Water Kefir Workshop

It is time to stop drinking soda (which is bad for you) and opt for something that tastes a million times better, is healthy ... and is much more affordable!!!

Instructor: Barbara Lovas, ThD

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Time: 3pm
Cost: $10/person

Location: TBA (location will be given w/ confirmation of attendance -- due to limited space)

Ok, it is time for a last minute water kefir workshop. Why??? Again, my water kefir is very happy ... and is growing so fast that I need to give some away.

Again, the weather is perfect for growing kefir!

What will this hour long workshop include?

Those who attend will be given some grains and instruction on how to make water kefir. I will include a recipe and resources. Please bring to the workshop a regular canning jar (pint or quart).

I will provide you with all the instructions, ingredients and the recipe needed to make your first batch. So, you will go home with your first batch started. As always, I don't sell my grains or scobies, but will give them away.

If you want milk kefir, water kefir or a kombucha scoby, remember those are available according to my supply. That being said; If you ask in advance, I should have some milk kefir grains and maybe some kombucha ready to give away on the day of the workshop.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, please reply to this e-mail and let me know you plan to go. Due to limited space at this workshop, I will give you the meeting place location/address with your confirmation. Feel free to invite your friends, just make sure you inform me, so they are added into my headcount.:)

also ...

Coming Soon...

HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES
(also, I am selling bulk herbs)

I have been hesitant in "selling" things, because I would never want anyone to think that the sharing of my concern for healthy eating and the value of probiotics was motivated by making a profit. Anyone who knows me, knows that I always give everything away. But as the economy continues to become more complicated and prices are rising at the pumps and at the local grocery stores ... and w/ the constant threat of our food sources becoming contaminated, I feel an urgency to share with everyone the importance of having good quality herbs in your kitchen at all times (which not only taste great, but have great nutritional value). For example: with the right herbs, a simple bowl of rice can become Spanish rice, Mexican rice, jambalaya, asian fried rice, herbs and rice, sweet rice, rice pudding ... OR, the right mixture of herbs as a tea can calm an upset stomach or help you sleep at night. Can you imagine how nice it would be to be able to whip up a cake or a treat at whim w/out having to go to the store to buy an expensive pre-mixed boxes or mixes. You can keep your kitchen up with all of the healthy staples you would need to make just about anything ... w/out any dangerous (AND w/out expensive additives and pre-packaged mixes.)

I am going to start teaching healthy cooking classes again. I will also offer you the opportunity to buy high quality herbs and seasonings at a very low price. Of course, kefir, kombucha are always given-away for free. In fact, if I could afford to stock all of your cabinets with wonderful herbs and staples for free, I would!

I would also be glad to order any rare herbs, or spices that you cannot find other places; including other things like cleansers, personal hygeine products or on things you would buy regularly at your health food store at probably a lower cost than you could find anyhwere else.

Also, for those of you who live too far away to attend my workshops or the cost of me shipping things to you would defeat the discount of getting products through me, I would be glad to give you resources via websites and information on how to order items yourselves at co-op prices. After many years of searching for good places to buy my staples, I have found these companies are very honest and follow high standards. The prices won't be a low as what I get, but will still be much less than the cost you would pay in your local stores.

Seize the day!!!
Barbara
seizethedayz.blogspot.com
http://rawmilknola.ning.com/profile/barbara

To see a video of what kefir looks like while u are making it, go to my Youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3UXqd9R4R8&feature=player_embedded .

My Favorite Yahoo Groups!

If you have never been a member of a Yahoo Group, you are missing out on a wealth of shared information. You will meet the most wonderful people with like interests, experience or training. I cannot count the times that I have had to rely on the expertise of my fellow Yahoo Group members to find resources and information that I could find no where else. Check out these groups: they are my favorites!!! If you don't want to be bombarded with each e-mail as they come in from each member, sign up to receive the daily log instead of individual e-mails.

http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=EnzymesandAutism@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Kefir_making@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=FlaxSeedOil2@yahoogroups.com
Real_Kefir_Making@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=GFCFNN@yahoogroups.com
candidasupport@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=holihome@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=discussingnt@yahoogroups.com

RE-CYCLING UNWANTED ITEMS
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=freecycleneworleans@yahoogroups.com -- a wonderful group of people (been a member for abt 5 or 6yrs) ... we exchange unwanted items, instead of throwing them into landfills. There is probably a freecycle in the area where you live. Make a YahooGroup Search for the word "freecycle" to find a group in your area.

The Skinny on What to DO and What to BUY ... to get a started doing things holistically

This is a VERY BASIC to do list to get you started on a holistic approach to good health...

MOST IMPORTANT:

• Try to get sun at least 15 mins everyday. If you cannot get sun, take cod liver oil for vitamin D and A -- in the summer, when you are in lots of sun, take fish oil everyday instead.
  
  HERE IS A BASIC SHOPPING LIST TO WORK TOWARDS:
  (more herbs and supplements will be added per your personal needs)
  
  raw milk (or organic WHOLE milk)
  raw almonds
  raw / unprocessed honey (best w/in a 50 mile radius)
  garlic
  vitamin c
  vitamin b complex (sublingual --under the tongue)
  oil of oregano-sublingual (for migraines, candida)
  flax, flax oil
  borage oil (for SKIN health)
  coconut oil (for skin, organs, blood sugar and to fight candida)
  fish oil or cod liver oil (depending on season)
  ginger (fresh)
  cayenne -- amazing stuff!!!
  cinnamon -- lowers blood sugar!
  turmeric
  cranberry
  milk thistle
  enzymes -- fresh pineapple and other tropical fruits
  aloe vera plant
  various herb plants
  probiotics -- milk/water kefir, yogurt (homemade)
  sauerkraut or sauerkraut juice (homemade)
  kombucha (homemade)
  aloe vera juice
  teas - green, black, chamomile (make teas w/ spring water)
  1 black coffee daily - if you want (organic)
  sea salt
  fruits
  dark veggies -- eggplants, greens
  good quality proteins: egss, meats ... without hormones/antibiotics
  
• a distiller (to make your own distilled water for drinking)
  
• a water filter (that removes chlorine, but not minerals)
  
• a regular juicer (I like the Jack LaLanne's best)
  
• a masticating juicer (I use the manual kind -- It looks like an old fashioned meat grinder)
  If you buy a masticating juicer you can make your own wheat grass juice. It is VERY good for you (but requires a lot dedication to grow) -- u can buy it directly from a grower (I used to buy a flat for $20 and divide it w/ a friend) OR in little baggies at wholefoods, but its a bit EXPENSIVE -- but if you are having health problems, I feel it is worth the expense.

Sprout your own stuff: alfalfa, beans, almonds, wheat grass ... sprouting anything sproutable makes it that much better for you ... lots of good enzymes!!!

NO SUGAR (you can have honey, stevia, blue agave) -- though ingesting sugar is a no-no, you will need regular white sugar to make kefir and kombucha... don't worry, the kefir and kombucha eat the sugar, so you don't have to.:)

You can eat peanuts and peanut butter, but not much. I don't eat peanut butter as a general rule, but sometimes I do crave a little. Almond butter and other butters can be subbed or added to your peanut butter if you love eating large amounts and don't want to give it up.

No pre-made juices -- make your own. Pre-made juices are like peanut butter. They contain lots of junk. Juices are also too concentrated and too sugary (natural sugars should be taken in whole form)

TRY to avoid gluten: do not eat any wheat, corn or milk (unless keferized)... whenever in doubt, ferment! Wholefoods has a really good gluten free bread in the freezer.

Avoid soy -- it is to be used as a supplement for women's hormonal problems and not as a food. If you want to eat soy, eat it fermented -- you can buy wheat-free natural soy sauce at Wholefoods. No tofu.

If u are dying to eat something sweet, though kefir and kombucha often curb cravings for sweets -- a little dark dark choc w/ all natural ingredients (no flavorings, hydrogenated oils or other junk)
Coconut oil is naturally sweet and u can make cool things w/ it for a sweet tooth.

• WHAT TO USE FOR SKIN PROBLEMS
  
  TOPICALLY for rashes (while taking internally)
  milk kefir -- for yeast/candida -- female yeast infection, thrush, acne
  kombucha -- for fungus -- ringworm, fungus nails, athlete's foot, acne, cradle cap
  vitamin C, tea tree oil -- Warts and some moles, acne
  coconut oil -- yeast/candida, dry skin/hair conditions, cradle cap
  
  blood root (old-fashioned Indian black salve) -- for serious problems (Be very careful about this: They do have people that sell very dangerous counterfeits -- use this under the close supervision of a holistic adviser)

TOPICAL

• lanolin -- extremely dry skin, chapping from nursing, medium for homemade baby ointment
• Puffy eyes -- a potato slice for about 10 mins or used green tea bag (or cold spoon)

GET RID OF...

GET RID OF white table salt. I call it "table poison."

GET RID OF toothpaste w/ fluoride, mouthwashes and pre-washes that have words that you cannot pronounce -- instead floss, Waterpik and scrub your tongue (and if you have bad breathe, you can use Waterpik to clean stones out of your tonsils) ... you can do oil pulling for serious gum problems. Oil of oregano and itty-little-bitty amount of food grade tea tree oil, OR my personal favorite is food grade peppermint oil on the tongue instead of mouthwash. The occasional baking soda OR lemon, strawberry or hydrogen peroxide cleaning is fine (DO NOT SWALLOW peroxide!).

GET RID OF "fat free" and "diet" foods -- eat fats (good fats!), eat everything WHOLE ... if you want to drink milk, at least drink it whole. Your body needs the whole product to use it properly. Eat butter, not margarine. Feel free to use as much good oils as you want (Do not cook olive oil to a high heat). Flax and Borage are best uncooked. You can heat coconut oil.

GET RID OF deodorants w/ aluminum or waxes (I just use salt -- I never ever stink, a good premade one is Lafes Natural and organic Deodorant spray.

GET RID OF Tums and antacids -- Drink milk kefir and/or aloe vera juice for an upset stomach (antacid prescriptions are, in my opinion, very dangerous -- if you are interested in learning more about the dangers of those and other prescriptions, I would be glad to forward you more information)

GET RID OF hair conditioners and that kind of stuff -- use coconut oil, lanolin (when needed) and essential oils mixed in the oil for smell (flax seed oil is good too, but more expensive and not any better than coconut)

GET RID OF perfumes and colognes -- If you can't go without them -- you can keep em, if u don't spray them on your skin. Spray them on your clothes instead if u really want to use them. Remember, you might be suffering from allergic reactions to those things and haven't realized it. Headaches, allergic reactions and sinus problems can be caused by lab formulated scents. Ask me to send you more info about this if you are interested in learning about the dangers of certain scents.

GET RID OF sunblock and bug repellent -- they have natural alternatives which are fine (but a bit expensive). Sunblock in general is poison. Cover up with cotton, just like they did in the old days. If you NEED a sunblock, make your own from broccoli or buy some from the Wholefoods Store OR Dr. Mercola has a real good one.

GET RID OF sunglasses -- let the sun get in your eyes everyday. NOTE: I am not telling you to stare at the sun, but allow the sun to get in your eyes. It is an important part of our optical process (the dilation and response to sun on the back of the eye is important) it is also needed for the brain's proper functioning and is a natural antidepressant. It is no coincidence that God placed a gigantic sun in the sky to shine on us while we work outside or commute to and from work... we were NOT born with sunglasses attached to our heads, but with eyelashes ... and common sense.

• For easier reading, I have given only a limited amount of information per subject.If you found anything in this blog that you want more information on, feel free to ask me for resources.
  
  
  
  

Kombucha Recipe

Here are my simple instructions for making kombucha. It is much more potent than what you can buy at a store. You will need to find a scoby. Join a kombucha Yahoo group or post your desire to find a scoby on a freecycle or your local health food store bulletin board. Most home kombucha makers are more than happy to share. Many have tried to make kombucha from store bought kombucha. To my knowledge, no one has ever been able to succesfully do it.

Most important thing to remember while making kombucha is that it must be made and handled in a very clean environment. Take off all jewelry. Scrub under your nails with a nail brush. Also make sure that no chlorine or chlorinated water comesds into contact with your kombucha or scoby at any time. Here's the instructions:

12 cups spring water/ 1 cup sugar/ 5 tea bags (bring spring water to boil, pour in 1 cup of white sugar and boil 5 mins, turn off heat and let 5 bags of organic black tea simmer for at least 10 mins. Let the tea/sugar/water cool down before adding ur scoby and kombucha tea to it.) Add your scoby in smooth side-up -- if it flips, no problem. They have a mind of their own. Don't freak out and take me literally!

1 cup of kombucha tea (if u forget to save kombucha from ur last batch you can use apple cider vinegar instead -- I don't know how much, I never used vinegar before. You can look that info up on the kombucha website if u need to use vinegar)

1 or one large mother (SCOBY)
and can add a baby SCOBY on top (both SCOBY should be smooth side up)

Put in a dark quite place for around 8 days. Temp. around 70 to 75 degrees. Taste to your liking. 6 days is too sweet and 10 days starts to taste more vinegary if you mess up and it is too vinegary for u to appreciate, u can add a juice, water it down, use it as table vinegar for your salads or for shampoo or antifungal -- I keep some in my bathroom for my hair. Add strawberries or herbs to your tea after the scoby has been removed (they call that the first fermenting) add your stuff and then let it soak a day or two in the fridge or out of fridge for a few hours (that is the second fermenting). Remember to burp ur bottles every once in a while to prevent them from blowing up:)

Here is Beverly's instructions http://users.bestweb.net/~om/kmi/. Her instructions are far more detailed than mine. She is one of the few individuals who is most knowledgable in kombucha making. She is a member of one of the groups that I am a member of. In fact, I suggest that if you are not a member of the Original Kombucha Yahoo Group, it would be very helpful for you to join. If you have any questions you can always ask her for help too.

Washing My Hair with Kefir and Kombucha

Since I had started washing my hair with Kefir Whey and Kombucha my hair has become noticeably thicker and shinier. I am almost 50 years old now, and prior to using the kefir and kombucha my hair had been starting to turn grey. My hair is now coming in healthy, shiny and back to it's original blonde color for the most part.

When I noticed that my hair was going back to my original color I was a bit embarrassed to tell anyone what I had noticed; because I was sure that people would think I was imagining things, so I said nothing. Ironically, within a day or so of my noticing this, someone in my kombucha group had noticed the same thing. Their experience was more evident than mine, because that person and their spouse's hair had changed from grey back to brown. I replied and shared my experience and so did others. So, I am not the only 'crazy' that says my hair has gone back to it's original color. Since that time, which has been at least a year ago now. Several people have commented on my hair. The ones who knew that my hair had been thin my whole life ... and that my hair had become dry, brittle and dull as I had become older have been even more shocked.

So, now are you wondering what I do to wash my hair? First of all, I haven't been able to go totally soapless on the hair yet. Though, I use so very little shampoo, that one large bottle of shampoo with essential oils lasts me forever ... I mean, FOREVER! I tried the "no poo" method with Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar. It was too drying for my hair. Though, I must mention that it does work very well for others.

Here is what I do: I soak my hair in the kombucha at least once a week. I also soak my hair in kefir at least once a week. When my hair needs washing between those times I use a pinch a good quality herbal shampoo with essential oils ONLY on my roots. As I rinse the shampoo out (rinsing it out very well!) the shampoo water runs down the remainder of my hair, though I don't intentionally 'wash' the rest of my hair or ends.

I used to pretty much just take a handful of shampoo and slap it on my wet hair/head and sort of scrub my hair around until it looked like a nest (which is the common practice of most), then rinse it out; followed by conditioner. My poor hair certainly needed the conditioner after that horrible abuse!

I no longer use conditioners or hair sprays. Thankfully, I don't need them anymore. Being that my hair used to be so thin, it used to quickly become oily. This is no longer the case. Now, I use a little bit of pure coconut oil in my hair after washing. It works great! Every once in a while I mix up some coconut oil and lanolin and use it on the tips of my hair.

Let me warn you! If you wash your hair too often in kombucha, your head will smell like vinegar when you sweat. That happened to me once. Not good! Which also reminds me, if you are a person who likes your hair to smell good you can do what I do. When you add the coconut oil to your hair add a drop of geranium oil, or any other essential oil that is safe for your skin. Your hair will smell great and look shiny. It also holds up well to humidity. I live in New Orleans, the capital of humidity, and my hair holds up great.

No More Soap?

I never dreamed that I would see the day that I would bathe without soap. Nor, could I imagine ever being proud to tell someone such a thing. Well, that is the truth. I don't use soap to bathe anymore... and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made!



Ever since I have thrown out the soap, my skin is softer and more clear than it has ever been. I am sure you are wondering if I stink now. Nope, that has not been a problem either. I don't use soap, but I do use sea salt, Epsom salt, kefir and kombucha:



Sea Salt -- works as a natural neutralizer. It kills bacteria and germs that can cause infection and softens the water.



Epsom Salt -- provides magnesium and sulfur that the body needs, with all of the added benefits of salt. As a perk, Epsom salt baths are great for relief of muscle pain and sprains.



Kefir and Kombucha -- are great astringents for fungus and any kind of skin condition. They are packed with probiotics (friendly bacteria). They are not only great for soaking in, but also can be used instead of shampoo.



I am sure that at first glance of this list most people would assume that this is too expensive of a venture to even think of trying. Let me tell you, since I have started doing this I have saved lots of money. I buy the salts by the bulk and make my own kombucha and kefir. I will be going into more detail in my next few blogs as to how to make kefir and kombucha. I will also add all of the links to the cool websites and to my mentors, so you can learn to make them for yourself.



The reason I started making kefir and kombucha is because I had stomach problems and I was looking for a way to straighten up my stomach's flora. It worked! My stomach problems are gone and the lagniappe perk is now I have found that there are more uses for them than I ever knew, including bathing in them. In fact, the kefir I use to wash my hair is made from my leftover whey. The kombucha I use is made from the kombucha that I make to drink that becomes over fermented. I could go on forever about using them to wash my hair ... but that is another blog too!



Why did I stop using soap? I know you were wondering. I was reading an article from Dr. Mercola and he had mentioned that we should not be using anything on our skin that we would not be willing to eat. It sounds bizarre, but think about it: our skin is our largest organ. Our skin absorbs everything that we put on it. If you think about all the junk we put on our skin; all the chemicals and toxins we take in on an average day with our soaps, lotions, colognes, laundry soaps and softeners ... then add in all the chemicals we come into contact with in the environment on a daily basis, it's too much to even begin to wrap our minds around. Maybe after reading this you might consider going soapless too!