

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

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/

Oct 13, 2020 • 26min
Episode 137: I Was Lost... Until I Did This
"How do I apply all this cultured food stuff to my life? Where and how do I get started?” This is something that I hear quite often. People want to change their lives and feel better but don’t know where to start. What makes people change their lives while others stay stuck in old patterns that don’t serve them? Let me share with you what I have discovered and how you can change your life too. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-137-i-was-lost-until-i-did-this/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/i-was-lost-until-i-did-this/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/subscribe/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/members/become-a-biotic-pro/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/lives-touched/

Oct 6, 2020 • 21min
Episode 136: IBD - Crohn's, Ulcers, and Fermented Foods
I've seen cultured vegetables, kombucha, and kefir help with so many gastrointestinal disorders, and I've even witnessed firsthand my son healing from an ulcer that was causing him severe pain every time he ate. Check out the episode to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-136-ibd-crohns-ulcers-and-fermented-foods/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/ibd-crohns-ulcers-and-fermented-foods/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/prebiotics-as-important-as-probiotics/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/lemon-ginger-kombucha/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/super-easy-kefir-pots/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/blueberry-spinach-kraut/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/why-you-should-know-about-short-chain-fatty-acids-and-fermented-foods/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428516/

Sep 29, 2020 • 20min
Episode 135: Your Body Was Designed To Heal You
There are unseen workings of the world of cells that reside within us. Things that we take for granted because we don't understand how it all works. Our trillions of cells govern themselves and create the bodies that we have and also fight on our behalf to keep us well. Learn more about our miraculous bodies in this episode. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-135-your-body-was-designed-to-heal-you/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/your-body-was-designed-to-heal-you/ https://youtu.be/831gJ83sewg

Sep 22, 2020 • 25min
Episode 134: Preserving Gut Health As You Age
Aspects of our physical health change naturally with age, but poor diet, reduced digestive enzymes, and unbalanced gastrointestinal flora can wreak havoc on both our digestive and immune systems. Here are things you can do to help your struggling gut and bring peace to your life again. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-134-preserving-gut-health-as-you-age/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/preserving-gut-health-as-you-age/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-healing-crisis-and-cultured-foods/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/store/product/full-spectrum-enzymes/

Sep 15, 2020 • 28min
Episode 133: Grow Your Own Probiotics
Making your own probiotics is one the best ways to change your health. Buying probiotic supplements are expensive and are often trapped in the acids of the stomach, and the probiotics are killed before the body ever gets a chance to use them. Consuming probiotic foods such as kefir, kombucha, and cultured vegetables is much more effective than taking pills and I can show you how! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-133-grow-your-own-probiotics/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/grow-your-own-probiotics/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-healing-crisis-and-cultured-foods/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/dairy-free-kefir-every-kind-you-can-imagine/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/7-reasons-i-have-kefir-every-day/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/why-i-drink-kombucha-every-day/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/7-reasons-i-eat-cultured-vegetables/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-fermented-vegetables-help-with-covid-19/

Sep 1, 2020 • 31min
Episode 132: Second Ferment Your Kefir – Your Taste Buds Will Thank You
Many years ago I discovered a way to make kefir not only taste better but also increase the nutrients in it. It is the only way that I make my kefir now because it is so delicious. The process is called "second fermenting." I have to admit that the reason I second fermented my kefir is that it tasted so much better. Check out how in this week's podcast. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-132-second-ferment-your-kefir-your-taste-buds-will-thank-you/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-fermented-vegetables-help-with-covid-19/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/7-reasons-i-have-kefir-every-day/

Aug 11, 2020 • 30min
Episode 131: Did Kombucha Heal My Husband's Eyes?
My husband is used to my crazy new ideas and has become accustomed to my enthusiasm for whatever happens to be my latest discovery. He goes along for the ride but never jumps in with both feet until coaxed. Kombucha was the first food he really grasped on to, and here is why. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-131-did-kombucha-heal-my-husbands-eyes/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/did-kombucha-heal-my-husbands-eyes/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-trilogy/kombucha/how-to-make-kombucha/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/eight-days-with-kombucha/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-healing-crisis-and-cultured-foods/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/how-to-fix-your-seasonal-allergies/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/why-i-drink-kombucha-every-day/

Aug 4, 2020 • 27min
Episode 130: Do Fermented Vegetables Help with COVID-19?
Exciting research has found that consuming probiotic fermented cabbage makes it much more difficult for the COVID-19 virus to enter the body due to special properties. Check out this week's podcast to hear more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-130-do-fermented-vegetables-help-with-covid-19/ Check out this link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-fermented-vegetables-help-with-covid-19/

Jul 21, 2020 • 37min
Episode 129: How To Make Cultured Vegetables In The Summertime
There is no better time to make cultured veggies than in the summertime! The fruits and veggies are abundant and when you ferment them they'll last nine months in your fridge! Fermentation is a no-sweat endeavor. It's so much easier than canning and you'll get probiotics, enzymes, and increased vitamins in your veggies. Check out my 7 tips for making cultured veggies in the summertime! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-129-how-to-make-cultured-vegetables-in-the-summertime/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/summer-cultured-vegetables/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-you-reuse-the-brine-for-cultured-vegetables/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/whats-this-on-my-cultured-vegetables/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/can-cultured-foods-hurt-me/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/cultured-vegetables-faqs/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-trilogy/cultured-vegetables/how-to-make-cultured-vegetables/