Rejuvelac: The 5-Cent Gut Healer and Immunity Boost Your Holidays Need

If there were ever a time your gut needs extra love, it’s during the holidays.

Between travel, parties, heavy meals, and sugar sneaking in from every direction, America’s gut health – already in crisis – is pushed to the limit.

And because nearly 85% of your immune system lives in your gut, a sluggish or inflamed digestive system means less energy, weaker immunity, and more tummy troubles.

But there’s a simple, time-tested habit that costs just five cents and takes only five minutes to make – yet can transform your digestion in as little as 30 days.

It’s called Rejuvelac.

What Is Rejuvelac?

Rejuvelac is a probiotic, enzyme-rich drink made from sprouted grain. It’s one of the easiest cultured foods you can make at home – truly a “set it and forget it” kind of recipe.

Ann Wigmore, pioneer of the living foods movement, taught that Rejuvelac is full of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, dextrines, saccharins, and phosphates that fuel cellular repair and whole-body vitality. She even said it’s so nourishing it could be considered a “food” all by itself!

A half-gallon costs about $0.25 to make. It’s one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost gut therapies on the planet.

Why Your Gut Needs It (Especially Now)

Most Americans live with an unhealthy 10:1 ratio of bad-to-good bacteria in the gut – a complete flip from the 10:1 good-to-bad ratio we’re meant to have (as Dr. Bernard Jensen taught).

This imbalance contributes to:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gas and bloating
• Food sensitivities
• Chronic inflammation
• Low energy
• Weak immunity

If you’re dealing with tummy aches, IBS, Crohn’s flare-ups, or “mystery” digestive issues, try adding Rejuvelac daily for 30 days – while also easing up on white flour, excessive animal protein, and acidic foods like soda. You may be surprised by just how fast things shift.

What Does It Taste Like?

When fermented for 24 hours at room temperature (around 76–78°F), Rejuvelac tastes tart and lemony.

Let it go another day or two, and it becomes lightly carbonated and wonderfully tangy.

When Should You Drink It?

At CHI, we were taught never to drink rejuvelac after 4 p.m.

Why? Because it gives you so much energy that you might have trouble sleeping. (Yes, it’s that powerful.)

If you normally reach for caffeine during your afternoon slump, try swapping in 4–8 oz of Rejuvelac instead. Drink it on an empty stomach for the best impact.

Bonus: It’s delicious blended into your green smoothies.

Many people start to crave it!

[Related: 14 Ways I Optimize My Health And Energy Every Day]

Step-by-Step: How to Make Rejuvelac

You’ll need:

• ½ cup whole grain (wheat berries, quinoa, rye, buckwheat, or other whole or unmilled grain all work)
• ½ gallon filtered or distilled water
• 1 quart glass jar
• A mesh sprouting lid or a clean cloth + a rubber band
• 1 tea towel

Step 1: Rinse & Soak (6–8 hours)

Rinse your grains thoroughly. Place them in the quart jar, add water, and soak for 6–8 hours.

Step 2: Drain & Sprout (1–2 days)

Drain the soaking water.

Cover the jar with a sprouting lid or screened top, then lay the jar on its side, so the grains spread out and get plenty of airflow.

Cover the jar with a tea towel to keep out light and fruit flies (especially in summer).

Rinse and drain the grains twice daily. They only need the beginning of a sprout – no long tail required.

Step 3: Blend & Begin Fermentation

Once sprouted, place the grains in a high-powered blender with half of your water. Pulse for about 1 minute, until the grains break down.

Pour this mixture into a half-gallon jar (or two quart jars). Add the remaining water.

Cover with your mesh lid and drape a tea towel over the top.

Step 4: Culture the Rejuvelac (24–48 hours)

Leave the mixture in a dark place at room temperature for 24 hours or more.

• The longer it ferments, the more tart and lemony it becomes.

• A questionable smell is normal – it tastes far better than it smells!

• If you ever see mold, discard and start over. (This is rare unless your home is very hot/humid or the grain is left too long.)

Step 5: Strain, Chill, and Use

Once fermented to your liking, either:

• Drink it as a beverage: strain through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth,
  or
• Use the whole mixture (liquid + grain) as a green smoothie base.

Transfer to jars, cover, and refrigerate. Rejuvelac keeps for up to 1 week in the fridge.

Optional: Make a Second Batch

You can reuse the sprouted grain one more time:

Add fresh water, let it ferment on the counter another 1–2 days, and enjoy a slightly weaker – but still beneficial – batch.

For the best nutrition, rotate the grain types you use.

How Much to Drink

Enjoy 4–8 oz daily, ideally before 4 p.m. for best sleep and maximum energy benefits.

Special Recipe: Rejuvelac Grape Vitality Tonic

A probiotic, enzyme-rich spin on fresh grape juice – energizing, immune-supporting, and delicious.

This Rejuvelac Grape Vitality Tonic is the perfect holiday companion: it’s naturally sweet, beautifully festive, and packed with probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, and living nutrients.

Instead of spiking your blood sugar (like most holiday drinks), it delivers clean energy from cultured grain, minerals from grapes, and gentle sweetness from dates. It feels like a celebration and a reset all at once.

Serves: 6–8

Ingredients

• 5–6 large bunches of seedless grapes
  (use 1 white bunch + the rest red for best flavor + color)
• 4 cups Rejuvelac
• 6–8 cups water, divided
• 4–6 pitted dates

Instructions

1. Prep the Grapes
   Thoroughly wash grapes and remove them from their stems.
2. Blend the Base
   Add grapes to a high-speed blender with 1 cup of water.
   Blend until completely liquified.
3. Strain the Juice
   Pour the grape mixture through a nut milk bag or fine mesh bag. This will be thick – clean the bag as needed while straining to extract all the juice.
4. Sweeten & Enrich
   Add 1 cup of the freshly strained grape juice back into your blender.
   Add 4 pitted dates and blend until the dates are completely smooth.
5. Add Rejuvelac
   Pour 2 cups of Rejuvelac into the blender with the date mixture. Blend briefly to combine.
6. Combine & Adjust
   In a large bowl or jar, mix the remaining grape juice with the blender mixture. Whisk well.
7. Add Water to Taste
   Slowly add additional water (usually 5–7 cups) until the flavor is just right – balanced, lively, and refreshing.

Nutrition Notes & Benefits

• Grapes are rich in resveratrol, vitamin C, and polyphenols that support immunity, circulation, and cellular repair.

• Rejuvelac adds living enzymes and probiotics to strengthen gut health, support digestion, and balance the microbiome.

• Dates offer fiber, minerals, and natural sweetness without the crash.

• A water-rich base helps counter holiday dehydration and supports lymphatic flow.

Most people feel a lift in mental clarity and steady, caffeine-free energy within minutes of drinking it (especially in the afternoon slump).

Serving Suggestions

• Serve chilled in wine glasses or small holiday tumblers for a festive, jewel-toned drink.

• Add a few crushed ice cubes for a bright, refreshing version.

• Garnish with a slice of citrus or a few frozen grapes.

• Bring a jar to holiday gatherings as a healthier alternative to punch or soda.

• Use it as a morning or midday pick-me-up when your digestion needs extra support.

A Holiday Gift to Your Body

Think of Rejuvelac as a little daily insurance policy – immune-boosting, digestion-soothing, and energizing.

It’s a perfect “healthy at home” project, and even part of your preparedness toolkit: you can make it anywhere with only water, a jar, and grain.

The holidays can be hard on your gut. This year, give it a little extra care.

Your body (and your energy!) will thank you.

 

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