Frequently Asked Questions - Products
To clarify the most common questions about some of the Body
Ecology products, the following is what Donna has written. If you
have a question for us, please e-mail
us.
Kefir:
- Q. How much kefir will I be able to make with your starter packets?
- A. The kefir starter should make up to 42 batches, or 6 additional transfers off of each packet. When culturing milk, you should be able to make up to 42 gallons, or a gallon at a time.
- Q. Where do I find the young, green coconuts?
- A. If your local grocery or health food store does not stock the coconuts, you may have better luck at a farmer’s market, or through an Asian grocery store.
- Q. Can I use a pre-packaged coconut water?
- A. Yes, although you will want to find a brand that does not contain preservatives, as this can prohibit the bacteria from attaching to the water. Look on the ingredients list to insure you are purchasing 100% coconut water.
- Q. How will I know if my coconut water has spoiled?
- A. A shucked coconut should be white in color. If the meat or water has turned pink, you should discard.
- Q. Do you know of a source for a tool to cut open the coconut?
- A. A pull saw to open the coconut can be purchased through the Silky Store by calling (888) 605-0001, or through their website: www.silkystore.com
- Q. I am having trouble finding an airtight, glass container for fermenting. Do you know of a source?
- A. Glass jars for fermenting are available through Glashaus here: www.weckcanning.com
- Q. How do I know the water/milk has heated to the recommended 92 degrees?
- A. As 92 degrees is lukewarm, and below body temperature, you want to be careful to not exceed this temperature for fermenting. You may want to purchase a candy or cooking thermometer to avoid any over heating issues.
- Q. How are the bacteria found in the starter grown?
- The bacteria are grown on dairy, however any traces of dairy are removed during the fermentation process.
- Q. How soon should I begin making my transfers for new batches of kefir?
- A. We would recommend making your transfer within the first 3 days, while the bacteria are at their strongest state, thus optimizing the amount of transfers you are able to make.
Culture Starter with L. Plantarum Beneficial Bacteria
- Q. What amount of vegetables will your culture starter make?
- A. Each packet of the bacteria starter can make up to a gallon of cultured vegetables, so you should be able to make 6 gallons with each box of starter purchased. Because the bacteria do not transfer well, like the kefir bacteria, we do recommend making larger batches at a time.
- Q. How long will it take for my vegetables to ferment properly?
- A. It generally will take about 5-7 days for the vegetables to complete the fermentation process.
- Q. Where can I find glass jars suitable for fermenting?
- A. www.weckcanning.com
- Q. How will I know when my vegetables have fermented properly?
- A. Once properly cultured, your vegetables will emit a gassy smell upon opening the jar, be bright in color with the brine bubbling, and will have expanded inside of the container.
- Q. Is it necessary to use a culture starter to ferment vegetables?
- A. No it is not, however the culture starter will provide you with additional strains of bacteria to help remove yeast and aid in proper digestion, and the bacteria will speed up the culturing process.
- Q. Do you have any recipes or tips for making my cultured vegetables?
- A. http://bodyecology.com/cveggies.php
- Q. What is the danger, if any, of contracting botulism or a
similar bacteria related infection from using the veggie culture
starter that you sell on your website.
- A. If the instructrions are followed and care is taken to use
clean utensils and jars, fermented foods are very safe. The
enormous numbers of benefical bacteria (in the veggie culture
this would be Lactobaccilus Plantarum) destroy pathogens. The
Body Ecology method of making cultured veggies use this bacteria
to ensure that a hardy beneficial bacteria is used to ensure that
if any pathogens are present they would not grow. However, if you
should ever have a batch that is not fermented but is spoiled,
you would definitely know it. The finished product would smell
gross and be ugly in color.Cultured veggies are bright and
beautiful and have a pickled, sour smell.
- Q. Also, if sanitization of the containers to be used is
necessary, how would I go about this? Or is a cleaned crock pot
or new mason jar ok as is?
- A. You do not have to sterilize the jars or crocks. But do
use common sense. Wash jars well in soapy water and rinse with
very hot water. Also wash off any spoons or utensils that you
will be using to dip into the cultured veggies or kefir. Do not
eat straight from the jar. Take out a portion that you are going
to eat or drink and eat just this amount.
- Q. Can I make cultured veggies without a starter?
- A. Yes, absolutely. This has been done for thousands of
years. But today when people ferment veggies they add salt to
inhibit any pathogenic bacteria from getting started in the
cultured veggies before the "good guys" are get started. Once the
beneficial bacteria predominate, the pathogenic bacteria can t
grow.
- But at Body Ecology we do not use salt DURING THE
FERMENTATION. Some people do not want a salty product and we also
feel there is an even better way. Instead of using salt to
inhibit any potential pathogen, we prefer instead to use a hardy
beneficial bacteria (which you will find in our Culture Starter).
Stir a package of the culture starter into the mixture of
shredded and chopped veggies to make sure the good guys start up
right from the beginning. This starter contains Plantarum, a
wonderful, hardy bacteria, that is antiviral and once it
colonizes in your intestines, is not destroyed by antibiotics if
you should have to take one for a really severe bacterial
infection.
- Q. When can you use Sea Salt and what kind do we
recommend?
- A. For the many people who prefer a salty taste you can add
Celtic Sea Salt after fermentation. We also suggest adding
organic, unrefined, virgin oils as well, including olive,
pumpkinseed, flax oil, ESSENTIAL WOMAN (by Barlean's) along with
the Celtic Sea Salt just to make your cultured veggies tastier
(more like a "probiotic salad").
Vitality SuperGreen
- Q. Is the Vitality a gluten free drink?
- A. Our Vitality does contain trace amounts of gluten due to the addition of GlutImmune, which is derived from red wheat berries, however this is included to aid in healing an inflamed digestive tract through its essential amino acids that heal intestinal mucosa. Many of our customers who have gluten sensitivities not only report having no issues due to its inclusion, but improved digestion as a whole.
- Q. Is Vitality safe for children and pregnant or nursing women?
- A. Yes, Vitality is safe for anyone seeking to address digestive issues.
- Q. Can Vitality help me gain/lose weight?
- A. Vitality can aid in weight loss by substituting it for a meal such as breakfast. In addition, the Vitality can help you maintain or even gain weight by including it along with a meal each day.
- Q. Why do you include soy lecithin in the ingredients?
- A. Soy lecithin is a great source of choline, which helps dissolve fats and cholesterol, and can help regulate kidney, liver and gallbladder function. Lecithin is an essential nutrient required by your body, and deficiency in lecithin can cause digestive problems, nausea, forgetfulness, intolerance to fats and muscle and joint issues.
- Q. How long will one bottle last me?
- A. A 10 oz bottle of Vitality contains thirty servings, making for a one month supply.
- Q. Do I really need all this stuff in the powder?
- A. All disease begins in the colon. You also have to start
there when you are healing yourself. Vitality SuperGreen is
designed to maintain and nourish the inflamed mucosal lining and
continue to keep it healthy. It also encourages the growth of a
healthy inner ecosystem, which is the central focus of the Body
Ecology Diet. Vitality SuperGreen is very alkalizing and provides
true energy to a depleted body.
- Q. What if I have Lupus, should I be taking alfalfa? My
doctor said no. Is it better to take a single ingredient grass
supplement like Barley?
- A. Vitality would be excellent for someone with Lupus,
chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia or any condition where the body is
too acidic. Vitality is alkalizing, it is mineral-rich, it has
easily digested proteins and fatty acids that are vital to
wellness. One would have to spend hundreds of dollars to get all
the ingredients packed together in a blend like this.
- As for Lupus... In my own experience I personally have never
found anyone who has been told by a doctor that they have "Lupus"
who did not benefit from all that we teach at Body Ecology. Quite
frankly I do not believe Lupus is any different from chronic
fatigue, autism, and many of the other so called "syndromes"
millions of people are told they have. All these syndromes or
"diseases" are a combination of a toxic body, poor digestion,
hormone imbalances, infections, dental problems, spinal
misalignments, and a lack of a healthy inner ecosystem. When you
cleanse the body, re-hydrate it, re-nourish it to correct the
deficiencies and hormone imbalances, and rid the body of
infections (viral, fungal, bacteria, mycoplasmas, etc.) the
person becomes well. Over the years we have helped many people
with chronic fatigue, Lupus, etc. who followed the BED principles
and significantly improved on the Diet. I would suggest that this
customer buy a copy of the BED book to give to her doctor. He
would become a more valuable doctor for her and for all his
patients if he were educated on the importance of a healthy inner
ecosystem.
- Q. Would fresh green juices replace Vitality SuperGreen?
- A. No... not replace it. They are different. A green juice
made from fresh organic vegetables has wonderful nutrients,
welcomed by the body each day. But it is not designed to heal the
intestinal tract and nourish the inner ecosystem, like the
Vitality SuperGreen.
- A fresh green juice should be sipped slowly since it is an
extremely concentrated and lacks the fiber to slow down
absorption. While it is made up of alkaline veggies, it will
create acidity in the body if you drink it quickly. Make your
fresh juice with dark green vegetables like celery, kale,
spinach, parsley, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and a small amount
of sour green apple. While we recommend drinking a green juice
since it is so good for the liver (especially in the Spring while
the liver is cleansing) we also recommend making at least one
Vitality SuperGreen drink each day all year long. Take your fresh
green veggie juice in the morning on an empty stomach and take
your Vitality SuperGreen drink in the morning and around four o
clock in the afternoon as a pick-me-up to take your through the
rest of your day with plenty of energy.
LivAmend
- Q. What if I do not have a problem with constipation, what
other benefits will I get from this product?
- A. The liver is the largest filtering organ in our body. It
has over one thousand "jobs" to perform including processing the
drugs, chemicals, pesticides, inhaled toxins, mercury, aluminum,
and many other metals. It works diligently trying to protect from
the incredibly toxic environment we are currently living in by
storing these toxins inside itself instead of allowing them out
into the cells. Our liver does this to the best of its ability --
hoping to have a chance to someday release them. But sadly, for
most of us, it never does get this opportunity to release toxins
(through the bile) into the colon where they would leave our body
in our stool. A lifelong accumulation of these toxins leads to
untimely death, disease and early aging. (Even newborn babies are
born with toxic livers and I am finding the autistic children I
am helping, really do well on Liv-Amend. We recommend that their
parents take it too).
- Liv-Amend increases bile flow, which in turn cleanses the
liver. The secret to not aging is to keep this organ clean and
healthy and free of toxins that destroy and debilitate. As people
age bile naturally decreases. Alcoholics and people who take
medicinal and recreational drugs usually have extremely low
levels of bile so toxins accumulate in their livers quickly.
Often constipation is caused by a "jammed", congested liver.
Liv-Amend helps get the liver "flowing" again. Many people are
thrilled to find such a simple way to end constipation caused by
their congested livers
EcoClear
- Q. How long should I continue on my parasite cleanse?
- A. We recommend taking 4 capsules of the Eco Clear each morning for a period of four months, and then doing a maintenance cleanse twice a year after that for a month at a time.
- Q. Is Eco Clear also an anti-fungal?
- A. Yes, the Black Walnut hull is a powerful anti-fungal useful for treating Candida, pin worm, ring worm and tape worm.
- Q. Is this too harsh for a compromised system? No. What about
children? Can they take this product?
- A. EcoClear is a powerful anti-parasite formula if you are a
parasite but it will not harm a human. However, one sign that it
is working is that you may not feel well when you start taking
it. This means it is starting to kill the parasites. You can also
take MSM (6 capsules of 500 mg with 2000 mg of Vitamin C twice a
day) with this product to enhance the anti-parasitic effect.
- Children after the age of ten can also take EcoClear in the
same strength as an adult. Younger children can take half the
amount, As they may have difficulty swallowing them, the capsules
can be opened and the herbs put into water. However, do not
dilute with juice as this will feed the parasites and negate the
effect of the anti-parasitic herbs.
EcoBloom
- Q. What is FOS?
- A. http://www.bodyecology.com/07/05/10/understanding_fos.php
- Q. What do I add the Eco Bloom to?
- A. Eco Bloom can be added to kefir or cultured vegetables to help the bacteria thrive, or mixed in with hot or cold beverages, gravy, salad dressings or condiments.
OceanPlant Extract
- Q. What benefits does the Ocean Plant Extract provide other than purging heavy metals?
- A. Our Ocean Plant Extract boosts the immune system, can protect against different cancers, helps to decrease high blood sugar and cholesterol levels, improves structure of hair and nails to help them grow and can detoxify smokers from strontium and cadmium. In addition, the Ocean Plant contains Iodine for thyroid support in a bio-available ionic form.
Stevia
- Q. What is the conversion rate to sugar for your Stevia?
- A. EQUIVALENCY CHART
1 cup sugar= 1 teaspoon liquid or powder
1 tablespoon sugar= 1/4 teaspoon powder, 6-9 drops liquid
1 teaspoon sugar= pinch to 1/16 teaspoon powder, 2-4 drops liquid
- Q. Is Stevia safe for diabetics?
- A. Yes, Stevia has a zero glycemic index, making it safe for those who suffer from diabetes.
- Q. Does your liquid Stevia have the licorice aftertaste so often found in different brands?
- A. No, our Stevia does not have the licorice aftertaste, making what we feel is the best tasting option on the market.
- For additional information and safety tests regarding Stevia, please visit: www.stevia.net
Black and Green Teas
- Q. How many drops of the liquid extract are necessary to make a cup of tea?
- A. About 20 drops, or thereabouts to taste will make an 8oz cup of tea. Each bottle should make anywhere from 60-90 8oz cups of tea.
Dong Quai
- Q. Are there benefits for a man in taking the Dong Quai?
- A. Yes, Dong Quai is great for men, just as it is for women. For more information on the amazing health benefits of Dong Quai, please read on here: http://www.bodyecology.com/08/02/14/nine_benefits_of_dong_quai.php
- Q. I am pregnant/nursing. Is it safe for me to drink the Dong Quai?
- A. Due to the fact that the Dong Quai balances female hormones, we do not recommend drinking it while pregnant or nursing, nor is it recommended for those with cancer or teenagers.
CocoBiotic and InnergyBiotic
- Q. Are these beverages gluten free?
- A. Yes, both the Coco and Innergy Biotic are now gluten free.
- Q. How much should I drink of these beverages each day?
- A. We recommend drinking at least a single, 2oz serving per day, although drinking more will increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in your intestines to clear up digestive issues.
- Q. Do I need to refrigerate the bottles before I drink them?
- A. No, the probiotic beverages have a shelf life of 18-24 months, even at room temperature. What we do recommend, is when you are ready to start consuming the beverage, refrigerate the bottle for about an hour, and then release the cap just slightly so you can hear all of the air leak out, and only remove the cap once the sound of escaping air has completely stopped. This will insure that you do not have any overflow of liquid, enabling you to enjoy the full contents of the bottle.
- Q. Can I drink different probiotic beverages at the same time, or should I just stick with one?
- A. You absolutely can. Many of our customers are drinking the Coco and Innergy Biotic, as well as the Dong Quai, as they all have unique health benefits.
Lakanto
- Q. Is Lakanto safe for diabetics?
- A. Yes, Lakanto has a zero glycemic index, so it is perfectly safe, and recommended for diabetics.
- Q. What is Lakanto’s conversion rate to sugar?
- A. Lakanto has a one-to-one conversion rate to sugar, which makes it easy and ideal for using as a substitute.
- Q. I see the nutritional information states that Lakanto contains carbohydrates. Does this mean it will affect my blood sugar level?
- A. There are two kinds of carbohydrates, "available", those which the body can use and metabolize and "unavailable", also known as non-glycemic or zero net, which are not used as energy by the body and therefore do not raise blood sugar and have no impact on the glycemic index. Lakanto contains 4 zero net carbs per serving, but these carbs are non-glycemic and aren't converted into calories by your body, so Lakanto will not conflict with your low-carb diet!
- Q. With so many alternative sweeteners on the market, do you have any information to help me decide which one is right for me?
- A. http://www.bodyecology.com/07/06/28/which_are_good_sweeteners.php
