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Fermented Apples For You and Fido

The earliest record of fermented food dates back to 6000 B.C. in the fertile cresent.  But since then almost every world culture has discovered fermented foods as way of preservation and flavor enhancement.  Fermented apples are a fall staple in many Eastern European countries — there are so many apple-based fermented foods.  Apple cider vinegar, apple brandy, fermented applesauce, apple wine, and apple sauerkraut.  But today’s fermented recipe is a sweet, acidic fruit pickle perfect for adding to smoothie bowls, oatmeal or just eaten solo for a healthy snack.  Lacto-fermented apples contain natural probiotics AND have the magical taste of fall.

How About Them Fermented Apples

Another added benefit? According to Dogs Naturally magazine, fermented apples are a great probiotic treat your dog too.  Probiotics are a powerful way to restore Fido’s intestinal health, especially after a round of antibiotics.  They go on to say, “While most probiotic supplements you’d buy contain about 10 billion units of bacteria, fermented foods can contain 10 trillion units.”

Fermented foods are also more digestible and your dog gets more nutrition out of them than he would out of the same unfermented apple. As an example, sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) contains much more vitamin C than cabbage.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of apples, chopped (crispy, sweet and organic varieties are our favorite)
  • ½ teaspoon SCD Essential Probiotics
  • Filtered, chlorine-free water
  • Optional herbs and spices: half an orange peel, half a lemon peel, one cinnamon stick, 1 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger, a few leaves of fresh mint, a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, raisins, nuts, vanilla beans or any combination of the above.

Materials

  • Fermentation container with an air-tight lid.

Instructions

  1. Slice the apples and add to your fermentation container.  Add any combination of herbs and spices; it’s especially nice to choose flavors that are in season.  If you do choose to use nuts or dried fruit, subtract that amount from the amount of apples you use.
  2. Fill your container with chlorine-free, filtered water, leaving about an inch of space for expansion. Seal with an airtight lid and store away from direct sunlight for 1-2 days.
  3. After 1-2 days the apples will begin to bubble and fizz.  Put them in the fridge to slow the fermentation process, because they’re ready.

Note: Don’t let your apples ferment for more than 3 days or you may end up with an alcoholic beverage!

So don’t delay!  Concoct a batch of fermented apples to enjoy yourself.   And share a probiotic treat with your favorite canine companion, too.

Check out our other probiotic recipes that are fun and easy to make!
krazy kombucha
Krazy Kombucha — Fermenting with Unusual Flavors

Here at SCD Probiotics we enjoy brewing, fermenting and especially eating aforementioned brews and ferments.  Oh yeah — and the health benefits are nice too.  One of the supreme benefits of fermenting your own food is control over ingredients, timing and acidity.  A favorite summertime brew for us is kombucha and we have compiled some krazy kombucha recipes for the adventurous brewer in you.

For the sake of brevity, we are highlighting krazy kombucha recipes created during bottling.  After you brew your tea using a SCOBY, you can bottle your kombucha and add fruit, herbs and/or roots to add flavor and fizz to your brew.  There are many tutorials on brewing kombucha, such as this one.  Keep in mind you may use white, green, jasmine, oolong black tea or herbal tisanes to make kombucha.  We used jasmine tea and organic cane sugar for the kombucha we made below.

Bottling Instructions

After you brew your kombucha you may choose to drink it immediately or bottle it, but we prefer to jazz it up with unique ingredients.  Just choose a recipe below and follow these instructions.

  1. Add the fruit/herb/root ingredients to a 16-ounce glass vessel with plastic lid.
  2. Fill with finished kombucha, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace.
  3. Cap tightly and swirl gently to dissolve sugar. (sugar optional)
  4. Culture 1-7 days or until kombucha is carbonated to your liking.
  5. Move bottles to the refrigerator.
  6. When you are ready to drink it, open carefully, without shaking, to avoid spilling the bubbly kombucha over the top of the bottle.
  7. Strain kombucha through a small strainer to remove ingredient pieces. (optional)
  8. Serve cold.

 

Mexican Hot Chocolate Kombucha

This chocolaty recipe is quite unusual, incorporating cayenne peppers into the booch.  This is the first time we have tried a ‘spicy’ kombucha.  Or a ‘chocolaty’ one for that matter.  We were impressed with the novelty of it and next time we plan on tinkering with the pepper to cinnamon ratio.  Add the following to a 16 oz. glass bottle and follow the bottling instructions.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups finished kombucha tea
  • 1-2 Tbsp. cocoa nibs
  • 1 small, hot pepper such as ring of fire cayenne, stems removed
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 tsp. sugar
  • 1 small pinch powdered cinnamon (optional)
  • 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. SCD Essential Probiotics (optional)

 

Lemon Ginger with Grains of Paradise

Here is a recipe for lemon ginger kombucha, to which we added Grains of Paradise, a subtle peppery spice from the ginger family. This spice has a zesty flavor reminiscent of pepper and has hints of butter, flowers, cardamom and coriander.  Add the following to a 16 oz. glass bottle and follow the bottling instructions.

  • 2 cups finished kombucha tea
  • 1 tsp. roughly chopped ginger
  • juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 3-4 Grains of Paradise
  • 1/2 tsp. sugar (The added sugar gives the kombucha something to feast on in order to create carbonation; however, you can simply omit it, or use honey or maple syrup in its place.)
  • 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. SCD Essential Probiotics (optional)

 

Strawberry Rose

While strawberry rose isn’t the most unusual flavor we found on the internet, we were interested in pairing flower essences with traditional fruit flavors.  And the combination did not disappoint!  Or maybe we are just suckers for the romantic notion of rose tea.  Add the following to a 16 oz. glass bottle and follow the bottling instructions.

  • 2 cups finished kombucha tea
  • 1-2 tsp. rose water
  • 1 large strawberry quartered
  • 1/2 tsp. sugar (optional since fruit contains natural sugars)
  • 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. SCD Essential Probiotics (optional)

 

So, no matter whether you prefer standard commercial flavors or krazy kombucha flavors like we have profiled here, the health benefits are clear.  Kombucha is full of probiotics and its fantastic fizz is delicious over ice on a hot summer day.   Add a boost of probiotics by adding SCD Essential Probiotics during bottling and broaden the spectrum of beneficial bacteria in your booch.

Check out our other probiotic recipes that are fun and easy to make!
Lacto-fermented Apple Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is the perfect side dish to your grilled summer fare.  Burgers, salmon, and grilled vegetables all pair nicely with a savory sauerkraut.  And just to mix things up, here is a unique Bavarian sauerkraut variety featuring apples, caraway seeds and juniper berries.

Have you heard about lacto-fermentation?  Likely you are familiar with the process if not the term. Lacto-fermented foods are fermented by lactobacillus bacteria, which is a category of beneficial bacteria that feeds on sugar and produces lactic acid as a by-product. Moreover, this is why lacto-fermented foods taste acidic.  SCD Essential Probiotics contains 5 probiotic strains in the lactobacillus family (plus 6 others) and can be added to recipes as a fermentation starter.  In fact, we tried this recipe and added SCD Essential Probiotics to start the fermentation and boost the probiotic content.

Ingredients

  • 3 or 4 heads of cabbage, shredded;
  • 2 or 3 apples, peeled and coarsely chopped;
  • 3 tbsp caraway seeds;
  • 3 tbsp Juniper berries, crushed;
  • 1/4 cup sea salt;
  • 2 Tbsp. SCD Essential Probiotics

Directions

  1. Combine the shredded cabbage, chopped apples, spices and SCD Essential Probiotics.
  2. Add shredded cabbage and apple mixture little by little into a jar.  We used a kombucha fermentation crock.  Pound the mixture to soften the vegetables and sprinkle a little sea salt as you go.
  3. Fill the jar no more than 1 inch below the top (because of expansion).  Ensure that the extracted water covers the vegetables entirely. If not, create a brine of 2 tablespoons sea salt to 4 cups water and add the needed amount to the jar.
  4. Press the mixture and keep it under the brine by placing a plate or a lid on top.  Weigh the lid down with a rock or a jug of water. Cover with a clean towel if needed to keep out fruit flies.
  5. Place the fermentation jar in a warm spot in your kitchen and allow the sauerkraut to ferment for 7 to 10 days.
  6. Check from time to time to ensure that the brine covers the mixture.
  7. Taste your sauerkraut during the fermentation process and move it to the refrigerator when you like the taste.

We halved the recipe and still had plenty to share with friends.  And the word in the office was, “Delicious!” So, try this paleo, lacto-fermented, sauerkraut recipe for you next grilling party or picnic.  It’s a savory, healthy, probiotic addition to any summer menu.

Check out our other probiotic recipes that are fun and easy to make!
Drinking Golden Milk to Fight Inflammation

Have you been searching for a warm drink to spice up the cold, winter nights? This curry-infused tonic may help you fight inflammation and the winter blahs.  Golden Milk, a.k.a. turmeric latte or haldi doodh, has been consumed for centuries in India.

Most noteworthy, adding black pepper to the drink boosts the bio-availability of curcumin by up to 2000%.  So it makes perfect sense that these two key ingredients are combined in curry blends, eaten throughout Asia for centuries.

 

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric contains the active ingredient curcumin which is an antioxidant with many proven benefits.   For example, curcumin demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties in conditions such as arthritis. According to a recent HuffPo article, Turmeric can:

Tame heartburn and upset stomach

Delay diabetes

Fight cancer

Protect the brain

Fight inflammation associated with arthritis.  Turmeric extract supplements worked just as well as ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

 

Golden Milk Recipe

-1 cup of milk (hemp or coconut are also good options)

-1/4 teaspoon or more of turmeric paste (see below for recipe)

-Honey or agave syrup

– 1 teaspoon SCD Essential Probiotics (optional)

Combine the milk and turmeric paste in a saucepan. We chose coconut milk and diluted it.  While heating, make sure to stir constantly and do not boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.  Add honey to taste.  Then add your favorite liquid probiotic to make this inflammation-busting drink with a probiotic kick!

According to Ayurveda, do not drink large amounts of this liver-detoxifier as 1/2 – 1 cup will be more than enough.  Also, cow’s milk is the traditional ingredient instead of hemp, almond or coconut milk.

 

The Verdict

While Golden Milk was a new taste for us, we found it sweet, warming and delicious.  So if you like curry, we wholeheartedly suggest you try this aromatic drink.  All in all, Golden Milk is a healthy substitute for hot cocoa on a snowy, winter evening.  And the turmeric will help your body fight inflammation and may even help you fall asleep.

Turmeric Paste:

-1/4 cup of turmeric powder

-1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper

-1/2 cup of filtered water

Mix all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat until a thick paste forms.  Then, cool and store the paste in a jar in your refrigerator.

 

For more information on the benefits of probiotics, check out our website!

 
Probiotic Cocktail Recipes for the Holidays

Surely your feed is flooded with holiday recipes: hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and desserts.  But have you considered enhancing your favorite mixed drink with probiotics? What better way to celebrate the magic of your digestive track than by sipping a probiotic cocktail with family and friends.

Alcohol and Probiotics

Unsuprisingly, research has shown that over-consuming alcohol can disrupt the natural balance of your digestive tract, increasing your risk of ulcers.  In addition to increased production of stomach acid, drinking alcohol is one of the main risk factors in the development of gastritis — a condition that can cause indigestion, nausea and vomiting.

Besides the long term risk of ulcers and gastritis, many of us are afflicted with alcohol’s short term payback — the hangover.  “Probiotics actually help to metabolize the alcohol as well as breakdown products of alcohol,” says hangover specialist Jason Burke, MD.   So why not add a shot of probiotics into your mixed drink this holiday season.  Pre-tox with a probiotic and avoid that nasty hangover.

Probiotic Cocktail Recipes

Probiotic Pimm’s Cup

Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based potation made in England from dry gin, liqueur, fruit juices, and spices. Also, Pimm’s Cup is still the traditional drink of Wimbledon, with visitors to the matches consuming some 40,000 pints a year.

  • 1 tsp SCD Herbal Probiotics
  • 1/2-inch thick English cucumber wheel
  • 1/2-inch thick lemon wheel
  • 2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
  • 4 ounces 7UP, lemon-lime soda, or ginger ale
  • lemon twist

First, gently muddle the cucumber and lemon slices in a chilled highball glass. Then, pour in the Pimm’s, SCD Herbal Probiotics, and 7UP, lemon-lime soda, or ginger ale.  Stir to combine. Lastly, add ice to fill the glass and garnish with the lemon twist.

 

Old Fashioned with Probiotics

Paul Clarke from Serious Eats says it “predates not only the motor car, but the presidency of Abe Lincoln.”  Clearly, the Old Fashioned is a timeless classic but why not update it for the 21st century by adding liver-supporting probiotics.

In an Old Fashioned glass, muddle the bitters, sugar, orange wheel, cherry and a splash (or more) of soda. Then, remove the orange rind, add the bourbon and SCD Herbal Probiotics and fill with ice. Finally, garnish with a fresh orange wheel and cherry.

So give your liver and stomach a boost.  Almost surely, they will be working overtime for you.  And making these probiotic cocktail recipes will add a splash of health to your celebration this holiday season.
Seize the Harvest: Fall Health Tips

It’s fall! Time to cozy up with your favorite pumpkin spice (fill in your own noun here) and enjoy watching the leaves paint the landscape, and we know just how to maximize your season.

 

Eat:

Fall is the time of harvest and when a large number of fruits and veggies are in season, not just apples pumpkin, and squash. The best way to buy and eat produce isn’t just when foods are in season, but also buying locally grown produce. The abundance of a particular crop and shortened distance between farm and table brings prices down for everyone. More importantly, it’s your healthiest produce option.

Eating locally and in season insures that you get the most out of your fruits and vegetables. These produce are the most flavorful and in align with the environment around you, decreasing your chances of catching an illness. Eating seasonal foods also reduces digestion irritation, boating, and gas.

Fall is also a great time to prepare for the barren season of winter by stocking up your food stores. Produce can be frozen for up to 12 months; homemade soups 2-3 months. Or if your freezer space is limited consider pickling. We’ve walked you through the basic steps: here.

 

Drink:

Prep your immune system. Fall is when your body prepares for winter. Being conscious of what you eat and drink now can set you up for a healthier winter. 80% of your immune system is in the digestion system. So, you are what you eat. Nutritious foods and probiotics help to build a stronger digestive and immune system.

 

Be Merry:

Set yourself up to be mentally and emotionally ready for winter. I personally don’t enjoy winter. I only want snow on Christmas and Christmas Eve and then I don’t want to see the stuff until next year. And yes, I’ve lived in Kansas City my whole life so I know how ridiculous that sounds. Fall is, however, a great time to prepare so winter doesn’t sneak up on you. Take stock of your winter gear and fill in the gaps. Nothing is worse than getting surprised with snow and not having a proper jacket or gloves. Decide on winter activities you do enjoy and schedule them frequently, especially if you can do them with others who actually enjoy winter. Happiness really is contagious. Finally, update your winter cookbook so you have lots of good, cozy dishes to keep your bones warm and your body strong.

Some of our favorite healthy fall recipes are on our Pinterest, check it out!  

 

For more information, visit our website. And don’t forget to sign up for our limited-time free bottle offer.
Easy Probiotic Recipes Fuel Your Gut
kefir-smoothie-bowl

Photo Credit: Kefir Smoothie Bowl, Home Made Food Junkie, April 15, 2016. http://www.homemadefoodjunkie.com/kefir-smoothie-bowl/

With tons of diets trending, it can be hard to find the one that is just right for you! Well, if you are one who suffers from constant bloating and digestive issues, perhaps a probiotic-rich diet can help. This doesn’t mean that you will eat only probiotic foods.  And you will still have to watch your caloric intake. However, it does mean that each of your meals will have a fermented, probiotic ingredient. Check out our easy, probiotic recipes below!

 

Kefir Smoothie Bowl

We all LOVE a good smoothie, and these new trending smoothie bowls are every instagrammer’s dream right now. So why not make one with Kefir, a probiotic fermented milk — instead of regular old dairy milk? Adding in some fruit and protein will make this smoothie an easy, delicious breakfast!

 

Kimchi Omelet

kimchi-omeletKimchi is absolutely delicious, and adding it to your eggs or other omelet substitutes can make for a great, probiotic-fueled breakfast or brunch! In addition, this Japanese staple is loaded with probiotics and can add a zingy flavor to any dish.  You can even eat it all by itself!

 

Brat and Sauerkraut Lettuce Cups

This meal is a great substitute for those summer cookouts! Combining low-fat brats with sauerkraut is sure to give you a great amount of delicious, fermented probiotics! Using lettuce instead of a bun gives it that special element that makes this an A+ on any diet.

 

Black Bean Tacos with Salsa

Black beans are a mexican-food lover’s probiotic dream! They are fermented and full of delicious probiotics to assist with digestion. Next time you’re having a fiesta, try combining them with whole-grain tortillas (or wrap it in lettuce) and serve with chicken or tofu. It’ll be a delicious, healthy alternative to that fried burrito you’ve been thinking about all day.

 

Through easy probiotic recipes, you can stay on track, save time, and improve the health of your mirobiome. Use your imagination and make up some more delicious fermented food-based meals and share it with us! We’re always looking for new recipes!
DIY Probiotic Anti-Aging Mask

All-Natural-Anti-Aging-MaskWe all want to age gracefully. At least, that’s what we say.  However, it seems everyone runs for the hills at the thought of wrinkles and age spots. To try to prevent or combat the inevitable, many have turned to anti-aging or skin-firming creams and gels. Some claim these products are miracle-workers, while the FDA…. well…. they claim they might have mercury. Apparently, some anti-aging creams, acne washes, and even cover-ups contain small traces of mercury. Instead of reaching for those pesky, apparently-dangerous creams, maybe make your own? We have the scoop on an easy Probiotic Anti-Aging Mask.

A lot of people recommend all-natural substitutes for dangerous chemicals. Even on this blog, we’ve written about all-natural sunscreens, DIY probiotic deodorant and other skin care recipes to help you keep informed and safe! Below you will find an amazing, all-natural anti-aging mask recipe that smells as good as it’ll make you look!

 

Coffee Bean Face Mask

1 egg white

3 TBSP Ground Coffee Beans (caffeinated)

1 TBSP SCD Essential Probiotics (liquid probiotics)

Mix these ingredients together and apply onto your face with a thick makeup brush. Leave on for 20-30 minutes and wash off! How does it work to prevent/treat wrinkles and age spots? Let’s break it down, piece by piece.

 

Egg Whites

This sticky mess is known to work as both as agent to hold the coffee grounds on your face and a pore-shrinker. Egg whites are thick and sticky, making your face tighten upon contact– and stay that way!

Caffeinated Coffee Grinds

Coffee has a ton of caffeine that works to stimulate the skin cells and cause they to tighten up. It also has been shown to reduce the appearance of age spots by assisting your skin in generating new cells (it gives the skin cells a push)!

probiotic-bottle2SCD Essential Probiotics

Probiotics protect your face from unwanted bacteria while keeping the natural, good bacteria on your face.  SCD Essential Probiotics is a liquid probiotic that is great for protecting your skin!

 

What the Research is Saying

According to the American Academy of Dermatology,  topically applied probiotics work in three ways:

Protective Shield: Probiotics applied topically sit on the skin’s surface and prevent the skin cells from seeing the bad bacteria and parasites that can cause this immune system response. This is known as “bacterial interference,” as probiotics protect the skin and interfere with the ability of bad bugs (or bacteria and parasites) to provoke an immune reaction.

Antimicrobial Properties:  Sometimes the substances produced by probiotics have antimicrobial properties, meaning they can create holes in bad bacteria and kill them. Similar to the way antibiotics work in the treatment of acne and rosacea, probiotics can help fight harmful bugs from triggering inflammation.

Calming Effect:  When certain types of probiotics are placed in contact with skin cells, they calm the parts of the cells that may want to react to the presence of bad bacteria that they see as a threat.

 

Don’t Panic – Age Naturally

All in all, aging is natural. Don’t run from it. Don’t panic. It is something that everyone goes through and it does take some getting used to. Instead, try this probiotic anti-aging mask to keep you healthy and firm! Just remember: You are beautiful no matter what!
DIY Probiotic Deodorant

probiotic-deodorantYou stink. I stink. Once in a while, we all stink. It’s not our fault (usually)– our body’s natural response to stress is to sweat. Unfortunately, sweat causes a chemical imbalance on our skin, resulting in an odor. And you know exactly what I’m talking about: arm pits. To combat our smelliness, we tend to lean towards deodorant;  however, it looks like the harsh chemicals in deodorant can cause some pretty nasty stuff (much nastier than body odor). So what’s a solution? Well, how about a probiotic deodorant?

Wait, what?

It is as freaky as it sounds. Research is suggesting a strong connection between deodorant use and health problems, such as seizures and even breast cancer. But how? Unfortunately, deodorant contains aluminum and parabens to stop perspiration and replace it with a pleasant smell. But these two additives can do some gnarly stuff to your skin and, as your body absorbs it, the insides of your body, too.

 

What’s a solution?

If the scary parts of deodorant are freaking you out, perhaps try this DIY probiotic deodorant recipe. How does it work? The smelly parts of your underarm are caused by bad bacteria. Probiotics work to neutralize bacteria and replace it with the good bacteria. See the connection? With consistent use, probiotics could potentially eliminate the bad bacteria and  support clean, odor-free underarms!

 

Probiotic Deodorant Recipe

-1 tbsp. cocoa butter
-1 tbsp. coconut oil
-1 tbsp. shea butter
-1 tbsp. beeswax
-2 1/2 tbsp. arrowroot powder
-1 tbsp. baking soda
-1/4 tsp. non-GMO vitamin E oil
-15 drops essential oils of your choice
– Two tablespoons of SCD Essential Probiotics

  • Use one, clean deodorant container or a small jar to store.

Directions:

1. Melt cocoa butter, coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax over low heat.

2. Remove pot from heat, then add arrowroot powder and baking soda. Whisk with chopsticks until all powders are dissolved and combined. Add vitamin E oil and essential oils at this time. Allow mixture to cool in pan. Once it is cooled to the consistency of pudding, add the SCD Essential Probiotics and mix well.

3. Add mixture to clean, used deodorant container. Place in refrigerator to cool and harden. After this, product may be stored on counter. This recipe will fill container and last for 3-4 months. Remember…a little goes a long way!

probiotic-deodorant

To keep your family safe and happy, maybe consider changing some of your beauty products to that of all-natural origins. They have amazing benefits! Remember- always do your own research to decide what’s best for your family. In the meantime, make sure you tune into our weekly blog for the latest industry news! 

 
DIY Zinc Oxide Sunscreen with Probiotics

essential-probiotics-sale1-1024x577If you’ve been paying attention to the news regarding sunscreen, it’s been getting a pretty bad reputation. Parents have been complaining that their children are getting burns from their sunscreen- how ironic! As it turns out, there are a fair amount of “bad” chemicals in sunscreens that can actually promote the growth of skin cancer and can even cause chemical burns or rashes!

Dr. Arthur Perry warns against these nasty, chemical-filled sunscreens saying that the toxins inside “don’t sit on the surface of the skin—they soak into in and quickly find their way into the bloodstream.” Yikes! Any type of absorption of chemicals into the skin—and even the bloodstream!— is a huge red flag. And it’s not a one-and-done deal, either. These chemicals can be detected in “blood, urine, and breast milk for up to two days after a single application.”

But what’s scarier- chemicals in our sunscreen or the UVA/UVB rays harming our skin?

Dr. Perry is not recommending going outside without protection from the sun; anything more than “twenty minutes exposed” can cause serious damage. If you are one who frequents the pool or enjoys working in the garden, you’ll still need some type of protection. His recommendation? A homemade, all-natural sun block using zinc oxide minerals, a naturally occurring chemical that is not absorbed into the skin. But remember- it has to be the mineral, non-nano zinc oxide, as the non-nano zinc oxide particles cannot permeate the skin and enter the bloodstream!

Below is our recommendation for an all-natural, non-nano, zinc oxide sunscreen with probiotics that will protect your skin from the sun, balance the skin’s microbiota, and will keep you from having to use that scary sunscreen! Enjoy this natural, probiotic sunscreen!

 

Non-Nano Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Recipe

  • ½ cup almond or olive oil
  • ¼ cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)
  • ¼ cup beeswax
  • 2 TBSP non-nano zinc oxide
  • up to 1 TSP Carrot Seed Oil (SPF 4-7)
  • 2 tablespoons Shea Butter (natural SPF 4-5)
  • 1-4 drops of Essential Oils
  • 2 TBSP of SCD Essential Probiotics

Homemade Sunscreen Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients except SCD Essential Probiotics in a pint sized or large glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, olives, or other foods.
  2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
  3. Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.
  4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, stir well and pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage.
  5. Small mason jars (pint size) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump.
  6. Stir a few times as it cools to make sure ingredients are incorporated.  Add SCD Essential Probiotics to the mixture when its still liquid and lukewarm, thus ensuring the microbes stay alive.
  7. Use as you would regular sunscreen. Best if used within six months.

 Additional Notes                              

  • This sunscreen is somewhat, but not completely, waterproof and will need to be reapplied after sweating or swimming.
  • Do not inhale the non-nano zinc oxide during preparation.
  • Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make smooth sunscreen.
  • Coconut or vanilla extract or lavender essential oils for fragrance.
  • Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge.
  • Store in a small canning jar and apply like a body butter. It will be thicker, especially if you use coconut oil in the recipe.