You know, a product like Turtle Mountain Cultured Coconut Milk (yogurt) can be used in so many wonderful ways.   For instance, I’ve had a little container of the plain flavored yogurt in my fridge for about a week.  I kept looking at it wondering what I could do with it; the obvious being Tzatziki Sauce.  But since I have no plans of homemade gyros anytime soon, I kept thinking.  And then it hit me…. Ranch Dressing / Veggie Dip!!

Not only is this a great ranch dressing/veggie dip substitute (GFCFSF), the cultured coconut milk has 6 active and live cultures which will benefit your kids!  Check this out, each 6 oz. container has:

L. Bulgaricus: Everyone can benefit from this one!  It is a transient bacteria (not a colonizer); but, that’s okay because it is a great help to the colonies of resident bacteria in your intestines.  It is known for alleviating digestive problems (including acid reflux) and as an appetite suppressant (which will help Charlie now that he is taking two steroids.. he’s hungry all the time!).  It is highly recommended for overall support of friendly bacteria, production of natural antibiotic substances, enhanced digestibility of proteins, inhibition of undesirable organisms, colon cleaning without disrupting friendly bacteria, maximum effectiveness of waste disposal, and is an effective immune system enhancement.  It is well researched and has been proven to be an extremely beneficial addition to the body, and is therefor used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, specifically enterocolitis (yea!).  It has also been used to treat patients who struggle with the after-effects of die off of beneficial bacteria (diarrhea) from taking broad-spectrum antibiotics for long periods of time.

S. Thermophilus: This one has the antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in it!  SOD is recommended for the pain associated with arthritis.  Antioxidants search for and destroy harmful free radicals in the body, which increase as a result of aging, stress, antibiotics, the consumption of sugar, chlorinated water, and other chemicals and toxins present in our diets.  S. Thermophilus has been shown to display anti-tumor activity, especially related to color cancer cell growth, as well as an efficient treatment for diarrhea and intestinal infections. It also played a role in inhibiting ulcer development in the ileum of rats who were being treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (which are known to cause gastrointestinal ulcers).

L. Plantarum: An excellent alternative to antibiotics.  Is also capable of metabolizing semi-resistant fibers (i.e. onion, garlic, artichoke, wheat, oat, rye, banana, and yeast).  It is also an important tool in antimicrobial defense and is effective against both extra-cellular and inter-cellular pathogens.

L. Rhamnosus: One of the most intensely studied probiotic strains, with its treatment of gastointestial disorders being well documented, particularly its association with the prevention or downright alleviation of diverse intestinal disorders (i.e. lactose intolerance, viral and bacterial diarrhea, adverse effects of abdominal radiotherapy, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, and food allergies).  It has been shown to inhibit the growth of colon tumors.  Multiple studies out of Canada show L. Rhamnosus demonstrates an increased resistance to yeast and urinary tract infections.  And one more thing, it has been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of bacterial species, including steptococci.

L. Paracasei: Lactic acid bacteria (from coconut milk) which are both acid and bile resistant.  Because of that, they are more likely to survive the journey from the mouth through the gastrointestinal tract and into the intestines.  Recent studies show L. paracasei effective in the prevention and treatment of certain types of diarrhea, and their ability to alter the activity of intestinal microflora, modulate the immune system, and perhaps even reduce the risk of some cancers.

Bifidobacterium Lactus:  Research shows this one has significant immunological properties.  It resists acid digestion, the action of bile salts, and survives the intestinal transit, allowing larger numbers to reach the colon.  It is also known to help alleviate constipation, prevent diarrhea (especially in children) and decrease chronic inflammation of the sigmoid colon.  It’s antimicrobial properties decrease the effects of negative bacteria, especially clostridia.

I don’t know about you, but those were some major selling points for me, as I know Charlie (with all of his GI difficulties) will benefit from each and every one of these good bacteria.

So without further ado, here’s how I made the dressing/veggie dip:

6oz container of So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk – Plain
1/2 cup Unsweetened MimicCream
1/2 heaping tsp Paprika
1/2 heaping tsp Dried Parsley
1/4 heaping tsp Ground Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Salt (add more to taste)
1/8 heaping tsp Garlic Powder
1/8 heaping tsp Granulated Onion (or onion powder)
1/8 tsp Dried Thyme

* Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use as salad dressing, veggie dip, wing dip, etc.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 6th, 2008 at 4:24 pm and is filed under BioMed, Charlie's World, DAN!, Diet, Nutrition, Recipes, autism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.