fermentation | Bloom & Nourish

I am excited about this cold tonic and immune system booster! If I ever feel a sickness coming on, I often reach for a clove of garlic, so this blend of garlic, raw honey, and probiotics sounded perfect. I think of garlic as nature’s antibiotic-it boasts antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and even anti-cancerous properties! Garlic is a powerful immune system booster that stimulates the multiplication of white blood cells, which fight off infection in your body. This is due largely in part to the sulfur containing compound allicin, which I discovered is even more easily assimilated into your body after fermentation! And if that’s not enough, the raw honey added to the tonic is full of natural vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants! Just like garlic, raw honey is also antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and it’s great for coating sore throats and reducing irritation. Combine the power raw honey and garlic with benefits of probiotics from the fermentation process and you have the perfect immune boosting, kick-your-cold-in-the-butt team!

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I have been making kombucha for a couple of years now, and I love that I always have some on hand whenever I want a refreshing drink and a good boost of probiotics. If you know me, you probably know I am a big proponent of probiotics, especially from fermented foods like kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, etc. Good bacteria is essential to our health. Did you know that 70-80% of our immune system is located in our gut? That’s pretty huge! Even more of a reason to be mindful of what we are putting into our bodies. Probiotics, or good bacteria, kill off bad bacteria that are hanging out in our intestine, which leads to a more balanced gut, and in turn a stronger immune system. Probiotics have also been shown to decrease inflammation in the body (think arthritis, asthma, Chrohn’s disease). What’s really interesting to me is how a woman’s gut health during pregnancy and birth can influence the health of her child. All the more reason to drink up this fizzy drink! Continue reading →