The liver cleansing tonic you never knew you need!

Have you ever heard of beet kvass? I've had friends tell me they think it looks like a witch's brew! But, it turns out beet kvass is one of the best ways to help detoxify your body and build healthy gut bacteria. Traditionally, it was taken as a shot with meals to help with digestion. It produces natural digestive enzymes that will help you digest your food better and assimilate the vitamins and nutrients on your plate.

Beet kvass is a traditional Russian drink that produces lactic acid, specifically Lacto Bacillus, when it ferments. This is what gives it a sour flavor, but also what makes it powerful for our gut health. It is loaded with nutrients that make it an amazing blood tonic, promotes regularity, aids digestion, alkalizes the blood, cleanses the liver, and has been shown to even help with kidney stones.

Use this as a digestive aid by taking a shot of about one to two tablespoons with your meals, especially high-fat meals. Or, use this any place you would use vinegar - in salad dressings, as a shot in a soup, etc. Start low and gradually build up to two tablespoons.

I use this when I feel my skin looking sluggish or when I'm feeling run down. I take it as a clue that my lymphatic system and liver may be in need of some help - so I make sure to add it to at least one meal a day.

If you're curious to try, here's the recipe I use. Once you get it down, feel free to add other ingredients like peppercorn and orange peel - you can make it your own. It's quite simple, and you can't mess it up - worth a try if you have digestive issues, for sure!

Note - Do not use grated beets. They produce too much juice, which will result in you making alcohol and not lactic acid.

Photography by Beth Morgan