If you are avoiding dairy these days, you might find it hard to get all the probiotics you need from your diet. I mean, what better way to start your day than with a gut-loving bowl of yogurt? Luckily, you don’t need dairy for that! Coconut yogurt is a great tasting, easy-to-make replacement with a whole lot of health benefits.
Why Coconut Yogurt?
In addition to being delicious, coconut is high in fibre, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, and medium chain triglycerides (good fats). With the addition of probiotics, you are essentially “waking up” your coconut cream, fermenting it into a living food: yogurt. Probiotics are extremely beneficial for your gut health, which in turn has far reaching effects on mood, energy levels, hormones, immunity, and so much more!
Is DIY that much better than store bought?
While we’re seeing more and more dairy free yogurt options in stores these days, most of them contain fillers, thickeners, and added sweeteners. In addition, we often can’t be sure that the probiotic cultures are still alive. Thankfully, it’s easy and inexpensive to make your own.
Recipe: All-Natural Coconut Yogurt
Ingredients:
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2-4 probiotic capsules (containing some of the strains B. animalis, B. breve, B. longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L reuteri. One that specifies human strain probiotics is even better. Check to ensure your capsule is dairy-free) or you can use a few tablespoons from a previous jar of active coconut yogurt.
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1-2 cans of coconut milk (look for one with coconut as the only ingredient)
Directions:
Heat up the coconut milk to just before boiling on the stove-top, then let cool until it is still slightly warm to touch (60-80 F). Open the probiotic capsules and sprinkle the contents into the coconut milk. Stir well. Pour into sterilized jars and cover with cheesecloth. Leave on the counter for 24-48 hours. The longer you allow it to ferment, the stronger the yogurt will be (& the more sour). Taste test. Once you are satisfied with the flavour you can cover and refrigerate. It should last for about 7 days in the fridge. If you can, use a glass bowl and a glass jar to mix and ferment the yogurt.
How to use:
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Add fruit and nuts for breakfast
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Add to smoothies
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Add fruit puree to make a desert
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Add cocoa and maple syrup for a dessert mousse
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Use as a base for a creamy salad dressing
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Use in place of sour cream
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Use as a face mask- coconut and probiotics are both nourishing to the skin and anti-inflammatory.
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Eat it straight out of the jar!
It is best to start out by eating just a few tablespoons at a time to allow your gut to adjust to the probiotics. A little bloating is normal, in the beginning. If your digestive problems aren’t improving, consider booking a free consultation to discuss how I can help you on your way to better gut health!