One of the first gifts a mother gives a child is a healthy dose of microbes, which will help develop a diverse population of bacteria. When this inner ecosystem has a high diversity of microbes, synchronicity takes place with the human body. The gut is where seventy percent of the immune system dwells, and our immune system can only work optimally when our gut flora is flourishing.
Modern humans have neglected and harmed our gut flora through societal norms such as the widespread use of antibiotics and glyphosate spraying on our food supply. When comparing our gut microbiota diversity to that of Indigenous tribes, whose lifestyles most closely resemble that of our ancestors, we lack microbiome diversity. This low diversity is linked directly to an increased prevalence of chronic disease seen in contemporary humans.
When it comes to protecting this internal ecosystem, we must first avoid toxic cleaners, toxic hygiene products, antibiotics, and traditionally grown food sprayed with glyphosate. We must then provide the nourishing foods for our helpful microbes called pre-biotics, which are abundantly supplied if following the MaxLiving Core or Advanced Plan eating strategies.
The next step is also to consume plenty of fermented foods, which help to increase microbe diversity. Over the past 100 years, we have decreased our consumption of probiotic-rich foods. Our great-grandparents consumed loads of pickled vegetables and other fermented foods such as sauerkraut. A commonality found in “Blue Zones,” or societies around the world with the highest population of people over the age of 100, is the consumption of fermented foods. For this reason, when you open my fridge, you will always find kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, kombucha, and dairy-free yogurt.
Yogurt is a superfood that helps control inflammation and repopulate our gut flora. We must make sure we are getting high-quality yogurt, though. The market is ladened with yogurt products that are marketed as healthy but contain high amounts of sugar. Yogurt made from dairy can also be inflammatory to many people. By making your yogurt with coconut milk, you can avoid all the negative consequences of store-bought yogurt, and it is easy, simple, and rewarding to create.
Max Living Immune Supporting Coconut Yogurt Recipe
Ingredients:
1 can of full-fat organic coconut milk
¾ cup of unsweetened coconut flakes
2 capsules of MaxLiving Probiotic 50B
Directions:
- Blend the coconut flakes and coconut milk in a high-speed blender until smooth.
- Place the blended coconut milk into a glass jar and empty the MaxLiving Probiotic 50B on top.
- Stir all the contents in the jar and place a cheesecloth on top.
- Let the yogurt sit on the counter for 24-48 hours and then place in the fridge to cool and thicken.