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How to make homemade kombucha

how to make homemade kombucha

This post contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission.

Kombucha. A yummy fizzy drink that is good for your gut health but at about $4 a bottle, it’s not so great for your wallet.  So I decided to make my own. At first, I was a little intimidated after reading about the process and what the heck was a SCOBY? But it was actually very easy to make, just time consuming. Read on to learn how to make your own homemade kombucha.

Benefits of drinking kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea that has several probiotic benefits.  The main ingredient that gives the drink it’s healthy benefits is what’s referred to as “the Mother” or a SCOBY – symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. It’s a flat, mushroom-looking thing that floats around the jar. So how does one acquire a SCOBY? If you know someone who makes homemade kombucha, you can ask them if you can use on of their SCOBY’s, or buy one online or from a health food store. You can also grow your own.

(If you really want to make it easy on yourself, check out this Kombucha starter kit on Amazon. It has everything you need to make your first batch including a SCOBY and starter tea.)

 

How to make homemade kombucha

To make a SCOBY

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tbsp of loose leaf black tea or 2 black tea bags
  • 2 tbsp of granulated sugar
  • 1 16oz of bottle of raw unpasteurized kombucha

Directions

1.) In a small pot, bring water to a boil.

2.) In a clean glass jar, combine hot water and tea, and let steep for at least 5 minutes.

3.) Remove the tea bags or strain out the tea. Stir in the sugar and let cool until room temperature.

4.) Pour in kombucha and stir well making sure to combine all the sediment from the kombucha. Cover with a cheesecloth or coffee filter and keep in a cool place out of direct sunlight. (Ideally you want the temperature to be between 75-80 degrees).

5.) Eventually, a glossy film will start to form on the surface. This is your SCOBY. Once your SCOBY is about 1/4″ in thickness it is ready to use to make your own kombucha (this can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks about). Save your SCOBY and existing tea mixture to make your first batch of kombucha.

 

To make Kombucha

You will need

  • 16 cups of filtered water
  • 7 black tea bags
  • 1 cup of granulated sugar
  • SCOBY
  • 1-2 cups of starter tea
  • gallon glass jar
  • cheesecloth or coffee filter
  • rubberband

Directions:

1.) Bring 16 cups of filtered water to a boil.

2.) Add your tea bags, then with a wooden spoon stir in 1 cup of sugar. Let steep for 10-15 minutes then remove tea bags. Let liquid come to room temperature.

3.) Pour into a gallon glass jug. Add your starter tea and carefully place your SCOBY on top.

4.) Cover with a breathable cloth cover. Let sit for 1-3 weeks out of direct sunlight (again about 75-80F. If the temp is too cool, your SCOBY will grow mold.)

5.) After a few weeks, pour your kombucha into glass mason jars or pitchers and add whatever fruit and herbs you wish for tasting. (My favorite combinations are strawberry-mango and strawberry-lemon but there are endless pairings). This will be your secondary fermentation and what gives you the carbonation. Seal tight and once a day be sure to “burp” to release excess carbonation. Once you reach your desired level of carbonation, (about 2-3 days), bottle and refrigerate.

6.) Save some of the leftover kombucha and SCOBY as this will be your starter tea for your next batch.

 

Cheers!!!

 

How to make homemade kombucha

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how to make homemade kombucha

3 In health/ intentional living/ Motherhood

10 ways I practice self care daily since becoming a mom

There is no job more exhausting than being a mom. Don’t get me wrong, it’s extremely rewarding but it’s also downright exhausting. All of our energy goes into caring for our families and making sure everyone is healthy and happy. As mom’s it’s natural we’re always doing for everyone else that so often our own self care takes the back burner.  But it’s like they say when you board the plane “put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others”. What good are you to everyone else if you’re not at 100% yourself?

If you go on the internet, you’ll see the term “self-care” all over. But self-care is more than just massages and bubble baths. (I love those things as much as the next woman trust me.) Self care is anything that re-fuels or re-charges you, mentally, physically or spiritually so that you can continue to give your best self. I’m sharing some simple ways you can add self care to your day to day routine.

Here are 10 ways I practice self care daily since becoming a mom:

 

1.) Enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea by yourself – That first morning cup of coffee, alone and in silence, it’s sacred. That’s my me-time. My husband knows that if he or my son happen to wake up early, to stay in bed and give me my time alone.

 

2.) Get dressed in the morning – I don’t get all fancy, but putting on jeans and a top, doing my hair and throwing on some concealer and mascara makes me feel like a decent human. Think of when you were on maternity leave, hadn’t showered in a week and wore that same pair of leggings for the 5th day in a row how you felt. The power of a hot shower, real clothes and a little makeup does wonders for your mental health.

 

3.) Clean or organize something – For me, having a clean home is like my xanax. Now, don’t get confused, my house is in no way spotless. I’m not on my hands and knees scrubbing or vacuuming every day (that’s why I have a Roomba). But daily I go through our common living spaces and put things away to get rid of the clutter and keep it organized. Looking at things scattered around my house makes my brain feel scattered and anxious vs when things are orderly bringing a sense of calm.

 

4.) Cook or bake something – For some people this may seem like more work so if that’s you, then don’t do it. I love being in my kitchen. On my days off I love to either bake a yummy treat to have in the house (try my version of Joanna Gaines’ lemon poppyseed bread) or try a new recipe for dinner. It’s fun for me and makes me feel like I accomplished something.

 

5.) Practice gratitude – Each morning, usually during my morning coffee, I think about the things that I am grateful for and everything I have. When things start to go a little sideways, I bring myself back to that mental list and remind myself of all I have to be thankful for.

 

6.) Read a book or listen to a podcast – Reading is one of my absolute favorite things to do. I love to lay down with a good book and flip through the pages, getting lost in the story. It doesn’t have to be a book. You can read a magazine or a few articles from a favorite blog. I love The EveryMom and Nesting With Grace. You can also listen to a favorite podcast.

 

7.) Do some goal setting or daydream – I do this during my morning coffee (see why that time is so sacred?).  Sometimes it’s just daydreaming about a nice vacation or thinking about projects I want to do around the house to make our home my dream home. Other mornings it’s literally writing down things that I want to accomplish that day.

 

8.) Laugh – whether it’s laughing at myself or something my son said or did, I try to find the humor in daily situations.

 

9.) Say No – This was something I was lucky to learn a few years ago at a time when I felt like I was being stretched too thin. I’m a natural people pleaser and I like to make people happy. But if it doesn’t make you happy or stresses you out, it’s ok to say no to things.

 

10.) Go to bed early – Nothing recharges you like a good night’s sleep which since entering motherhood is few and far between. A couple night’s a week, I go to bed early before anyone else, leaving my hubby to do bedtime duty. I’ve been doing this since I was in college. When I was home from school it was a little joke with my parents that “I was retreating for the night”.  But that’s just what it is, my retreat. Some nights I read or meditate or doing nothing at all and just let my mind veg out. It’s a nice way to end the day and quiet the mind from all the constant thinking and worrying.

 

What are some of your favorite ways to practice self care?

 

Check out my post on

Why Every Mom Needs a Solo Night Away

 

10 self care ideas for moms

6 In Baby/ health/ parenting

How to boost your baby’s health with probiotics

This post is sponsored by Evivo but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

babys gut health

Have you ever heard the saying it all starts in the gut”? It’s true.  Your gut health is responsible for your overall health and wellness. As moms, we want to give our babies only the very best and protect them from harm.  But have you ever thought about protecting your little one’s gut?  I know when I was planning for the birth of our baby, I was busy researching the safest cribs, carseats, you name it but I never thought about baby probiotics and gut health.

 

october baby

The Importance of a Healthy Gut

Our bodies have a mix of tiny microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and yeast) which makes up our microbiome.  This microbiome contains healthy bacteria which helps to push out any of the harmful bacteria therefore strengthening our immune systems and aiding in a healthy gut.  More and more studies are showing that a healthy gut has been linked to fewer cases of allergies, eczema, obesity and diabetes.  But how does one acquire a healthy gut?

Babies acquire their gut health mainly from mom.  More specifically, babies acquire a healthy bacteria known as B. Infantis during birth as they pass through the vaginal canal and from breast milk.  However, today 9 out of 10 babies are missing this healthy bacteria.

How Evivo Can Help Restore Your Baby’s Microbiome

 

baby gut health

Evivo is the only probiotic that’s clinically proven to restore baby’s gut and repopulate it with the good bacteria that are missing. During a clinical trial, babies who received Evivo mixed with breast milk had their gut 100% repopulated with healthy bacteria.

Once daily, just mix the contents of one packet with some breastmilk and feed to your baby in the syringe provided.

pregnancy

I wish I had known about Evivo sooner.  For those who are new here and may not know our story, Maxwell was born via csection and we struggled with breastfeeding.  Had I known about it sooner, I definitely would have used Evivo to help replenish his gut flora.  But I must say, we are extremely lucky to have such a healthy, happy baby!

breastfeeding
 (This was his 1 month photo! How is he going to be 2 in October???)

 

Save Money on Evivo Products Now

Use Code BLOG8211 for $10 off your 4 week starter kit or
Use Code BLOG 8212 for $20 off your 8 week or greater starter kit. 

For more info about Evivo products click here 

6 In health/ wellness

I was suffering from Postpartum Depression and Anxiety and didn’t realize it

I was suffering from postpartum anxiety and didnt know it

I still feel the need to defend my postpartum anxiety.  After a three day long induction process, an emergent c-section and breastfeeding issues, the first few weeks were no walk in the park. I wasn’t sleeping (but what new mom does?), there were lots of tears and constant worrying.  I dreaded when the days would turn into night because I would spend the entire night watching my son obsessively, fearing he would stop breathing in his sleep. I had no interest in holding him and I would cry every time I had to breastfeed him because I absolutely hated it but I chalked it all up to the baby blues and being new at this motherhood thing.

It was at my two week check up that I realized I was suffering from postpartum anxiety and depression.  My sister came over to watch the baby so that I could go to my appointment and I remember feeling so relieved for the break from the constant breastfeeding and pumping. I broke down in tears in the car to my husband. This was supposed to be such a joyous, happy time. After going through infertility I was over the moon when I found out I was pregnant yet here I was thinking “What have I done? I hate being a mother. I don’t have this immediate love for my baby like everyone else does, I’m not cut out for this. What is wrong with me?”  I made the difficult decision to stop breastfeeding and once I went back to work I started feeling like my old self again.

10 months postpartum and the demons crept in again, this time worse than ever. I felt like things were spiraling, I had lost control of everything and I literally wanted to escape my body. I walked around in a fog and felt so selfish for what I was feeling. “What do I have to be so depressed about? I have a beautiful, healthy family I should feel grateful.”  I felt shameful for the way I was acting but I had no control over it. I wished I could feel happiness when my son smiled at me. I remember the day I was driving to get my hair done and I felt like I was having a heart attack. My heart was beating out of my ribcage, my arms and hands were all tingling, my lips were numb and it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest.  I pulled into the urgent care that was in the same parking lot as my hairdresser, convinced I was having a cardiac event. I am a nurse after all.  I can recognize the difference between postpartum anxiety, panic attacks and a heart attack when I see it.

Well I was wrong. The thing is postpartum depression and anxiety looks different on everyone.  Depression doesn’t always look like an unkept, person who hasn’t slept or eaten in weeks.  Anxiety doesn’t always look like fear or panic attacks.  Successful, put together people can suffer in silence as we’ve recently seen in the tragic cases of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate.

I’ve learned there is nothing wrong with reaching out and asking for help from family or friends, going to talk to a counselor, or taking something to help ease your anxiety or depression.  You are not illogical in what you are feeling and you are not “burdening others with your problems.”  I wish it didn’t feel so embarrassing and shameful and I hope that one day it won’t. So until then I will keep sharing my story and I hope that I can encourage you to reach out to someone you trust and ask for help.

(For more information on ways to cope with postpartum depression and anxiety check out this article I wrote for Consumer Health Digest.)

 

For more health/wellness related posts check out

How to remember to do self breast exams

8 tips for preparing for your c-section and recovery