Fermented rejuvelac benefits are improvement of your body’s ability to absorb, assimilate, and use the food you eat. That’s right: making sure all that healthy good stuff actually gets put to use AND the toxins get sent on their merry way.
Rejuvelac is a drink made from sprouting grains and drinking the fermented liquid they soak in. The taste is light and pleasant, slightly effervescent and mildly tart. Ann Wigmore is credited with creating this concoction; she’s one of the pioneers of the proactive health through nutrition movement.
Rejuvelac gives your body more:
- digestive enzymes
- good bacteria like lactobacillus acidophilus
- minerals
- vitamins B, C, and E – it is an excellent way for vegans to get B12
Don’t be put off by the multiple steps! Most of the time your jar is sitting on the side, you just prep each step in the process. Watch the video below and see how easy it is. Print the steps below so you have them when you make it.
Scroll down to watch the instructional video.
The tools you’ll need:
- 3 half-gallon glass jars
- Strainer
- 3 cups organic rye – substitute with another grain if GF
- filtered, purified, or spring water
1. Put the grain in strainer and rinse with clean water. Next, put the grain in a jar, fill with clean water 2-3 inches above the grain line. Wrap a dish towel around the jar to keep out light, and place a folded paper towel over the top. Don’t seal the jar because you want air to circulate as the grain soaks up the purified water. Leave for about 12 hours.
2. Rinse the grain, put it back in the jar and cover with 2-3 inches of water. Wrap in the towel again with the paper towel on top for another 12 hours.
3. Rinse the grain again and this time when you put it back in the jar don’t add water. Wrap the towel with the paper towel on top and leave the jar undisturbed for 24 hours.
4. Now you’ll see the grain is beginning to sprout. Repeat Step 3, but rinse twice with clean water twice in the next 24-hour period.
5. Divide the plumped-up grain into two jars after rinsing and fill each to 4 inches above the grain line. Put the lid on let sit for 3 days. Shake gently (see the video) to release the gas that builds up. These are probiotic cultures!
6. After 3 days, strain both bottles into a large bowl and store the liquid in the refrigerator. Reuse the grain for a second batch: rinse out the jars, rinse the grain, and repeat step 5.
7. To keep the ball rolling, when the second batch is ready, throw out the rye grain and start over again at Step 1.
Note:
The rejuvelac should have a pleasant taste, be cloudy, slightly bubbly, and have a golden color. If it smells “off” the jar wasn’t clean enough or the water had impurities, so give it another try.
Drink 4 oz. after each meal.