One thing we can do for our loved ones, community, planet, and social change is to understand how we can be health and wellness warriors from our own personal emotional and physical well-being. So let’s start with what everyone on the planet does. Poops! 

Your poops are an excellent indicator of your total health. Your gut and brain are in constant communication via the amazing Vagus Nerve, which I LOVE to talk about. If you are feeling depressed, experiencing mood swings, and all digestive issues, your communication between the brain and gut are not getting along and this disruption is the beginning of many symptoms and diseases. 

Here's a little background on this probiotic delight. I think you'll find that it be your new go-to gut-loving drink. They're super easy to make, and once you have the hang it, you can experiment with a flavor of the season. 

Kvass is a traditional fermented Slavic and Baltic beverage commonly made from rye bread. The bread-based Kvass tastes a bit like a sweet, non-alcoholic beer. From my research, Kvass only has up to 1% alcohol content (usually less). My first experience of this bubbly beverage was a somewhat traditional Beet Kvass. Since then, I've experimented with gluten-free recipes like the sweet and rooty Orange, Ginger, and Carrot Kvass. Now that peaches are in season, it's time for a different brew. 

This recipe is one of my favorite summer Polish dishes! Traditionally, Chłodnik is served with warm mashed potatoes. Together they create a combination that is rich with flavors, varying textures, and contrasting temperatures. Every bite is a sensorial delight. 

Chłodnik (pronounced h-wo-d-neek, meaning cooler) is perfect for those hot summer days. Plus, this lacto-fortified bowl of flavor will nourish your gut with each bite. Thanks to those wee microbes, the soup is in a lacto-fremented kefir or buttermilk base, it keeps well for nearly a week as the live probiotic bacteria feed on the sugary starches in the veggies. It's one of those great dishes that can nourish your palate for days on end. 

Kvass is a newcomer in my life — a very welcome newcomer! As you probably know, consuming a variety of fermented foods helps you get all the health benefits of bacteria and keeps your colonies refreshed and varied. This is why I always embrace any new fermented food I learn about, and kvass is a must-try.

When you think of meditation, you probably don’t associate it with better digestion and gut health. I know I didn’t until I learned just how much unresolved stress influences our gut health and just how powerful meditation is for decreasing stress and improving our ability to digest.