A Bug a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
We have been waging a war on our bugs. Each and every dose of antibiotics we take is a lethal weapon that destroys our good gut bugs along with the bad ones. We overuse antibiotics for symptoms and infections that are not caused by bacteria. While prescriptions for antibiotics have skyrocketed, particularly in very young children, antibiotics in meat and dairy production are an even bigger problem. The bugs we absolutely depend on, our good bugs, are being wiped out. The irony is that every dose of antibiotics makes us that much more susceptible to more serious infections. I highly recommend reading Missing Microbes by Dr. Martin Blaser. It will forever change how you look at the way you eat as well as how we overlook our dependence on our bugs.
The bugs in our gut seem to be connected to so many aspects of our health. The human gut microbiome plays a role in heart disease, autoimmune problems, obesity, allergies, and even depression. In the past, before processed foods, refrigeration, and antibiotics in factory farming, good bugs were a part of most peoples’ diets. Fermented cabbage like sauerkraut and kimchi, fermented soy beans like miso and tempeh, and fermented dairy like yogurt were some of the sources of good bugs for our gut.
I grew up on yogurt. It is a staple of any Indian meal. But animal dairy has some downsides to it. Animal dairy has been associated with osteoporosis and increased cancer rates. Plant-based yogurts are available at the store but they come loaded with sugar. I have been making my own soy yogurt at home for a while now and it is super easy. I try to have a serving every day. Since I make it I can sweeten it with real fruit and not add any sugar.
I have a video on my Youtube channel showing my mom making soy yogurt the old fashioned way. But it doesn’t have to be so involved. I purchased a yogurt maker on Amazon.
In a large bowl, pour 2 pints of soy milk or any plant- milk except coconut milk. Coconut milk has saturated fat in it whereas other plant-milks do not.
To the milk, add one container of store bought plain yogurt or purchase a vegan yogurt starter kit from Amazon. Mix well with a whisk.
Pour the mixture into the yogurt maker and set timer for 12 hours.
Voila!! You get fantastic yogurt. Save one portion of your homemade yogurt to use as the starter for the next batch. You will never buy store yogurt again once you see how easy this is.
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