paleo Quick Tip of the Day 29 Eat Fermented Foods and THRIVE

Paleo Quick Tip of the Day #29 Eat Real Fermented Vegetables and THRIVE

I have been an advocate of fermented veggies for a long time, but recently I have come to realize that they are very, very important indeed for your overall health!

I mean right up there with eliminating grain and sugar from your diet important...

For a long time I have repeated over and over “Add in Kefir or Greek Yogurt with active cultures into your daily Paleo Smoothie!”  And this is, and was wonderful advice indeed.
But I have been reading scholarly articles (so you don’t have to) and the latest rage in Paleodom is: Lactobacillus Plantarum, OR L.plantarum 299v

Hi!  I'm your gut buddy!!

This is the fermented microbe, or “gut buddy” that lives in us all, and does really good things for us, health-wise!   Perhaps most importantly, this particular, plant-based microbe protects and heals our almost always damaged intestinal linings.  This means things like Chrone’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, anything in the gut- Lactobacillus Plantarum is what we need- it is the answer to our problem!

I had always thought that a good gut microbe was a good gut microbe... and that’s true- but the rest of the story is that we need both- MILK based gut buddies- Lactobacillus acidophilus...

AND PLANT based gut buddies!!

Lactobacillus Plantarum, OR L.plantarum 299v!

I have long advocated that you use Kefir, or Greek yogurt to promote the Dairy based microbes of health- but NOW I know that you need BOTH varieties: SO, you need Plant based gut buddies, yes indeed you do DAILY!

But, not in your Paleo Smoothie.

Eat a pickle or two.  Have some sauerkraut with your brat, or with your eggs, or your pork chop.  Have some kimchi with whatever you like!  Maybe on your salad...

BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT!  OUR ANCESTORS ATE THIS STUFF EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THEIR LIVES (before refrigeration), since fermentation was the only preservation available- and we have adapted to that!  We NEED fermented veggies to be truly healthy!  Processed foods (once again!) are found... SADLY LACKING!

So, where do you get this superfood, this wondrous health producing wonder of the Paleo era??

Ideally, you make your own- it’s not hard, and kind of fun.  I’ll include a link to Mercola.com that explains how to do it on a larger scale...http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/01/fermented-vegetables.aspx

But if you are just getting started, you might want to just BUY some fermented veggies to get started!  I think this is a natural reaction, and I can relate.

Go to your local supermarket, and buy...http://bubbies.com/story

This is the only national manufacturer of fermented vegetables like pickles and sauerkraut that does it right!  NOT pasteurized (that would kill all the gut buddies!), not just packed in vinegar to give a sour taste without any fermentation at all- their stuff is the real deal!

Farmer’s Markets often have vendors that make their own fermented veggies for sale- this is also a wonderful option, just like making it yourself.  But, if not available- do NOT but the mass manufactured pickles and sauerkraut and other FAKE fermented vegetables- THEY ARE NOT FERMENTED, REALLY, AT ALL!!

Don’t buy them- but, if you have Asian stores in your area, pick up a bottle of kimchi!  Wonderful, pungent but VERY healthy stuff!!  The Asian stuff is wonderful, but the standard fermented sauerkraut and pickles are....

Just another indication of the sad state of America’s food supply- things listed as healthy and wholesome are usually... NOT!  Caveat Emptor- “Buyer Beware”

As true today as it was in Imperial Rome, which we are coming to resemble more and more each day!  High taxes, destruction of the small land holders in favor of the rich, politically connected BIG land holders, profits over quality, money over health...

The list goes on and on.

Back in the latter days of Rome, those with her original values moved “back to the land”... FAR from Rome- out to Spain, and France, and even Britain!  They decided to provide for themselves, as much as they could, since the Empire itself was rotten and decaying.

I am sad to say, but we are in a similar situation today.  REMOVE yourself, as much as possible, from BIG government.  Ignore their recommendations.  Do what YOU know to do be best:

1.Eat real, God made food- not processed crap
Avoid grains and sugars, that are in all the sterile foods recommended by the Government via the FDA and the Food Plate
Rely and trust your local neighbors and friends, NOT the BIG Government bureaucrats
Use your God given common sense- do what your grandparents would have done, about EVERYTHING- physically, mentally, spiritually- to quote the Wizard of Oz
Eat fermented foods

But a Vitamix!  Best way to eat real foods in the modern world!  AND, if you use my link for free shipping on www.paleojay.com you are helping to support the show, and also helping to support your own healthy life, and that of your family!


Check out this episode!

Perfect paleo addition!

KEFIR!

Kefir, a fermented milk beverage that is NOT pictured above!  (That's from a wonderful restaurant called Maldaner's in Springfield, Illinois- Pork and vegetables in a wondrous presentation- oh my!!)

Anyway, back to Kefir- a fermented milk, sometimes water, and sometimes coconut milk beverage from the Caucasus of Russia!  The milk version is unbelievably good; I have started with standard cow milk and kefir grains; goat milk is preferable if you have milk digestive problems.

I love my homemade kefir!!


It is so cheap to make, and so fresh, that it has become a Paleo Quick Start Smoothie mainstay!  And it is so easy to make, once you try it you won't want to be without it!


I've used Kefir for quite some time now in my smoothies; but, in the interest of making it easy, I used the store-bought version.

I'll never go back!


Not only is this easy, it is even easier than going to the store to buy all of those small, plastic, processed bottles of the stuff!  Basically, all you do is put some kefir grains in a jar, add milk, cover loosely, and leave on the counter for a day of two- that's it!!


So now I double the quantity of kefir in my smoothies, or even triple it!!


It has improved the taste, nutrition, and digestibility dramatically!  And this is right out of the box- they say that the first few batches might be "off tasting", but as the grains incorporate local strains of "fauna" into the batches, it should even out the taste.  My first batch is just great- what will my 10th or 20th be like??  I really can't wait to find out!


"But Paleojay" you say, "How do I get started on this money-saving, health-promoting, life-enhancing endeavor??"

Glad you asked, grasshopper:

How to make kefir!

Have fun in your new hobby, and please- let me know how it goes!!  

I believe that Kefir will become a mainstay in your life, and in your health!

PJ