegetables that contain large amounts of vitamin A. Vitamin A is required for the formation of tooth enamel. Crunchy vegetables also bring health to gums by cleansing and stimulating them.

3. Fruits
Most fruits contain good amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C creates the cement that holds all of our cells together. It is vital for beautiful skin, and for the health of your gum tissue. If you don’t get enough vitamin C, the collagen network in your gums can break down, making your gums tender and more susceptible to the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Kiwis are particularly high in vitamin C. Berries such as Goji Berries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Camu Camu berry, and Cloudberry are bursting with large amounts of vitamin C.

Be sure to rinse your mouth out with water or brush immediately after eating fruit, so that the sugars and acids are not sitting on your teeth. If you eat citrus fruit, rinse with water, but wait at least 30 minutes before brushing to avoid damaging enamel.

4. Onions
Onions contain powerful sulfur compounds, which kill various types of bacteria. Their antibacterial compounds are most potent when eaten freshly peeled and raw. p.s. There are some tips below for natural breath fresheners.

5. Celery
Celery protects your teeth in two ways: The extra chewing it requires produces plenty of saliva, which neutralizes the bacteria that causes cavities. Additionally, chewing on naturally abrasive foods massages gums and cleans between teeth.

6. Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are high in calcium, which helps preserve the bone around your teeth and gums. Eating Seeds (in their whole form) also slough off plaque and help build tooth enamel.

7. Shiitake Mushrooms
Lentinan, a sugar found in shiitake mushrooms, prevents mouth bacteria from creating plaque.

8. Water
Water cleanses the mouth, allowing the saliva to work wonders depositing essential minerals back into the weakened teeth. Drinking water keeps your gums hydrated and is the best way to stimulate saliva–your body’s greatest defense against the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities. Rinsing your mouth with water also helps wash away trapped food particles that decompose in the mouth and cause bad breath. If you can’t brush your teeth after eating, be sure to rinse your mouth with water.

Sources:

Berry, Lynn, Beyond Non-Toxic Toothpaste: Tips for Healthy Teeth, NaturalNews.com, December 8, 2007
10 Most Healthy Foods for Teeth, Dental Health Magazine, April 16th, 2009
Knittel, Linda, 10 Foods for a healthy, beautiful smile: protect your teeth and gums with these stellar foods – Diet and nutrition: how to eat right, Natural Health, Dec, 2002, Weider Publications, Gale Group

Also posted in Health, Nutrition, Oral Care – 0 Comments

Secrets of Nature-Empowered Oral Care

February 25, 2010

Nadine, Oral Care Goddess

Nadine Artemis is a gifted beauty visionary who handcrafts essential oils, elixirs, serums and perfumed poetry. She gathers the purest ingredients found in nature, working with the intelligence embodied in plants. Her famous oral care elixirs offer the most pure and effective oral care available.

In these recordings, she reveals her immense knowledge of oral care, and teaches how to take care of teeth, gums, and mouth with her revolutionary products. Enjoy!

Successful Oral Care (28 minutes)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Successful Self Dentistry (53 minutes)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Also posted in Beauty, Health, Oral Care, Skin and Body – 0 Comments

Beauty Foods: Stinging Nettles!

November 3, 2009

Stinging Nettles

*Please see below for the sources of the following text.

Nettle is a magical medicinal plant. It has amazing astringent, expectorant, tonic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic properties and it is an important source of beta-carotene, vitamin A, C and E, iron, calcium, phosphates and minerals. It is a powerful remedy against hepatic, arthritic or rheumatic affections, and in treating allergies, anemia and kidney diseases.

Nettle is a blood-purifier of the highest caliber. Because of it’s high alkaline-mineral content (silicon and iron) and blood-building properties, it is a beautifier of the highest order. Nettle leaves are highly alkaline. They neutralize and dissolve acidic wastes in the blood. Their diuretic properties simultaneously help flush the blood and cleanse it through the action of the kidneys. Since both neutralizing and flushing characteristics are important for blood purification, stinging nettle is an excellent choice for complaints where toxicity and/or over-acidity of the tissues are the root of the problem, including poor skin quality, weak nails, damaged teeth, and loss of overall luster. It power to purify the blood will do wonders for chronic skin ailments. It is effective against eczema on the upper body, especially the face, neck, and ears.

Nettle leaves increase the function of the thyroid gland, increasing metabolism and helping to burn away fat while increasing energy. Nettles also help relieve excess mucous in the colon allowing for the release of excess waste.

Nettle leaves are so mineral rich that they satisfy hunger. Overeating can often an outward manifestation of a search for minerals. Eating food that is fully mineralized eventually makes us fully mineralized and provides us with the food-mineral cosmetics necessary to express true inner and outer beauty.

nettle

Properties

Nettle contains a great number of amino acids, glucidic substances, amines, sterols, cetones, ketones as methyl heptenone, acetophenone, volatile oil, fat substances, sitosterols, formic and acetic acid, panthotenic acid, folic acid, chlorophyl 0.3 – 0.8, protoporphyrine and coproporphynine. It also contains vitamins C, B2 and K, beta-carotene, Ca, Mg, Fe and Si salts, phosphates etc. Because of these compounds, the plant has anti-anaemic, anti-diabetic, hemostatic and diuretic properties.

Choline acetyltransferase is present in stinging nettle plants, as well as choline, acetylcholine, and serotonin. Presence of these compounds categorize the nettle as food for the nervous system.

Nettles also contain one of the highest levels of the beautifying mineral silicon found in any food.

Mixtures and Treatments

Perhaps the most well known property of nettle is that it stings. The stems and leaf-tops are covered with thin, hair-like protrusions. These protrusions, if touched, release a stinging fluid containing histamine and formic acid. The sting produces a temporary inflammation. The sting of the nettle is annoying to the skin, but not poisonous.

When nettles are eaten, the saliva neutralizes the sting, so that one cannot be stung in the mouth or throat.

It is said that if the plant did not sting, it would not have lasted through time. As a matter of fact, the Swiss priest, Kunzle, shows that nettle would have been destroyed by insects and animals by now, had it not defended itself by stinging. However, popular medicine has proved the usefulness of this property: fresh nettle leaves placed on the skin, and especially on the kidney area (a practice named urticaria) induces a stinging and burning sensation, with the effect of easing more profound rheumatic pains. Ancient shaman healers used to purposely strike their paralyzed patients with nettles in order to bring blood flow back into the muscles and skin.

Here are some of the ways to enjoy all the benefits of this wonder-plant:
nettle

Eating the Leaves

Come at the leaf from the bottom, folding it along its central crease, yanking it gently from the mother plant, and then rolling it up so as to enclose the top of the leaf (the stingers are most commonly found in the top of the leaf).

Nettle Tea

It cures diseases and inflammations of the urinary system, and also urinary retentions. It has a slightly laxative effect, being recommended in depurative remedies. For hepatic, biliary affections as well as for affections of the spleen, the treatment with nettle tea will last for a number of weeks. Nettle tea can also be of great help to those who suffer from diabetes, because it leads to the decrease of blood sugar and implicitly, of the glycaemia level. It is useful in eliminating virosis, and bacterial infections. Preparation: the tea can be prepared through soaking the fresh or dried leaves in boiled water. This method allows the retention of active substances.

Nettle Infusion

Washing the scalp with nettle (leaves or roots) infusion helps regenerate, grow and thicken the hair. Preparation: to prepare the infusion, 60g of finely crushed nettles are mixed with two and a half cups of water. The mixture is boiled, and then covered for 10 minutes. It can be consumed either hot or cold.

Nettle Tincture

It eliminates dandruff and leaves the hair silky. It also strengthens and revitalizes the hair. Preparation: for ten days, six-seven fresh leaves or two spoons of dried plant are kept macerating in half a liter of alcohol. The mixture is then used to rub the hair root.

Nettle Juice

Running nettles through a juice machine is a unique way to access the the high-quality minerals and oils present in fresh nettles without having to risk being stung.The juice from stinging nettle leaves acts as an antidote to the sting when applied topically. Due to its rich iron content and ease of absorption, nettle juice is more effective than spinach juice in building blood. Given its propensity to neutralize and flush out acidic waste, nettle juice is perfect for weight reduction. Nettle juice can also be used as a hair rinse to restore natural color.

For hypertension half a glass is drunk right before the most important meals. It has the effect of regulating arterial pressure and straightening blood vessels. In case of renal insufficiency, one glass of nettle juice per day should be consumed in the morning after waking up. In case of anemia and demineralization – one-two glasses of nettle juice are consumed daily for a period of two weeks. Preparation: nettle leaves and stem are gathered and put into the juicer.

Nettle Root Powder

For frail dry hair 60 day treatments can be done, during which half a teaspoon of root powder is administered three times a day on an empty stomach. Preparation: the dried nettle roots are finely crushed using an electric coffee grinder.

* The above text in italic comes from Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe

The plain text above comes from http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/nettle.html

Huge thanks to both of these wonderfully rich resources.

My Love For Nettles

The absolute BEST way to enjoy nettles in all of their glory is to juice FRESH nettles. I feel so blessed have access to freshly picked nettles. I do not even have to go hunting in the forest for them. One of the wonderful organic farmers at my local Farmer’s Market has bunches of nettles quite frequently. I get so excited when I see them at the stand amongst all of the beautiful herbs and wildflowers. It costs only $1.00 for a whole small bag full of nettles, on the stalk! However, if you do live where nettles might be growing in your area, I highly suggest going on a nettle-picking adventure (look near streams, especially in California).

Nettle Leaf Powder

Another way to enjoy nettle nutrition is to eat them in a dry powder form. Billy’s Infinity Greens (coming soon to the Living Earth Beauty Store) contains a high concentration of this powder in its amazing superfoods formula.

How I Juice Nettles

I often juice a wide variety of green leafy vegetables, herbs, and hard veggies – what I find organic and in-season at the farmer’s market. I so look forward to growing all of this in our own garden someday soon! A typical juice blend will consist of items such as: dandelion greens, pea shoots, sunflower sprouts, kale, rainbow chard, parsley, cilantro, lemon balm, holy basil, fennel, cucumber, celery, etc. I always save the nettles for last. This is because I wear rubber gloves to handle them to avoid getting stung. Once I have juiced everything else, I pull out my rubber gloves, rinse the nettles with purified water and feed them into the juicer (I use the Green Star Gold) one stalk at a time. The stalks are usually thin enough to get pulled right in by the blades (which is always fun). Once I have finished juicing a large handful of nettle stalks and leaves, I pour the juice into the rest of the juice I already have put through a nut milk bag. I always double-filter my juice through a nut milk bag to remove all of the plant fiber for ease of absorption and digestion. I then stir the juice up, pour a tall glass for me and for Jed and put the rest in the fridge. The final step is to wash the juicing tools and the juicer with the gloves on, since there are often stray leaves and pieces of the nettles still intact. Wearing rubber gloves for the washing phase of juicing is also an excellent way to preserve the beauty and softness of your hands!

Enjoy your nettles! Here’s to wellness, joy, and timeless beauty!

5 Comments

Beauty Foods: Sauerkraut!

October 1, 2009

photo credit: rachel is coconut&lime

What is Fermentation?

Vegetable fermentation is a natural process of using lactic acid bacteria for fermentation. Cabbage is the best vegetable to ferment, because it has copious amounts of lactic acid bacteria.

The Health Benefits of Fermented Foods

Fermented foods aid in digestion, support immune function, stop cravings for sugar and carbohydrates in processed foods, contain B vitamins and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, can help to reduce high cholesterol levels in our blood, and increase the ability to absorb nutrients in your foods by up to one hundred times. Consuming foods that contain live lacto-bacteria has protective benefits against pathogenic microorganisms, aiding our bodies into fighting and preventing diseases, such as cancer. All of these health benefits also have a significant affect on the beauty and youthfulness of your skin!

Make Your Own Sauerkraut

Making your own sauerkraut is fun and easy! Most commercial sauerkraut is pasteurized, thus killing the beneficial flora (except for a few brands like Rejuvenative). Jed and I recently made two batches. One turned out just right and was so delicious, it was all I wanted to eat for days. The other batch went bad and was a total wash. We prepared both batches exactly the same and used the same jars for both. It is helpful to keep in mind that fermentation is more of an art than a science. They are so many factors, even uncontrollable ones, that can affect the fermentation process. Being free of an attachment to the outcome is a good idea, just in case it does not not turn out the way you hope. I have found that the more practice I have with fermenting, the more I increase my chances of success. Once you get down the timing, the measurements, the jars, the tools, the ingredients that work for you, delicious results become much more likely.

The Recipe

Container & Tools:

a glass or ceramic jar (no plastic! it will leach into your food)

I like to eat the sauerkraut as a snack or meal, instead of as a condiment, since I love it so much, so I use large jars to make a large quantity.

a wooden spoon with a long handle (metal will kill the friendly bacteria)

Ingredients:

1/4 – 1 full head of Organic Cabbage depending on how much you desire

4-5 tablespoons per quart of Organic, Raw, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar

2 tablespoons per quart Himalayan Crystal Salt or Celtic Sea Salt (Using salt in the process prevents the breakdown of vegetable proteins and the overgrowth of yeast.)

The most pure Water possible, water directly from a natural spring that you have collected yourself, or Artesian well water is the ideal choice. Do NOT use chlorinated tap water! The chlorine will kill the friendly bacteria you are trying to cultivate.

Instructions

Wash your hands (the environment should be as sterile as possible).
Choose a clean, sterile jar or jars to ferment in.
Chop the cabbage into whatever size pieces you desire. Chopping it in a food processor will yield more condiment size pieces. Place the cabbage in the jar.
Add the Apple Cider Vinegar and the Salt to the jar and then fill the jar with water so the cabbage is covered by at least an inch of water.
Use a sterile wooden spoon to mix the cabbage, salt, vinegar, and water together. I use the handle of a long wooden spoon to mash everything together. The spoon part is too big to get through all of the fairly tightly packed cabbage in the jar.
Seal the jar – not too tightly. A jar that is sealed too tightly could result in an explosion.
Place the jar in a dark place. I use a low kitchen cabinet. The closer to the floor the cabinet is, the more stable the temperature will be. The average household temperature is fine for fermentation (68-72 degrees).
Check on the sauerkraut in about 5 days. If a scum forms on the surface, do not fret, it should only affect the surface. Remove the scum if it does form and make sure the cabbage underneath is unaffected. Taste the sauerkraut. It should start to be sour and tangy after a few days, and should get stronger with time. In cool temperatures, the fermentation process could continue for weeks or months. In warmer temperatures the process is far more rapid and could be ready in a week or so. You instinctively know whether a food has gone bad or is delightfully tangy and fermented. Use your amazing senses to determine when you would like to eat it! To stop the fermentation process, place the saurkraut in the refridgerator. It will last for months in the fridge.

Tip: Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide is an instant, easy, and effective sterilizer.

Experiment with fermentation and glow with health and beauty! Enjoy!

Also posted in Nutrition, Recipes – 1 Comment