

Cultured Food Life
Donna Schwenk
Discover how to make and serve delicious probiotic foods and improve your overall health with Donna Schwenk. In her weekly radio show "Cultured Food Life" (new episodes every Tuesday), Donna will de-mystify different probiotic foods such as kefir, kombucha, and cultured vegetables, and share how to add these foods into your diet. As a teacher and writer, Donna works with thousands of people to open the door to a world of foods that can help improve an array of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, and IBS. In her down-to-earth and informative style, Donna will walk you through the basic preparation techniques and teach you how to make these delicious probiotic recipes at home. You can find out all about Donna on her web site https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 9, 2021 • 26min
Episode 147: Eating Cultured Foods For 20 Years
Sometimes you have to fight through some bad days to find the best days of your life. As a young woman, I always had a sense of urgency but never knew what it was. When several crises hit I had to change and started looking for answers. The truth is all of us are going through a change. Maybe we're transforming from what we used to be to a higher, better version of ourselves - trying to find our way through all the confusion and bad habits of the past. Changing is just a journey, but you can't continue doing what you always do and transform. Listen to learn what has helped me and most likely can help you too. You're worth the effort! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-147-eating-cultured-foods-for-20-years/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/eating-cultured-foods-for-20-years/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/probiotic-foods-for-different-ailments/

Mar 2, 2021 • 19min
Episode 146: Do Cultured Veggies Need a Starter?
No, you do not need a starter culture to make cultured veggies. However, by using a starter you will receive more probiotics and a lot of other benefits. Let me explain your options and you can better choose which is the best method for you. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-146-do-cultured-veggies-need-a-starter/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/do-cultured-veggies-need-a-starter/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-cultured-foods-hurt-me/

Feb 23, 2021 • 26min
Episode 145: Why You Should Eat Slow Fermented Sourdough Bread
I've been making sourdough bread for almost 18 years and it is one of my very favorite cultured foods to make. Our baking traditions have changed down through the last few centuries. Sourdough starters used to be the standard mode for rising bread, but today so many don't use these anymore but rather instant yeasts that wreak havoc on their guts and bodies. Learn how to make your own bread and reap the benefits. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-145-why-you-should-eat-slow-fermented-sourdough-bread/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/what-is-sourdough-bread/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/overnight-sourdough-bread/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/two-women-who-convinced-me-to-make-my-own-bread/

Feb 16, 2021 • 20min
Episode 144: Gain Wisdom From Your Kraut
For many years people thought I was crazy for eating and making these cultured foods. I didn't care, for I had gone from hoping they would work, to believing, and then to a strong knowing that they would work. Nothing in the whole wide world could now convince me that these foods aren't powerful medicine that will heal and make well. Listen to learn how these foods can help you too. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-144-gain-wisdom-from-your-kraut/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/gain-wisdom-from-your-kraut/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/7-reasons-i-eat-cultured-vegetables/

Feb 9, 2021 • 18min
Episode 143: Why and How You Should Soak Your Beans, Nuts, Seeds, and Grains
More and more people are eating raw and unprocessed whole foods which is a good thing - unless they're loaded with enzyme inhibitors and phytates. From what I've seen, these can cause quite a disturbance in the body. There are special things you can do to allow more nutrient absorption and also remove inhibitors from these wonderful foods. Check out the podcast for more info. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-143-why-and-how-you-should-soak-your-beans-nuts-seeds-and-grains/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/why-and-how-you-should-soak-your-beans-nuts-seeds-and-grains/

Feb 2, 2021 • 29min
Episode 142: What are Cultured Foods?
Fermentation or "culturing" is a special process of food preservation that has been around since the beginning of time. As humans learned the importance of this natural process, it helped them to keep foods safe in a powerful way - even before refrigeration was invented. It can help you in powerful ways too. Listen to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-142-what-are-cultured-foods/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/what-are-cultured-foods-restorative-foods-for-the-body/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/reasons-and-recipes-to-have-more-miso/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-cultured-foods-hurt-me/

Jan 26, 2021 • 23min
Episode 141: H. Pylori and Fermented Foods
Many gastrointestinal diseases are caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. H. pylori can cause gastric inflammation which may lead to gastritis, ulcers, and even gastric cancer. But here is the good news! Many traditional fermented foods and beverages that contain probiotic microbes can help with H.pylori in a powerful way. Check out the podcast to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-141-h-pylori-and-fermented-foods/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/h-pylori-and-fermented-foods/ http://www.culturedfoodlife.com/lives-touched/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/how-to-make-the-probiotic-that-inhibits-candida/

Jan 17, 2021 • 24min
Episode 140: The Many Reasons You Should Love Miso
When people think of miso, they mostly think of miso soup, but it is so much more. It has an incredible microbial makeup and is a nutritional powerhouse and is so simple to use. It has things that will help you stay healthy and I have lots of fun and easy ways to use miso. Check out this podcast to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-140-the-many-reasons-you-should-love-miso/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/reasons-and-recipes-to-have-more-miso/ https://amzn.to/3sl57NL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfB3-sK6HH8

Jan 12, 2021 • 31min
Episode 139: You Are The One Thing In Life You Can Control
As 2020 comes to an end, it has been a year of strong emotions and circumstances. I'm surprised to say that I've lived a long time (60 years) and now have some life experience that really serves me in times of uncertainty and when things feel fearful. The world can fall into chaos, but it doesn’t mean I have to. I can adopt ways to help my body and mind to shut out the noise, get focused, and do great things. Check out my podcast to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-139-you-are-the-one-thing-in-life-you-can-control/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/you-are-the-one-thing-in-life-you-can-control/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/my-personal-christmas-story-that-changed-everything/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbX9Nv9OtGM

Oct 20, 2020 • 24min
Episode 138: Why Sprouted Flour is Better Than Regular Flour
I have found that most people’s bodies struggle to digest grains. Yet these same bodies flourish with grains that have been sprouted or are made with a sourdough culture. Check out today's podcast to learn how to make delicious baked goods with sprouted flour. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-138-why-sprouted-flour-is-better-than-regular-flour/ Check out these links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s5oYqYjfSo https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/why-sprouted-flour-is-better-than-regular-flour/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/gluten-pain-the-best-teacher/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/overnight-sourdough-bread/ https://healthyflour.com/product-category/sprouted-flour/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/sprouted-flour/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/sprouted-grains-faqs/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/donnas-sprouted-bread/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/sprouted-strawberry-scones-lemon-kefir-topping/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/chocolate-kefir-zucchini-cake/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/zucchini-pancakes/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/strawberry-lemon-kefir-pie/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/sprouted-graham-crackers/