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Where all sickness starts

Apr 14, 2017 POSTS

Have you heard about the new craze? GUT Control. NO, it isn’t about sucking in your stomach to make yourself look trimmer….it’s all about good bacteria. Nowadays it seems as

though everywhere you look they’re advertising, or talking about probiotics and how we can control everything from weight loss to cancer by eating sauerkraut and kimchee! Perhaps we can, so I want to know more….

This is a round-about way to explain how I feel, so please bear with me. The author of Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt, was an English teacher at my high school when I was there. He never taught me and, at the time, was not yet a famous author, but I do remember that he never seemed to be a very happy man. Obviously after reading his first novel, I could see why. Well I read a couple of interviews with him when he became world renown and he said “..as a writer I searched and searched for years for the story that would make me famous….little did I know that THAT story had been with me my whole life…” This is exactly how I feel about kimchee. I searched and searched to learn more about how to keep my family healthy, and little did I know that kimchee – the dirty (horrifically smelly) little secret that I’ve known all my life IS the panacea!!

One of my friends heard Dr David Agus speak at a conference and raved about him and his findings. So I googled him and have been obsessed with what he has to say.

Please take the time to view his many YouTube presentations. Also think through what type of probiotic foods you can be feeding your family. Be careful about probiotic supplements – do your research and find one that works for you.

One of my kids’ favorites, when I’m not serving them kimchee, is to drain yoghurt in a strainer with a paper towel. I then serve the ‘hardened’ yogurt with some salt, olive oil and lots of toasted dukka. Dried sage works well too. We spread it on grainy bread or crackers…….my kids love it! You can use it as cream cheese or in lieu of any cheese to make tiramisu, cheesecake, ricotta pancakes. Try it for yourself and experiment. Also, the drained liquid from the yoghurt is liquid GOLD – a pure probiotic explosion. My son drinks it and says it’s delicious. My girls don’t drink it unless they’re sick as they’ve noticed it always makes them feel better.

One of my colleagues gave me a kombucha-like recipe made with apple cider vinegar. I personally think it’s brilliant, though very spicy!. You may need to brush your teeth afterwards too, but it’s worth a try.Please see the recipe below.

Also our own DIVINE spicy paste can be used as a condiment for everything. It is made with gochujang fermented soy beans and chili powder, which means it packs a healthy probiotic punch of its own!

More to come on the probiotic way of life.

Print

Master tonic - Recipe

Ingredients

  • 24 oz /700 ml apple cider vinegar (always use organic)
  • ¼ cup finely chopped garlic
  • ¼ cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 fresh peppers, the hottest you can find (be careful with the cleaning - wear gloves!!!)
  • ¼ cup grated ginger
  • 2 tbsp grated horseradish
  • 2 tbsp turmeric powder or 2 pieces of turmeric root

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, except for the vinegar.

  2. Transfer the mixture to a Mason jar.

  3. Pour in some apple cider vinegar and fill it to the top. It is best if 2/3 of the jar consist of dry ingredients, and fill in the rest with vinegar.

  4. Close well and shake.

  5. Keep the jar in a cool and dry place for 2 weeks. Shake well several times a day.

  6. After 14 days, squeeze well and strain the liquid through a plastic strain. For better results put a gauze over it. Squeeze well so the whole juice comes out.

  7. Use the rest of the dry mixture when cooking.

  8. Your master tonic is ready for use. You do not need to keep the tonic in your fridge. It will last for a long time.

Recipe Notes

You may want to wear gloves during the preparation, especially when handling hot peppers, because it is difficult to get the tingling off your hands! Be careful, its smell is very strong, and it may stimulate the sinuses instantly.

Extra Tip: You can also use it in the kitchen - mix it with some olive oil and use it as a salad dressing or in your stews.

Dosing:
1.    Caution: The flavor is very strong and hot!
2.    Extra Tip: Eat a slice of orange, lemon or lime after you take the tonic to ease the burning sensation and heat.
3.    Gargle and swallow.
4.    Do not dilute it in water as it will reduce the effect.
5.    Take 1 tablespoon every day to strengthen the immune system and fight cold.
6.    Increase the amount every day until you reach a dose of 1 small glass per day (the size of a liquor glass).
7.    If you struggle against more serious disease or infection, take 1 tablespoon of the tonic 5-6 times a day.
8.    It is safe for pregnant women and children (use small doses!) because the ingredients are all-natural and contain no toxins.