Water Kefir Lemonade

One of the most important things to consider when trying to heal the gut is how to encourage the good gut bacteria to increase and strengthen.  We want lots of good bacteria to keep the digestive system healthy and to make sure we’re getting the most nutrient absorption possible from the foods we eat.  Consuming a variety of living foods is a really easy and tasty way to bring in the good guys.

I have fermented/cultured food for years and I have to say, water kefir may be the easiest culture I have ever done.  Once you have good quality grains (which are not grains at all, but are a colony of bacteria and yeast) all you need is filtered water and unrefined sugar.

From there the culture only takes 24-48 hours.  It couldn’t be easier!

I’ve been using my water kefir as a base for lemonade.  It’s perfect on these hot summer days!

I culture 8 cups of water kefir, add the juice of 4-5 lemons, depending on how tart you like it.  For fun and flavor variations I also like to add herbs to my lemonade.  My favorites are mint and lemon verbena, but the sky is the limit!

If you would like to get started brewing you’re own water kefir I recommend purchasing your grains from a reputable source like Cultures for Health.