Donna Schwenk on Kefir, Kombucha and Fermented Vegetables

Donna Schwenk on Kefir, Kombucha and Fermented Vegetables

Author: Kriben Govender February 20, 2019 Duration: 51:56
Kriben Govender (Honours Degree in Food Science & Technology) and James Shadrach (Honours Degree in Psychology) have an entertaining and real conversation with home fermentation guru Donna Schwenk from Cultured Food Life on living the fermented foods life and mastering the holy trinity of fermented foods: Kefir, Kombucha and Fermented vegetables.
 
Bio:
 
Donna Schwenk's world changed when she discovered cultured foods. After a difficult pregnancy and various health problems, she became determined to find answers to what ailed her. And in her quest, she came across the ancient art of home fermentation, a food preparation technique that supercharges everyday foods with beneficial bacteria to balance your digestive system, and vitamins and minerals to enhance your overall health. This simple, natural process has been used for thousands of years to create everything from drinks like kefir and kombucha to foods like kimchi and pickles. 
 
 
After incorporating fermented foods into her life, Donna began to experience a vitality that she had never known. And then she was hooked! She started a new life as a teacher and writer, blogging on her website culturedfoodlife.com, in an effort to bring the beautiful world of fermented foods to as many people as possible. She now 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, allergies, acne, hypertension, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome.
 
 
Topics discussed:
  • Donna's health issues and her discovery of kefir
  • Book inspiration-  Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
  • Donna Books
 
Cultured Food for Life
 
Cultured Food for Health
 
Cultured Food in a Jar
 
  • Donna's favourite fermented food
  • Transformation of food through fermentation
  • Dairy and Non Dairy Kefir
  • The Effects of Stopping Kefir consumption
  • Transient bacteria in Kefir
  • Hunger reduction with Kefir
  • Health benefits of Kefir
  • Blood glucose modulation with Kefir
  • Fermentation explosions in the Kitchen
  • Second Fermentation
  • The best bottles to use for second fermentation
  • Milk kefir - aerobic vs anaerobic (lid on vs lid off)
  • Milk kefir: are metal strainers ok?
  • Kefirko Kefir Maker 
 
  • Kefirko Cheese Maker
 
  • Metal and Kombucha
  • Kombucha and Detoxification
  • Candida, Yeast and Mercury degradation
  • Candida and antibiotics
  • Best storage containers for Kombucha
  • Probiotic yeast S.boulardii - Number one probiotic used in hospitals world wide
  • Benefits of making fermented vegetable with a starter cultures (Caldwells or Cutting Edge)
  • Back slopping 
  • Recipe for cultured vegetables without a starter culture
  • Donna's tips for boosting grain growth of milk kefir grains
  • Fertiliser for kefir grains
  • Kefir Grains and Non Dairy
  • Making sure the baby kefir grains get fed
  • Is rinsing Milk Kefir Grains OK?
  • How to store kefir grains when not in use?
  • Is freezing kefir grains acceptable for storage?
  • Fermented foods for mental health and joy
  • Connecting to the microbiome
  • Donna's top tip for Gut Health
 
 
Brought to you by:
 
Nourishme Organics- Gut Health Super Store- Shine from the Inside
 
We range Kefirko- Kefir, Kombucha and Cheese Making Kits, Caldwells Vegetable Starter Cultures and Masontops Vegetable Fermentation Kits and Durand and Mortier Pilon Kombucha Equipment. We also have lab verified organic Kefir grains and Kombucha Scobys 
 
 
Shop Gut Health- 10% off using code:  donna
 
 
 
How to Make Kefir
 
 
How to Make Kombucha
 
 
 
How to Make Fermented Vegetables
 
 
Second Fermentation 
 
 
 
Join our Facebook Community for more Fermentation tips
 
 
 

Microbiome Stool Testing, Deuterium Testing and Nutritional Consulting

https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/collections/nutritionist-consultation

 

 
 
Connect with Donna Schwenk
 
  
Connect with Kriben Govender: 
 
 
 
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Kriben Govender's journey is a testament to how personal crisis can lead to profound discovery. After a period where his life unraveled through professional bullying, personal loss, and deep isolation, he found a lifeline not in abstract concepts, but in the very real science of the microbiome. As a Food Scientist and founder of Nourishme Organics, Kriben now channels that hard-won perspective into The Gut Health Gurus Podcast. Here, conversations move beyond dry dietary advice to explore the tangible connections between our digestive system and everything from mental resilience to physical fitness. Each episode feels like a candid discussion, unpacking how nurturing gut health can fundamentally alter one's wellbeing. You'll hear from a range of voices-scientists, practitioners, and people with lived experience-all grounded in Kriben's own understanding that true health often starts from within. This isn't about quick fixes; it's about building a sustainable, informed relationship with your body. Tune in for a podcast that blends evidence-based nutrition with the very human stories behind the science, offering a compassionate and practical guide to taking control of your health from the inside out.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 70

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