Crazy for Kefir!

Kefir, along with plain Greek and regular yogurt, are AWESOME -- providing loads of HEALTHY BACTERIA (check out how VERY MUCH here!)! REMEMBER TO CHOOSE NON-DAIRY VERSIONS!


Kefir contains up to 10 different cultures! Plain regular, and often Greek yogurt contain up to 4 or 5 cultures.  This is important because healthy bacteria has to survive through the digestive system where harmful bacteria may be trying to crowd out the good stuff.  Unfortunately, flavored yogurts contain only 2 different bacteria strains...if only one strain is used, they should not be labeled "yogurt".

Did you know that the number of bacteria within your body outnumbers the trillions of your own cells that make up your body?! …by 10 times! So it’s a good idea to try to keep the good ones overpowering the bad, right?

If we consume many different strains (like we get from kefir, plain yogurt, and most Greek yogurt), we have a better chance of more strains surviving our digestion.

So how does this "good" bacteria help?

Benefits range from immunity to digestive health, from relieving constipation to treating irritable bowel disease (IBD), and these bacteria even PRODUCE vitamin K and a B-vitamin called biotin! Speaking of vitamin K, Kefir particularly is a rich source of vitamin K and calcium, two key nutrients in BONE health!

Many more reasons still, can you believe it?!

Good or healthy bacteria are also called PROBIOTICS, which are LIVE and ACTIVE CULTURES that grow and multiply once in our bodies to cause the above benefits!

Try this simple shake to get your kefir!

Try Jerusalem Artichoke Pasta for similar benefits!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  Have you ever been to Turkey? That's where kefir originates, and where Dr Oz's parents are from!

Ever Wonder about Pasta Sauce?

Marinara sauce like salsa) is a really nutritious food which contains cooked tomatoes, which contain high levels of LYCOPENE, a phytochemical, well known for it's role in possibly preventing prostate cancer and heart disease.

Most important to read labels for:

• NO sugar
• NO oil
• NO cheese, milk, dairy
• NO extra chemicals

Watch out for SUGAR by any name in the ingredients list, or other ingredients that young readers (and sometimes adults) can't pronounce! Your favorite may have a nice ingredients list, but be sure to check! I want you to be an informed shopper, and knowing your LABELS is a tool that will take you a long way!

Kirkland's Signature Organic Marinara sauce is free of sugar and dairy, but there is oil in it. Post coming soon on how to decrease oil level in sauce.

We used to love Cleveland's own, Little Italy Pasta Sauce; unfortunately, it contains a small amount of cheese :(

Contains cheese :( Boo hoo!

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK? Have you ever made your own sauce? Do you ever used jarred sauce? Growing up, my mom made sauce that cooked on the stove all day long, YUM!, and my father and brothers were very particular in their sauce preferences, as in, NO jarred sauce!