Donna Schwenk
Cultured Food Life
Discover how to make and serve delicious probiotic foods and improve your overall health with Donna Schwenk. In her weekly radio show "Cultured Food Life" (new episodes every Tuesday), Donna will de-mystify different probiotic foods such as kefir, kombucha, and cultured vegetables, and share how to add these foods into your diet. As a teacher and writer, Donna works with thousands of people to open the door to a world of foods that can help improve an array of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, and IBS. In her down-to-earth and informative style, Donna will walk you throu...
Author
Donna Schwenk
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 5, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Episode 114: IBS and Gut Bacteria 03.03.2020 33:32
More and more scientists are finding a connection between probiotics, a healthy gut, and IBS. My daughter Maci had IBS when we first found cultured foods, and we found healing for her with the addition of cultured foods to her diet. Listen to the podcast to find out what we did and how many people are finding help from IBS symptoms. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-11...
Episode 113: Is Kefir the Answer for Acid Reflux? 25.02.2020 20:40
Most heartburn medications focus on neutralizing the stomach acid in the esophagus. This helps to control the painful burning but it does not treat the root cause of it and can also make it worse in the long run. Fixing your gut function can be a better way to treat heartburn and bring about balance to the body. Listen to hear more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-11...
Episode 112: Histamines and Fermented Foods 18.02.2020 24:40
Did you know many of your gut bacteria break down histamine? But here's the catch - certain probiotic strains are histamine-producing, while other strains are histamine-degrading which should improve your symptoms. If you have too much of the histamine-producing kind and not enough of the other, then you're in trouble. Listen to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/ep...
Episode 111: Eczema And Probiotic Foods 11.02.2020 21:38
Eczema is a skin condition that causes itchy, red patches on different locations of the body and affects over 30 million people. Scientists are finding that infants with low intestinal microbial diversity during the first month of life are associated with atopic eczema. Check out how people are finding relief from eczema by fixing their guts first. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/po...
Episode 110: 6 Ginger Sodas That Can Do Amazing Things 04.02.2020 20:29
Ginger is one of the things I reach for when I'm in pain or a family member is in pain. I reach for this food-like medicine regularly, and I'm quite serious when I say this. I use it for many things and use it in many ways. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-110-6-ginger-sodas-that-can-do-amazing-things/ Check out this article: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/6-ginger-...
Episode 109: The Cultured Veggie that Helped Me Overcome the Flu 28.01.2020 18:04
If you are looking for an easy cultured veggie that your family will love, that can help you stay healthy and even fight colds and the flu, then you have to try Jicama if You're Sicka-ma. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-109-the-cultured-veggie-that-helped-me-overcome-the-flu/ I have a video for this podcast so check out the link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/jica...
Episode 108: The X Factor in Cheese 17.12.2019 24:52
Cheese is loaded with Vitamin K2 which has been referred to as the X factor. Vitamin K2 has huge health benefits that may really surprise you. Learn how to make special cheeses and discover why they contain the X-factor vitamin. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-108-the-x-factor-in-cheese/ Check out this article: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-x-factor-vitamin-in...
Episode 107: Fibromyalgia and Fermented Foods 10.12.2019 30:29
Fibromyalgia is one of the fastest-growing disabling conditions. It affects 2-4 percent of the population, mostly women, and has no known cure. But now, Fibromyalgia has been linked to gut bacteria for the first time. Listen and learn how people are fixing their guts and finding relief from this chronic condition. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-107-fibromyalgia-and-...
Episode 106: Two Women Who Convinced Me To Make My Own Bread 26.11.2019 25:00
Much is being said about how bad bread is for you, but for generations, it has sustained many. This led me to discover that it was never the bread, but rather what we have done to the bread that is causing harm to so many individuals. Tune in to learn more. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-106-two-women-who-convinced-me-to-make-my-own-bread/ Check out this article: ht...
Episode 105: Nine Recipes and Reasons to Eat Cultured Pumpkin 19.11.2019 20:44
I love, love pumpkin. It has many wonderfully healthy qualities and a creamy consistency that makes it a wonderful treat. I use pumpkin in multiple ways, but some of my favorites recipes are ones I make with kefir. Fermenting pumpkin is a way to enhance all the nutrients and add probiotics, too. Check out all the recipes and health facts about why you should be adding more pumpkin to your diet. Ep...
Episode 104: Which are the Best Sweeteners? 12.11.2019 21:38
It's been quite a journey for me trying to find the right sweeteners for my family and me. It was always really important to me to find ones that wouldn't spike my blood sugar but also wouldn't harm my gut flora. Check out my favorite sweeteners, you might be surprised by what you learn! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-104-which-are-the-best-sweeteners/ Check out thi...
Episode 103: Asthma and Fermented Foods 05.11.2019 23:20
One of the first friends I ever told about cultured foods had a little boy with asthma. Making and drinking a kefir smoothie every day allowed him to get off his asthma inhaler and live a normal life. I was quite surprised and thrilled that it worked so rapidly and since that time research has caught up with the connection between the microbes in our gut and asthma. Tune in to listen and learn mor...
Episode 102: The Real Reason Your Immune System Needs Cultured Foods 29.10.2019 21:39
One of my favorite things that cultured foods do is to boost your immune system. Your gut is responsible for 80 percent of your immune system. The more good bacteria you have, the better your immune system is. Find out how to stay healthy during cold and flu season and keep your immune system strong! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-102-the-real-reason-your-immune-sys...
Episode 101: Probiotics Viruses and Your Immune System 22.10.2019 22:19
We all harbor trillions of diverse groups of microbes that live on us and inside of us. There are microbes that are "permanent residents" and also microbe "tourists" that only stay for a short time. If the population of good bacteria isn't large enough, then an imbalance can occur. Listen to learn how you can help your immune system stay strong with good bacteria. Episode link: https://www.culture...
Episode 100: Will Bacteria Keep You Young? 15.10.2019 23:39
Our bodies require a host of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live on and inside our bodies. Most people don't like to think about bacteria and fungi but they are well acquainted with you! This microbiome is comprised of over 100 trillion microbes plus their genes, and it governs much of our lives. Tune in to learn how it keeps you young too! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast...
Episode 99: Gluten Pain: The Best Teacher 08.10.2019 23:53
I have met hundreds of people who are now on gluten-free diets. My daughter used to be one of them. Gluten pain can make life difficult. How can this grain that has been around since time began suddenly wreak such havoc on so many individuals? I was never one to do something without understanding the reasoning behind it. Listen to learn what I discovered. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife...
Episode 98: Is Kombucha Good for You? 01.10.2019 29:46
Is kombucha good for you? Is it alcoholic? I've been drinking kombucha for almost two decades. During year two, I stopped drinking it for three months because I read an article online from someone supposedly in the know who thought it was bad for you. Tune in to find out what I discovered. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-98-is-kombucha-good-for-you/ Check out this ar...
Episode 97: The Many Ways Cultured Foods Detoxify Our Bodies 24.09.2019 23:58
I love my microbes and all they do for me. I used to think that my liver was mostly responsible for filtering and removing compounds from within my body but my gut bacteria do 50% of the job. Listen and learn how to help your body and live a healthier life. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-97-the-many-ways-cultured-foods-detoxify-our-bodies/ Check out this article: ht...
Episode 96: 19 Ways to Eat Fermented Garlic 17.09.2019 23:24
Fermented Garlic is a MUST-have for your refrigerator! It's a wonderful medicine-like food and making it a part of your diet can work wonders for many health concerns. Learn 19 ways you can use fermented garlic and stay healthy! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-96-19-ways-to-eat-fermented-garlic/ Check out this article: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/19-ways-to-use-...
Episode 95: Dairy-Free Kefir 10.09.2019 26:31
I have seen many people benefit from kefir, and this includes non-dairy kefir. So many people need a dairy-free version, so we created just about every kind of non-dairy kefir we could think of. We have 16 in all and I want to tell you which ones I like the best and how to make it thick like yogurt! Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-95-dairy-free-kefir/ Check out this...
Episode 94: Enzymes and Your Gut 27.08.2019 23:11
Having plenty of digestive enzymes is one of the keys to optimal health. Learn how to give your body what you need to absorb and break down your food into micro- and macro-nutrients that can then be absorbed and used by your body. Listen to today's podcast to learn how. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-94-enzymes-and-your-gut/ Check out this article: https://www.cultu...
Episode 93: The FODMAP Diet for SIBO, IBS, and Probiotic Foods 20.08.2019 31:39
We all know that food choice can drastically impact health symptoms. Changing your diet and reducing symptoms is really important, but avoiding a lot of foods that cause symptoms only temporarily removes the problem. There is more you can do but you need to understand what's happening and how to fix it. Check out today's podcast for more info. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast...
Episode 92: Let This Be The Year You Start Making Kefir Cheese 13.08.2019 27:23
If you love cheese, then you really need to learn to make kefir cheese. It's crazy easy, filled with probiotics, and you can use it in a million different ways. Let me show you how easy, fun and life-changing it can be. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-92-let-this-be-the-year-you-start-making-kefir-cheese/ References I talked about: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/th...
Episode 91: Food Care is Health Care 06.08.2019 22:44
Americans use to spent 17.5 percent of their income on food and 5.2 percent of national income on health care. Since then, those numbers have flipped. Spending on food has fallen to 9.9 percent, while spending on healthcare has climbed to 16 percent of national income. What has changed and what can we do? Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-91-food-care-is-health-care/
Episode 90: How Many Cultured Foods Should You Eat in a Day? 16.07.2019 31:38
You don't need to add tons of cultured foods to your diet to see benefits, and I am going to show you how easy it is. It might surprise you that small amounts can make a big difference. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-90-how-many-cultured-foods-should-you-eat-in-a-day/ References I talked about: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipes/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.c...
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