Probiotics DIY

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

If you’re interested in free samples of copious amounts of organic dark chocolate, shots of wheat grass, chocolate-covered ginger (my favorite), grass-fed steak, and grain-free snack bars, the Natural Product Expo East is the place to be.

It takes place every fall at the Baltimore Convention Center, and this was my third year wandering amongst the expo-goes, scanning the booths for new, innovative products.

Nate Rifkin, a fellow writer and researcher for Living Well Daily, and Chris Campbell, managing editor of Laissez Faire Today, and I found a good deal of interesting “natural” products at the expo. Chris and Nate just wrote about the amazing kombucha we found and the philanthropic purpose behind the company’s “Sovereign” flavor.

You can read more about that in Chris’ Laissez Faire Today post here. (At least check out the super-creepy photo of Nate with some “all-natural chicken nugget” mascots. Why they chose those animals as their mascots, I have no idea.)

The expo took up the entire convention center, with two floors of exhibit halls and one floor of educational and meeting rooms. Some of the most prevalent products included grass-fed jerky, gluten-free anything and everything, and coconut water.

A lot of the same old, same old.

There were a few things, however, that struck me as novel that I thought you might be interested in.

We’ve written on more than one occasion (here, here) about the health benefits of fermented food and drink, including sauerkraut, kimchee, and kombucha.

To quickly recap, these foods are natural sources of probiotics that support gut health, and are also a source of prebiotics, the foods that the good bacteria eat.

However, these things can be quite expensive at the health food store. A single bottle of kombucha is usually at least $3 and can be up to $5! That’s why it’s great if you can make your own fermented food and drink.

A few months ago, Brad Lemley, editor of Natural Health Solutions and guru on all things nutrition, gave great instructions on how to make your own fermented veggies.

But I admit that even though I know how great these cultured foods are, I’ve been hesitant to try making my own, because I’m worried about mold and harmful bacterial contamination.

At Expo, however, I found something that could change all that.

Presenting: the Perfect Pickler!

Perfect PicklerThis device has an airlock that allows gases to escape as the veggies ferment and expand but keeps outside microbes from getting into the container. This just about guarantees that the recipe won’t become contaminated with mold.

It also has a brine cup that collects the expanding liquid and keeps the veggies underneath the brine, where they are safe on the off chance there is any potential microbe contamination.

All you do is put your sliced veggies in a jar, add sea salt (provided in the kit) and any seasonings you want, fill it with water, top it with the Perfect Pickler screw-on cap, and wait four days for friendly probiotics to make healthy fermented veggies.

Though I may sound like an infomercial right now, I’m not getting paid to tell you about this. I’m just really that excited about this product.

I’m ordering mine this week, and as soon as I give it a go, I’ll be sure to tell you how it went.

You can buy it directly through their website here, or you may be able to find it at your local health food store or Wegmans. It’s quite affordable, too. You can get a kit without a jar for $20, or one with a jar for $24. And if you’re interested in making kombucha, they provide an XL “Big Bertha” variety to make larger batches of probiotic-laden drink and food.

It also comes with a DVD that teaches you everything you need to know.

There were a few other neat things we found at Expo. I’ll be writing about them in future issues of Living Well Daily, and Nate will be back on Friday to tell you about more cool things we found.

But first I’d like to know…

Have any of you tried the Perfect Pickler before? What do you think?

Would you like Living Well to provide more information about items like this to you?

Let us know! livingwelldaily@lfb.org.

To eating well,

Jasmine LeMaster
Health Researcher

Photo Courtesy perfectpickler.com

View More Free Articles

How to Get Your Spouse to Go to the Doctor

The other day, a friend asked me if I thought her husband was trying to hide something because he wouldn’t go to the doctor. It’s a common scenario, I told her—research shows that many men avoid preventative care and doctor’s visits. (Some women are guilty of it, too.) But what if your spouse is clearly...

Read This

Glucose Guardians Discovered at the GROCERY Store!

A new meta-analysis suggests that the spices in your kitchen aren’t just bursting with flavor. They could also deliver hidden health benefits. That’s especially true if you’re concerned about keeping your blood sugar in check. Which, honestly, everyone should be—regardless of whether you’re diabetic or not. The recent study confirmed that several popular spices (some...

Read This

Mailbag: The TRUE Cause of Your Tingly Scalp

“Why do I feel a tingling sensation in my scalp when I’m stressed?” – Anonymous Hi Anonymous, About twenty years ago, I was running on a trail in the early morning light when a fox bolted from the cover. It ran beside me for a few yards before ditching into the woods. I’m guessing the...

Read This

The Hidden (and DEADLY) Cost of Convenience

In our fast-paced, modern world, we’re always on the go, juggling work, family, and social obligations. The frantic pace leaves little time for home-cooked meals. As a result, convenience has become king. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) swoop in to save the day. They beckon us with their bright packaging and promise of ready-to-eat, instant gratification. And...

Read This

Exercise Leaving You in Pain? Try THIS Natural Fix

One of the biggest barriers to building a regular exercise routine is that many folks feel fantastic right after a session, but then they pay for it the following day. Those post-exercise aches and pains alone are enough to prevent most people from even thinking about working out again. But what if I told you...

Read This

Caffeine’s Benefits Go BEYOND the Buzz

Over 60 percent of American adults drink coffee daily—enjoying the caffeine-induced energy boost to jumpstart their day. However, caffeine’s benefits don’t end with that temporary jolt of alertness. It has other potential payoffs, including reducing diabetes risk and body fat. Now, new research reveals those benefits can vary from person to person… and the surprising...

Read This

Live LONGER and HEALTHIER with the “Grocery Cart Challenge”

Nobody on the planet who grabs something from a vending machine, thinking, “This is a healthy choice.” So, if we KNOW it isn’t good for us, why do we do it? Well, often it’s for convenience. We’re hungry and in a hurry, so grab-and-go foods fit the bill. But that’s not the only reason we...

Read This

BEWARE of the “Coffee Trap” [UNDOES Benefits]

Longtime Living Well Daily readers know I love my coffee. Powerful antioxidants and other healthy compounds in coffee deliver various health benefits. In fact, studies confirm a regular coffee habit may reduce the risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s, and liver disease. It also provides a temporary boost in energy and focus that many people rely on...

Read This

Frailty Leads to a Shorter Painful Life? [Surprising FIX]

Aging sure isn’t for sissies. You have to be tough as nails to manage it gracefully. Everything gets a bit more challenging. Whether it’s diet, exercise, or reducing specific risk factors, you often have to work harder to get the same results. Eventually, all the so-called “diseases of aging” start nipping at your heels, from...

Read This

Mailbag: Taste Buds in Turmoil? The Cause of Metallic Mouth

“Should I be concerned about a metallic taste in my mouth? It happens on occasion but isn’t every day.” – Mark Hi Mark, Many people experience a metallic taste that will not go away, and it can be caused by several different things. The most common cause of “metallic mouth” is poor oral health. Gum...

Read This