ROSEMARY GT KOMBUCHA

Rosemary Kombucha

I love the smell of fresh cut rosemary.  It is such a aromatic herb that makes green tea kombucha so tasty.  Not to mention it has so many nutritional benefits like phyto-nutrients.  Cellular nutrition equals cellular rejuvenation in my books.  So i'm all for adding a little rosemary to my kombucha.  It's also called an anti aging herb, and I believe it because I have seen the results with my own eyes on other folks who's skin alone testify to the health benefits of rosemary, by drinking it as a tea daily.  I have also been using it in my body butters as well for the past year, and I love it. So do my friends. Rosemary has natural salicylic acid, similar to other leading anti blemish lotions, but without all the chemicals.  But that's another blog I posted elsewhere.

Anyway, for the Rosemary Kombucha,  I added...

I disturbed my baby SCOBY, now there's another one
growing circumferencing the diameter of the container.

• water  one gallon
• green tea 4 tea bags
• rosemary dried 2- 6 teaspoons or 1 fresh sprig
• sugar 1/2-1 cup
• SCOBY (I used a small one)

I alway put the herbs in the water while it is still cold.  I heat it slowly till it is almost boiling then I turn the stove off at let it sit with the herbs in till it is barely warm.  I strain it and add that to my continous brew.  If this is your first batch you will add your SCOBY, and your 2 cups of kombucha from your previous brew, or a store bought bottle.  If you have no starter you can always use regular vinegar, but you need a SCOBY.  Yes it will culture.  I've done it a few times in my experiments.  Also, if you don't have a SCOBY you need a starter like a bottle of store bought kombucha if you don't have access to freshly brewed kombucha.  It does has enough live culture in it to recreate another baby SCOBY if left undisturbed for a few weeks.

I lifted the baby SCOBY'S and there is
 the mother SCOBY floating underneath.
Yummy rosemary kombucha beneath
 my SCOBY'S)

Note that rosemary has a lot of oil in the herb naturally, so it will take longer for the SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) and the tea to culture.  Don't worry, just be patient, it will culture.  Mine took at least 7 days before I saw the baby scoby starting to grow on the surface like a thin film.  It took me 2 weeks of brewing before it started to have that kombucha slight vinegary taste.  Yum.  So after 2 weeks my Rosemary gt Kombucha is ready, and i'm a happy camper.

GRAPE WATER KIFER SODA

Grape Juice Water Kifer Soda

Last night about midnight before I went to bed,  I put my water kifer grains  to soak with ...
3 tbsp. Water kifer grains
1 cup of Grape Juice (more or less, depends on your taste)
3 cups of water
1 tbsp sugar (I used brown)
1 quart size jar
12-18 hours.

Note that this is just the first stage.  Had I decided to go for more bubbles I would cap this in a bottle, tightly so that the air bubbles don't escape.  This works great if you like that wine taste.  I don't, so I stop at 12 hours and I will drink this as is.  It is now that I will see if it is too dry, or not sweet enough, then I will add, water, juice, or sweetener. Or you can leave it as is.  Your choice  Hey, I like taste
too:)

Fermented grape juice water kifer

It's still naturally carbonated, but not as much.  However it's still a healthy probiotic drink.  It's not as sweet as it was before the ferment, which makes it a great drink for diabetics who usually have to leave the fruit juices alone because of the natural sugars already there.  Therefore they don't get all the antioxidants and phytonutrients that are in the juices.  It is these healthy chemicals along with the probiotic kifers that are going to help control the diabetes, like it did mine.

Note 2:  Never throw your ferment away, because it over ferments.  This will make a great base for a delicious grape vinaigrette.  Don't you agree?  Yummy!  I can just imagine.

See how easy it is?  So natural, healthy, and cheap.  What a way to go. Now you try it:)  Let me know how it comes out.  Enjoy and...
Many blessings.
Mary Helen

Grape Juice Water Kifer on the rocks

COCONUT MINT KIFER ICE CREAM

Today I was in the mood for ice cream. However, I still don't want to waste my money on something that is  going to be harmful with a lot of sugars, fats, and chemicals I can hardly pronounce.  I  make my own desserts and, ice cream is one I enjoy making.  It is so fast and easy. Again, I take control of how I want to live here.  Do I want to feel energetic, or do I want to take a nap after a few scoops of store bought ice cream.   Yes you heard right.  I said scoops, and  since it's mostly ice you can have more than one scoop. I have so much to do on my to do, and bucket list, I don't have time to take a nap.  I did enough napping when I was sick.  haha.  I will go for the homemade probiotic ice cream.  So i'm sharing my recipe. Ingredients are easy as I ferment milk kifer daily.  You will need...

• 2 cups ice 
• 1/2 cup fermented milk kifer
• 2 tbsp sweetener (I used brown sugar, and agave.  Any kind will do)  
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp dried coconut or powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 bag mint tea opened (fresh will work better)

I must say you will need a high speed blender that can handle the ice, like a Vita Mix, or a Ninja.  Add the milk kifer, vanilla, sweetener, mint tea, and coconut shreds and oil.  Blend till pulverized.  Add ice, blend on high and voila!!

Coconut Mint Milk Kifer Ice Cream.  Yummy.

I know that mint and chocolate is a good combination too.  But my Gheredelli's chocolate syrup just slid off the top. I know it's Gheredelli's but i'm not perfect.  But it's still oh so good.  Not too sweet either.  It made about 3 cups ice cream.  Note that this melts quite rapidly.  So you want to serve and eat right away.  Any leftovers can be put in a covered jar.  Before you use unused portion, you  shake in the jar and pour.  Now you have a mint chocolate kifer smoothie.  It's all probiotic, homemade and good.  So much cheaper and healtheir too.  

Get busy and try it for yourself.  Experiment in the kitchen with your milk kifer.  Have you tried green tea kifer ice cream?  It's so good and healthy, but so is blueberry.  Oh my goodness.  I could go on.  But another time.

Enjoy and many blessings:) 

Maryhelen

SPICY FERMENTED CABBAGE & KOMBUCHA JUICE

FERMENTED CABBAGE & KOMBUCHA JUICE.  A LIVE PROBIOTIC DRINK

Top of the day to you.  I remember when every morning I would crawl out of bed walked to the kitchen to start my morning brew of coffee.  I guess I felt the need for speed and thought coffee would do it.  It does to an extent.  But my body would always let me know it didn't like it.  Today my morning drink is this coctail I concocted using...

• 36 oz. kombucha green tea vinegar
•  1/2 cup fermented cabbage aka sauerkraut
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper (totally optional)
• 1 clove garlic (totally optional)

Blend this all together.  You can strain the pulp if you like but I like the fiber too.  Pour in glass jars/bottles, and cap. Store in the refrigerator.  There it will continue to ferment at a much slower rate.

I don't drink this coctail just to wake me up.  My fermented cabbage and kombucha are both  probiotic so I just doubled my probiotic intake right?  Now that's what I'm  talking about.  Also it is not only probiotic, but remember cabbage is high in antioxidants, and phyto-nutrients, as well as fiber.  The Cayenne pepper is also loaded with these ingredients too. 

If you don't know the benefits of probiotics folks, start googling.  It's a wonder food.  Also the benefits of Cayenne Pepper alone has a write up here.  You do the research.  I will continue to test and inform.  By all means test for yourself and see.

By the way this drink is so tangy and tasty.  Better than any V-8 juice. Add some celery, or tomatoes. You will really look forward to it.  Be creative, get involved with your own health and take charge.

Enjoy, and many blessings  

Mary Helen

VANILLA CREAM WATER KIFER SODA

Hi everyone, here is a quick video on how I made a delicious, Vanilla Cream Water Kifer Soda.  Frothy, with carbonation.  This was done in 8 hours.  So easy anyone can make this.  Best of all...it's a healthy LIVE PROBIOTIC CARBONATED SODA.  Hope you enjoy this one:))

All I started with was

• one gallon water (do not use filtered because there are no minerals.)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Black Strap Molasses
• 1 drop vanilla, per glass.
• clean bottle with tight lid.

Many Blessings:))
Mary Helen

APPLE WATER KIFER

Water kifer is one of my favorite probiotic drinks of all the probiotic drinks. I love the fact that it carbonates just like soda, and for the price of sugar and water.  First, you get all the health benefits of  probiotics without having to use any dairy, or calories. Some of the benefits includes, energy, a state of well being, satiated. Detox.  Anyway,  Second, you can actually drink all the kifer water you want right?  After all it's water.  You can drink a gallon of this a day and it is fine. It's a good way to get your probiotics, have a healthy gut, and get to drink lots of liquids.  Last of all, Water Kifer is a very cheap, and a healthy probiotic water. Last time I checked, water was pretty cheap right?

Why did I label this drink as a diabetic drink?  The Kifer Water Grains, again the term SCOBY comes up,  (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast)  Well, this bacteria and yeast feeds off the sugar.  So the sweet sugar water, that was sweet sugar water, is no more.  The Water Kifer Grains eat all the sugar, and leaves a nice carbonated probiotic drink. Well in place of all sugar and water, I added 100% apple juice.  the ratio is as follows...

• 3 tbsp Water Kifer Grains
• 2 cups 100% apple juice
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp black strap molasses

I mixed 2 cups warm water with the black strap molasses.  Then cool to room temperature.  Mix the apple juice and sweet water shake and add to grain.  Set in a warm place. Within a few hours, you will start to see your Water Kifer Grain, do what I call the bubble dance.  The grains absolutely love this combination and do flourish.  This wonderful probiotic kifer water should be ready in 12 hours if kept in a warm place.  Longer if set in a cooler place. The drink is barely noticibly sweet, and quite bubbly.  If I bottle this or decant this into another jar, it would only be for another12 hours in a warm place.because  it would continue to carbonate. Quite similar to sparkling apple cider, but better, not a fake carbonation. Do not add more ferment time, or sugar as this will lead to a small alcoholic but probiotic drink that tastes quite like alcohol.  Yuck.  I was bottling this sweet drink till I had an explosion.  I had glass chards flying everywhere.  Quite scary.  Thank God I had just left the kitchen too.  Now again don't dare bottle for more than 12 hours with this combination. 

What you see here is the bubbles from the above ingredients.  It has been combined for about 18 hours.  It looks quite ready.  When I pop open the lid and take a good whiff.  My nose quickly inhales the fermented scent.  I immediately know that smell and know if it could burst or not.  This one looks like it could burst in a glass bottle  So I would enjoy drinking this now as opposed to later.  Actually to be honest, I should have and would have preferred to drink this Apple Kifer Water, after a 12 hours and not 18 hours later.  Smells like and tastes a bit like alcohol.  So then, all you do is strain.  Rinse grains well.  And start another batch of kifer water using just water and sugar.  It is best to alternate, to give your grain a break.

I love my probiotics whatever way I can get them.  This apple water kifer is healthy, delicious and very cheap.  You will never have to buy another soda again.  The health benefits are amazing, as it has helped me lose weight and keep the majority of it off.  It quenches, that sweet tooth cravings I have.  I've learned to really become creative with Water Kifer.  Like Cream soda?  Try adding vanilla to your already brewed water kifer.  Do not add the vanilla to the grains.  Careful cause the grains are delicate.  I have had water kifer grains disintegrate on me.  Try strawberries, bananas, or mango.  Only experiment once your grains have grown and you have a backup supply.  But this recipe is a tried and true, according to my results here in Mary Helen's Test Kitchen, in Hollywood, Ca.  If you have any success stories, by all means, please share.:)

Enjoy, and many blessings:))

Mary Helen

BREW KOMBUCHA WITHOUT THE SCOBY.

SCOBY (SYBIOTIC CULTURE OF BACTERIA AND YEAST, in Kombucha

Who says you need a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) to make Kombucha?  I remember when I searched for this wonderful baby (SCOBY) I read I needed to make my own kombucha earlier last year.  I did make a drink similar using a Mother from an apple cider vinegar I brewed earlier last year using green tea.  But I only made green tea vinegar.  haha, It was good and also probiotic, but it was not kombucha.  It was altogether a whole different ball game. Well after months of research and experimenting in my own kitchen.  I found you can make kombucha using a bottle of kombucha itself to innoculate your tea to make the SCOBY and the Kombucha.   However, my quest to get my real SCOBY was accomplished here in my own neighborhood.  Anyway,  here is what you will need...

• one gallon of green or black  tea.  Home brewed is preferred but store bought is also an option.  
• one 16 oz bottle of original raw kombucha
• one large glass, stainless steel, or plastic container, big enough to hold your kombucha tea.  Note, if using a plastic container, it must read #1, or #2 on the bottom of the container.
• 1/2-1 cup sugar.  Not less.  Do not substitute.



WHITE FILM QUITE DEFINED...SCOBY 

• clean cloth to cover

Add sugar to steeped tea, disolving before you add your bottle of kombucha. Stir well and pour in large container.  Cover with a cloth to avoid any unfriendly critters that may be flying around.  Because if you make it, surely they will come.  LOL.  Put in a warm quiet place undisturbed.  I like to keep mine by the warm window.  She loves it there, and within 4-10 days, you will see a thin layer of white film, floating on top.  Do not disturb her.  She will grow into a off white beautiful SCOBY.  And you are on your way to a happy successful kombucha brewing.

Note you can always make more or less of this recipe.  However on the note of making less...  May I suggest you still add the full 16 oz bottle of kombucha anyway.  It will just help speed up the brewing process, by maybe a couple of days. Also note that the more sugar you add, the chances of having an alcoholic beverage is also greater.  Not to the point of drinking real alcohol. but it is noticeble in taste. So just be careful there I particularly do not like the taste of alcohol. So I use less sugar. The taste is not sweet at all, but you can always get creative by adding juice, or any sweetener of your choice.  Next will come the carbonation but that is in  the second ferment, and bottling and capping.  We'll talk about that another day.

So let's get healthy and start brewing.

Happy Live Probiotics Folks:)

Many Blessings:)

Mary Helen

sybiotic culture of bacteria and Yeast

MILK KIFER AND PROBIOTICS

Milk Kifer
Milk kifer is yet another probiotic drink.  It is similar to a liquid plain yogurt in taste, maybe a little more tart. If you don't like the taste, try making fruit smoothies out of the milk kfer..  Milk kifer grain can be put in dairy milk or any other milks and after a day depending on the ratio of milk and grain, is ready.  Milk Kifer is  is also good for folks who are lactose intolerant, because it changes the lactose into lactase.  So now you can drink your milk and get your calcium, and protein.

I like to make kifer ice cream, and herbed cheeses, as well as kifer cheese cakes. Yay.  More healthy probiotics.  Once again there is no comparison with probiotics and taste, when it comes to store bought and homemade milk kifers.  Again it has gone through a heating process enough to slow down the fermenting process.  That way they can keep the desired taste.  Real milk kifers as well yogurt will continue to ferment, making it more tart day by day. This doesn't happen to store bought products.  Hmm, I wonder why?   Real milk kifers, as each day passes it ferments into a tart probiotic edible. That's it for now.  Keep googling folks.  Stay informed.
Stay tuned for exciting milk kifer recipes, coming real soon.
Many blessing,
Mary Helen.

GT KOMBUCHA AND PROBIOTICS

Kombucha
I have been fermenting/brewing kombucha for just a few months but did months of research before I received my scoby. (SCOBY=SYMBIOTIC CULTURE OF BACTERIA AND YEAST).  It is also referred the the "mother".  Scoby  looks like a mushroom floating at the top of each bottle of kombucha.  It's circumference would be the same size of the container holding the scoby and tea.  Kombucha is the probiotic drink that is made by putting the scoby and green or black tea, and sugar. It is left to ferment for 3 to 10 days.  3 days if in a warm place.  Expect at least 10 days more or less in a much colder climate.  If you don't see the scoby in your bottle of kombucha floating at the top of the bottle.  Chances are your store bought kombucha especially the ones on the shelf, that is NOT REFRIGERATED, have been heated to kill most of the live bacteria.  This will ward off the chance of the unsightly mushroom growing. Hey you don't want to ward off the paying customers. but now you no longer have that healthy probiotic drink that they searched for.  Yes heat kills the healthy bacteria.  They heat it up enough to kill most but not all the living bacteria.  This way they can still label it raw, or unpasteurized.  Sad but true.

Although I have only been brewing kombucha for a few months, in that time I have had many brews going at one time.  From fresh blueberries, guavas, and apples,  to herb like hibiscus, ginger, or anise.  Kombucha quickly turns to vinegar, and is great as dressings for salads, as well as the skin.  Mint kombucha is so refreshing,  It make for a great vinaigrette. It also makes a great skin toner as well.

This fermented probiotic, is quite delicious.  It has a tangy somewhat vinegary taste.  It always quenches my thirst, gives me energy, and makes me feel full, so I eat less too. I also like to take a glass of kombucha upon arising,  It's vinegary taste is a good eye opener.  No more coffee for me.  I also like to drink kombucha at least 15-20 minutes before each meal, not during. I take it before I go to bed as well, because I know it also works as a detox.  I will let it run it's course while I sleep. It works for me.  Kombucha can be fermented/brewed with other herbs, and fruits, for a variety of nutrition, as well as taste.

Kombucha is cheap and easy to brew.  One 16 oz. bottle of kombucha sold in the markets, averages. $2.79.  For the price of one bottle, you could easily  brew a gallon.  I have a motto that I always share, and it is..."Waste not want not".  Why spend your hard earned money for a lower quality product, when you can brew the real live kombucha, easy and at home.

Well that's it for now,  till the next time...  Be on the lookout for upcoming recipes coming real soon.
Many blessings,
Mary Helen

WATER KIFER AND PROBIOTICS

I have been brewing/fermenting water kifer for almost one year now.  Yes, one year ago I was diabetic, had high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.  I also had a serious breathing problem too.  I received my two tsp of kifer grain which I purchased online. Funny, because I have never bought water kifer as a drink before, so I really didn't know what it should taste like.  But I just kept brewing it anyway.  Why? Because my research towards a healthier me led me to WATER KIFER AND PROBIOTICS.  It took me quite a while to adjust to the slight "smell" and taste of kifer water.  However I found mixing fermented water kifer with fruit juice or herbs is an excellent way to disquise that "slight "smell" and taste.  It is a drink that is really ALIVE and is known for it's cellular rejuvenation.  It is an excellent natural energy drink, as well as a detoxifier.    I have read that thousands of years ago it's waters were called "The fountain of youth", and the kifer grain was quite precious then.

It reminds me of a story I read here online, it was a story about a Russian king who had no Water Kifer Grain for himself or his kingdom.  It was said that China had an abundant supply but kept a close guard at all times as they did not want to share this grain with any other country.  They alone wanted to rule the land by longevity, and vitality.  However, the King of Russia heard of this amazing grain worth more than gold,.  He sent his beautiful sister to China to seduce the King, and succeeded.  She fell in love with the King of China, and told him what had conspired.  He let her go home to take the grain to her brother, the King with instructions to give it lots of loving care.  The Brother happily received the grain, and immediately began to grow the grain for his kingdom.  This is where they said they took it a step further and realized that this is grain was also considered a medicine as well as a water that gives life and began to continue its scientific research. To conclude they found that this Water Kifer Grain, did indeed have capabilities to heal many illnesses.  Whoever, drank of this water on a regular basis began a remarkable journey of recovery.


Probiotics
PRO=FOR. BIOTICS= LIFE.  I like that.  The thought that live micro-organisms kind of reconstructing all the damage that was done all those years through, food, stress, and drugs.  Well, the first thing I noticed was my diahhrea was gone. I hated taking pills, and have been asking if they could check to see if they could reduce the amount of medication.  I was always told no, because my body couldn't function without it.  So not to take the full dose of anti diarrhea medication was a scary start for me.  It's been a year now, I no longer take any pills for the bad diarrhea I once had.  As a matter of fact today, I am totally medication free, and have been for a few months now.   I still see my doctor, for my check ups, and his response at first was probably the test was faulty.  I said I didn't think so because of how good I felt.  My energy level improved so much, that I no longer have to take an afternoon nap.  Did I mention that I also lost  40 pounds somewhere down the line.  And I wasn't even dieting.  They say there is not enough evidence to claim it's benefits, but I can only share with you my experience with probiotic drinks, and foods.  So probiotic food is not in just yogurt.  Water Kifer is loaded with a whole lot more probiotics than yogurt.

Water Kifer 
Water Kifer a a very living probiotic drink.  It is made by putting water kifer grain with sugar water for a couple of days to ferment.  So easy folks.  After that you just drink the water.  If you want, you can bottle the water with a tight seal for a second ferment.  It then becomes a naturally carbonated drink.  Very fizzy, just like soda.  You can flavor it with fruit or herbs for a variety of fizzy drinks.  Water kifer, is an alternative to drinking milk kifer.  You can get all the probiotic benefits without the calories right?  That sounds good to me.

So hopefully you now know a little more about these wonderful PROBIOTIC elixers. At least enough to explore for yourself wonderful world of PROBIOTICS. I learned to work with it and have made as much at 10 brews going at once, using different herbs, fruits and sugars.  The benefits you will reap will be priceless.  I am not telling you to quit taking your medication.  Just try any one of these probiotic drinks, and give it a fair chance. In time soon, you will know by how you feel.  Continuing seeing your doctor, and ask him what he thinks. Get your blood work, see what happens.  It is so much better in quality  if you can ferment/brew at home for the probiotic effects.  If you don't brew, find someone who does.  I'm sure they will be quite willing to share. In doing so you would also save a lot of money too. Not to mention the kifer water with young coconut juice.  That is priced at a low (haha) price of $13.99 for 16 ounces.  Yes that's right.  Probiotics is not cheap.  However, it is, if you make it at home.

Enjoy, and many blessings,
Mary Helen

LOOK WHAT PROBIOTICS HAVE DONE FOR ME

Hi there, 
Just a quick note to give you a clue, as to, where was I one year ago health wise.  And where I am today health wise. How probiotics helped me cure not one but all my medical illnesses.  I am so grateful for this findings and am sharing in the hopes, that someone can also benefit like I have by implementing probiotics to their diet.  I thank my Heavenly Father for any guidance I may receive. Here goes...

Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol. 
I could never plan my days because I never knew how I was going to feel that day.  I did not know if my sugar was going to be too low, or too high. I had diabetes, and all the trimmings that went with it.  That included high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.  My legs would get neuropathy and there were times they would buckle on me.  No fun. I eventually resorted to an electric wheelchair.  This to me is a horrible tool used to cripple one even more than need be. True the more you move, the more you lose.  Who said that?  Oh yes, me.  You sure can't move much confined to a chair.  Talk about hard to breath when you do want to get out of that wheelchair after being confined for awhile. Exacerbating is putting it mildly.


COPD, Asthma, and Severe Sleep Apnea
I developed asthma as an adult in my 30's.  It knocked me down, and really kicked me to the curb, in a bad way.  It became a way of life to breath with a melody (wheezing).  My whole world as I knew it came crashing down. My active life came to a sudden halt. The hospital soon became my home away from home.  I was intubated once, while I was pregnant with my son, and even coded blue before. and had to be put on a ventilator to breath for me.  Thank God I was in the hospital when it happened.  Anyway, the last 30 years have been hard...to breath.  I had severe sleep apnea,  I stopped breathing every minute while asleep.  It was for that reason, they had to continue to keep me awake for the brain surgery.  It was already a major surgery, now all they needed was for me to stop breathing too?  No thanks.  Bottom line, I had another sleep study two weeks ago.  I went from severe, to moderate sleep apnea.  Not bad right?  Again I thank God for his guidance in this journey I partake.


Essential Tremors
Yup I was a pretty sick camper. Essential tremors had become a hazard to my life. I just had fully recovered from two major brain surgeries to stop the essential tremors,  I was born with right before I first embarked on this probiotic diet.  I had one surgery, as soon as I recovered went in for another.  My tremorof course, was the more severe full body tremor, with a major yes yes syndrome.  That's the head bobbing uncontrollably back and forth, along with the constant tremor of my whole body, and spastic hand jerks as well.  Talk about muscle pain.  Ugh.  They are now gone because of the surgery and the implants they  put in. I have a battery inside my chest that is good for 3 to 5 years at the most.  I also have two electrodes placed in the right hemisphere, and the left hemisphere. It has to be turned on every morning, and off every night.  The outside battery is similar to a small remote control.  Sometimes the battery dies unexpectedly, like yesterday.  I was totally dysfunctional, and immediately became a hazard to my own health.  I had to wait for my son to to get batteries and install it so it can be turned on again, just to function normally.  It's been a while since I stabbed myself with a fork or cut my fingers, trying to use a kitchen knife.  And yes it is possible to hurt yourself with a spastic hand and a toothbrush at hand.  Ouch!  All this could lead one to depression, don't you think.


Depression

I will keep this short and sweet.  I lost my four younger brothers, my mother and the father I knew one by one.  It was alway suddenly, and fast without warning, my whole family gone.  They were all I knew.  Needless to say it left me in a worse state. So along with illness, yes my depression kicked in.  It got so bad, my life revolved around social workers, a clubhouse now referred to a "wellness center.  I took medicine for depression for about the last 25 years. I guess you can say I did the "medicine shuffle dance".  I never realized how much the meds really slowed me down in my way of thinking, till I got off them completely about 8 months now.  Do I feel depressed?  Not at all.  I am too busy, and have too much energy.  Do I miss going to a place where "everyone knew my name".  Not at all.  Thank God, for probiotics.  By the way, I ended up having to fight to stay in my new apartment.  The social workers tried their best to get me to live in a nursing home permanently.  I showed them by getting better, right?   Haha.  Yes, there is a God!

Illness as a way of life
I had succomed  myself to this way of life.  The perils of one disastrous  event after another.  I even had my own power wheelchair, and an oxygen tank holder.  I guess you can say they literally, "Pimped my Ride". I was always in a nursing home, recovering from one thing after another. Lol.  Anyway,  I was taking close to 300 different pills every month for many years.  I had chronic loose stools, and sometimes could not leave my apartment.  This was another problem I had for about 15 years.  I've been checked but they never found any problems there.  So they just took care of the symptom with pills, and more pills.  My body felt so toxic, it hurt to move let alone walk.  This let to lack of exercise...and I got bigger and bigger. Why?  I was watching my fats and sugars.  Oh I cheated now and then, but I sure tried to be good to no avail. There is good news.

PROBIOTICS and MY RECOVERY
One year later after taking water kifers, milk kifers, kombucha's, as well and venturing on to other probiotic foods. I am diabetic free.  I am also free from all those trimmings I talked about.  My blood pressure was normal on my last few visits.  And my doctors visits are less often.  Yes. My cholesterol is way low in a good way.   I feel great and have for several months now.  My energy level has increased by 50%, to the tune, of,"I had so much energy, I lost 40 lbs."  I'm not saying life is perfect, but it sure is a lot better today without all  that baggage.  What a load off my back. Lol, Oh, one more thing.  Did I mention how cheap it is to brew/ferment your own probiotics at home.  Yes, it is very cheap to get healthy.  Lets do it folks.  What are you waiting for?

Many blessings,
Mary Helen