Yogurt Making
First I get two quarts of organic milk. I then heat it slowly, without burning, to 180 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any bacteria.
I let it cool. When it gets to a temperature of around 100˚F, I whisk in 1/8 teaspoon of probiotic powder. This will enable a yield of about 700 billion CFU’s (colony farming units) of probiotics per cup of yogurt.
I then keep it at a temperature of around 105˚F for 24 hours with a yogurt maker appliance. This properly ferments the mixture.
Why do I all this to make yogurt? This homemade yogurt has high concentrations of beneficial probiotics and aids my gut health. I do feel a difference with my autoimmunity issues, and I especially like to take it after performing a water fast.
The Dynamics of the Gut
The gut microbiome consists of a large amount of microorganisms. Sarah Ballantine says it has approximately 30-100 trillion bacteria.
Having the right combination of bacteria is very important to our overall health. The gut microbiome optimizes our health in many different ways. Regarding digestion, the gut has enzymes that help break down various foods, allowing us to effectively digest.
Gut bacteria also controls the integrity of the gut barrier, as well as having a big influence on our immune systems.
Gut dyobosis refers to an imbalance in the proportion of types and numbers of microorganisms in various sections of the intestinal tract. Gut dyobosis has been linked to many types of chronic diseases.
Diet has a very big influence on the gut microbiome. Eating large amount of vegetables and fruits as well as eating seafood will have a positive effect for supporting a healthy and diverse gut.
Natural sources of probiotics include Kombucha, raw sauerkraut, and yogurt.
Lifestyle also plays a part in having a healthy microbiome. Getting enough sleep, exercise, and managing stress can all play parts in having a good diverse gut.
Probiotic Trends
Because of the research that has been done on the gut microbiome and the amount that we are still learning about the importance of the gut in overall health, I am very bullish on food-related products and probiotics related to gut health. I rate the long-term trends for probiotics and food-related products at 10 out of 10.
If you want to get further thoughts from me, and if you haven’t already done so, please: