I’ve been taking probiotics (in a tablet form for a while now) and especially since suffering with bouts of cystitis (which is common during per-menopause and menopause). My current tablet form contains Casein a milk protein, which now I am not comfortable with. I have recently discovered that I’m intolerant to Cow’s milk, hence my reluctance to continue taking this pro-biotic. However, even more worrying, are the controversial reports that Casein is linked to cancer-cell growth because of it’s natural cell-growth promoting properties. (I sometimes wonder if anything is safe to eat these days!) Personally, I’m more concerned about milk intolerance.

So, I will let you make your own judgement on Casein – read the report on US National Library of Medicine if you are interested to know more.

Below is a recipe for natural pro-biotic which you can make at home. I received the recipe from one of my Polish students (see previous blog post).

Online, you can find it as Beet Kvass. It’s earthy and salty, and has a sour flavor. So it may take some time getting used to. However it benefits cardiovascular, cognitive and cellular health. It also helps support the digestive system, too. And it does this by combining the nutritive power of beets with the probiotic effects of fermentation.

Ingredients and Method:
– 1 kg organic beetroot
– 4/5 garlic cloves (peeled and cut in long slices)
– 2 litres of boiled and cooled down water mixed with 1 tablespoon of salt
– bay leaves, allspice, black pepper

Wash, peel and cut the beetroot in thick slices.
Put the slices, garlic and spices in a big (preferably glass) container and cover it all with the water making sure that nothing comes out of the water (if it does, cover the mixture with a plate and press it with something ‘heavy’).
Leave the container covered with a cloth in a quite warm (but not too warm) place for about 5-7 days (it will smell different when ready).
When ready, pour the liquid into clean sterilised bottles and keep in the fridge.

You can drink a glass of this juice once a day.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and if you are already suffering from an infection or are concerned about your health, please consult with your GP at first instance before proceeding with any dietary change and in order to make an informed choice.