Your gut. Is the perfect synergistic probiotic a pill or fermented food?

*Warning: I'm not a doctor and I don't have any degrees in nutrition. This is my opinion on the topic. Last weekend, Aaron and I went to the Documenting Hope's conference in Orlando. It was for both parents and doctors who are helping kids heal from chronic illnesses... in a holistic way. It's such an important cause that aligns perfectly with our tagline "Inspiring Health Generations". We had a table and loved feeding everyone yummy and pure snacks. I also had the pleasure of attending some of the talks. One of my favorite talks was from Star Edwards MS, RDN/LD titled "Where's Bifido? Missing Bifidobacterium, Impact on Child Health, and Restoration Strategies⁠". It was all about gut health and balance and its affects on the immune system, the brain, and overall wellbeing.  One thing that really stuck with me were the warnings about probiotic pills.  First off, probiotic pills are super potent. They can completely throw off the balance in your gut. Star advised people to get tested for what's actually in their gut first. This is so you can know which strains are too low or high. Then, you can determine the right probiotic pill to correct any issues. And then, you want to get tested again 6-8 weeks later to make sure those little pills had the desired effect. Second, probiotic pills need to be formulated properly. If they're not, then "probiotic" strains can compete with each other and cancel each other out. Then, they're not doing you any good at all. Wow! This got me thinking about balance in nature and in living things and therefore our gut and our food. It made me wonder -- Would fermented food naturally be in balance? Would eating fermented foods be better than taking probiotic pills? After all, they're living things and we're living things.  So of course I did some research. And I mean there are A LOT of studies on probiotics and gut health. But, it seems that science is conflicted when it comes to probiotics. Here are a few reasons why: It's the same story as any FDA-approved product. The companies do the studies (and lots of them) that prove their product is superior. They set the parameters and goals to achieve the desired result. It's hard to determine which studies are unbiased.The limits for whether something is considered "probiotic" or not is set by the FDA. And the bar is set for probiotic pills that seek approval. The limits are so high that, by those standards, fermented foods don't meet the regulatory criteria to be considered "probiotic".Gut health is a holistic approach to health, which is hard to prove with modern science. Every body is different and will react differently. Every person has a different diet, sleep habits, exercise routine, etc. There are too many variables to conclude definitive health outcomes based on probiotics in the gut alone. Although science in conflicted on which kinds of probiotics are best and the precise benefits of each, there are a couple things there is scientific consensus on: Eating probiotics (whether in pill or food form) alters the microbiology of your gut.The balance of gut microbiology directly relates to your health and wellbeing. So... back to the main topic. Are fermented foods more synergistic than probiotic pills? Since science is kinda out on this one, I think we need to rely on our gut instinct (pun intended) to make the best choice for ourselves. So I'll tell you my perspective. I personally believe in a more ancestral way of eating. How about you? 200 years ago everyone ate pure food (without weird chemicals or additives). Everyone cooked. The soil was packed with nutrients and regenerated by nature. And... people fermented food. If not eaten immediately, many foods will ferment naturally. It's why we have cheese, kefir, yogurt, salami, sourdough bread, kombucha, etc. Humans found that they could still eat it... and it tasted pretty yummy too. And maybe most importantly it helped preserve food over winters and for travel. But... fermented foods were only considered edible if they tasted good. If the microbiology in a fermented food is out of whack, it just doesn't taste good. That's when bad molds and other weird stuff grows. That's when our body's response is to spit it out! In other words, fermented foods need to be in balance microscopically. And they need to align with our taste buds. So, in the most natural and ancestral way, I believe that fermented foods that you think are yummy must be the most synergistic way to boost and balance your gut microbiology. How is your gut health? Do you do anything in particular to help keep your gut in balance? Have you noticed any changes after working on your gut? I'd love to hear from you. Comment below ⬇️

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Tips on how to thaw, prep, and cook your pastured Thanksgiving turkey.

So, you have a beautiful pasture-raised soy and corn free turkey in your freezer. Now what? Here are some tips to help you answer important pre-Thanksgiving questions: When do I need to thaw my turkey? To brine or not to brine? What will I season the turkey with? Should I stuff the turkey? Will I do a regular roast or slow roast? When does it need to go in the oven?

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Shopping for butter? Wondering what makes "the best" natural butter?

It's that time of year when you want to stock up on butter. The large amounts of cookies and pies that fill my house with delicious flavors is impending and inevitable. When it comes to butter and baking, quality matters. A lot. It affects the color, the texture, and the flavor of your baked goods. And, if you're a natural food shopper, there are some extra things to look for in your butter. I want to make sure I'm making food with the best nutrition and least toxins possible.

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The drama and quick problem solving at the Wise Traditions Conference.

Miller's Bio Farm attended the Weston A. Price Foundation's annual Wise Traditions Conference in Orlando, FL last weekend. Overall, we had an awesome time. But... the trip didn't come without some food freedom drama. This time (for once), it had nothing to do with raw milk or the laws. It was the Marriot's policies that held us back.Here's the story...After a 15 hour drive, the farm team arrived on Thursday with a trailer filled with all of our amazing natural food. At every other event we've attended, we've been able to keep perishables in the venue's cooler and freezer. Not this time! We were told by the hotel that we cannot store it inside.We couldn't let the food go to waste! We scrambled and rented a refrigerated truck that evening.At this point, we knew there was going to be more trouble.The next morning, we were told the reason why.The Marriot does not allow any dairy, meat, or ferments to be sold, served, or given away that's not from one of their vendors (like Cisco). We couldn't even keep a sealed example product on the table to display. It was a liability thing (in other words, corporate greed).And this was despite the fact that all of our food is 100% certified and legal. And, we were required to have $5M worth of insurance to be there. It was just awful. They wouldn't allow a waiver (they said there wasn't enough time). They didn't care if the food went to waste (not their problem). They didn't sympathize with the fact that the people there simply won't or physically can't eat the hotel's conventional food (not sure what's happened to humanity).Our food was not allowed on premises. So we thought fast. On Friday morning, we quickly opened a pickup location outside the hotel. It was a 30 second walk away, about 2 feet off their property on the side of the road. So... people purchased at our booth inside and then walked outside to get their food.Kinda hilarious... but within the Marriot's rules.We even hosted a super fun milk and cookies party outside at the pickup location!At the same time, many conference attendees motivated and spoke with hotel management. I think even Congressman Massie (a keynote speaker) reached out. They explained why we were all gathered together, the importance of real food from small farms, and how the Marriot's policies are a major food freedom issue.The next day, the Marriot decided to "turn a blind eye". We closed our short-lived pickup location, and our booth was back to what we planned!! We even made a butter pyramid and had an ice cream party to celebrate 🥳 As a community of real food eaters, we affected change... albeit small and for one weekend. It gives me hope for the future of food. To anyone who spoke up, shared on social media, or helped scoop 500+ cups of ice cream... thank you!!!Has your food access been held back by laws or policies, either private or public? What food freedom issues are important to you? What would you like to see change?I'd love to hear you from. Comment below (no account required) or contact us.-----PS: We'd love to start pickup locations in Florida and make our food more affordable and accessible in the sunshine state. If you have a spot (or can connect us with a spot) with refrigeration, let me know!

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Histamine intolerance, natural healing, and a helpful histamine food list

Histamines, Histamines, Histamines. You might have heard this word a lot more lately. I mean, I have. I’ve been getting questions about histamines in our food multiple times a week! This inspired me to take a deep dive into what they are, why we need them, and why too much is bad! Please join me on my learning journey. What are histamines? What do histamines do in your body? And why do we need them? Histamines are super important chemicals that your immune system releases. You need them. They’re like little messengers your body sends out. In addition to producing your own histamines, you eat them in your food, too. A big role of histamines is causing allergic reactions, protecting your body from foreign invaders like allergens or infections. For example, if you get a bug bite, your body produces histamines. They tell your body to send more blood to that area and heal the injury. Or, if you’re allergic to pollen and breathe it in, your body sends out histamines. They, in turn, make your body produce mucus to clear the pollen from your respiratory system. Histamines also help regulate brain functions. They keep you awake and alert. Histamines are also important for digestion. Without histamines, your stomach wouldn’t produce enough acid to digest food properly.  So, histamines are not inherently bad. You need them! Sadly, too much or the inability to handle them can be a problem. In some cases, a big problem. What is histamine intolerance? Histamine intolerance is no fun. It happens when your body can’t break down histamines properly, leading to a build up that can cause all sorts of annoying physical symptoms, which may include: BloatingNausea/vomitingHeadachesRunny/stuffy noseShortness of breathItchingRash/hivesFlushingLow blood pressureIrregular heart ratesPainful menstruation Swelling of lips, tongue, or throat   Histamines can have a big impact on our mental health, too. They help release neurotransmitters that regulate brain functions like alertness, learning, and memory. So, they play a part in how we feel and behave daily. Here are some examples: Alertness: Too much histamine in the brain promotes wakefulness. Sleep Regulation: Low levels of histamines can make you feel drowsy. This is why antihistamine medications, which block histamines, often cause drowsiness as side effects.  Mood Regulation: Imbalances in histamine levels can be linked to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Why are more and more people getting diagnosed with histamine intolerance?  We’re hearing from more and more customers that are struggling with histamine intolerance. It seems to me a new, popular diagnosis these days. Here are a few reasons why: Improved Awareness & Diagnosis: People and health professionals are becoming more aware of histamine intolerance.Modern Diet & Gut Health: Eating a lot of processed, sugary snacks and unhealthy fats can throw off the balance of good bacteria in your gut, which is crucial for your health. When your gut isn’t in good shape, it can struggle to break down histamines.Medication Use: Some medications can mess with your body’s ability to break down histamines, leading to a build up. Genetics: Your genes can play a role too! Some people are born with less ability to break down histamines. It might not be producing enough enzymes that help keep histamines in check. The MTHFR gene can affect how your body uses folate, which is important to many functions, including detoxifying histamines.  Tips for managing your histamine levels: Stick to a low histamine diet: Histamines are naturally present in all foods. Some foods are innately low in histamines and some are innately high.Watch how you handle food: Keep an eye on how your food is stored and prepared to keep histamine levels in check. When food sits or ages, bacteria is usually breaking down proteins, and that process produces histamines.Know your triggers: Some foods might not have histamines, but can make your body release more. It’s good to know what triggers your body.  How do you treat histamine intolerance in a holistic way? Conventional doctors might recommend antihistamines or medications to help break down histamines. However, there are also more natural approaches to consider. These are just some suggestions, we’re not doctors! Dietary Adjustments: Avoid high histamine foods and incorporate low histamine foods. Supplements: Vitamin C can help reduce histamine levels and symptoms. Vitamin B6 can help increase enzyme production, which helps break down and remove excess histamines.Essential Oils: Chamomile and lavender may have anti-inflammatory properties. Use a diffuser or add them to a warm bath. Natural Antihistamines: Quercetin, found in apples, green tea, and onions, can act as a natural antihistamine.Healing the Gut: It’s an important step. A healthy gut can help your body regulate histamine levels more effectively and improve your overall well being. Leaky gut can cause bacteria and toxins to leak into the bloodstream triggering immune response and releasing histamines. 70% of the immune system is thought to be in the gut.  What are the histamine levels of Miller’s Bio Farm foods? *Not finding the food you’re looking for? This list was made for the foods that Miller's Bio Farm offers. You can find a more comprehensive food list here. ----- References:  Hidden in Plain Sight: Histamine Problems Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art.Histamine IntoleranceHistamine in the brainHistamine and Psychiatric DisordersHistamine and Mental HealthA overview of histamine intolerance and emerging innovation opportunitiesHistamine Intolerance: Medications to AvoidHow Gut Health is Connected to Histamine Intolerance.Foods High in HistamineIs Einkorn Flour High In Histamine.8 natural ways to reduce your histamine levels.Everything You Need to Know About the Low Histamine DietHIGH HISTAMINE – LOW HEALTH.Histamine Intolerance Resulting from Poor Gut HealthWhich probiotics for histamine intolerance?

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Minute details for this year's on demand turkeys

Bear with me this week. I have a bunch of interesting turkey details to share with you. This year the turkeys will be on demand! That means you order one when you need one. No preorders this year. Fall turkeys will start going to the processor on September 29th and will continue to be sent through November. That means that you can start ordering whole turkeys soon! As of right now, there are some turkey cuts available. Here are the basics - Our turkeys are a “white” breed, live on green pasture, and are naturally raised and processed. I am always wanting to find out more about how my food was produced. This year, I’m diving deep to answer the question, “What’s in the feed?”

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Lovely Farm Day recap with pics and videos. And the sour milk debacle. Our milk really does last.

Despite a little rain and chilly weather, this year's Farm Day event was simply lovely. Thanks to everyone who came out!One family reported, "This is better than Hershey Park!" Another family reported that they're very selective with the natural foods they eat, and that can be a challenge at parties and events. The best part for them was that they could say "yes" to every food that was there. And we heard from a lot of people that the Farmer Panel Discussion was extremely educational. Many thanks to our farmers! They said we could have simply done that the entire day, and maybe I'll take that tip for a new event next year.Here's a short 1-minute video recap of the event: Honestly the food was incredible. We served a smorgesboard of snacks. Our vendors were giving out samples. And there was a hot lunch of smoked brisket, chicken leg and thigh, a loaded salad bar, baked beans, potatoes, and veggies. Here are some pics of the food: We had lots of fun activities, too. A mini petting zoo, making flower crowns, milking a cow, and wagon and pony and camel rides. Here are some pics of that excitement: We also had a Farmer Panel Discussion. We had Aaron representing his two brothers, our raw dairy farmers. We had Daniel, who raises our chickens. We had Lamar, who's our beekeeper. And finally Raymond, who's one of our egg farmers. Here are the first 7 minutes of the panel. It's the intro, before we got into the nitty gritty questions. Overall, Farm Day went off without a hitch. There was one issue --> the Sour Milk Challenge.  You see, raw milk naturally sours as it ages. The living microbiology that's inside the cow ferments the milk, breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) and turning it into lactic acid (which is sour). The warmer it is and the longer it sits, the more sour it gets. Drinking sour milk is not a safety issue, it's a palatability issue.I put milk aside way before Farm Day. One was 25 days old, one was 15 days old, and one was 8 days old. It was simply sitting in our cooler. The day before the event I tasted them, and all of the milks tasted the same! They all tasted fresh!!How could I have a sour milk tasting with no sour milk!? I had to think fast. So I put one milk in the culturing room (at 98F) overnight. Another I left on the counter overnight. The one in the culturing room did get a little sour. But, the challenge overall was very difficult (dare I say impossible). Here's what the challenge looked like: This really made me think about how important our milk safety standards are.I mean, given the amount our farmers clean when milking, there's zero manure or urine or dirt in the milk. There's no external bacteria or yeast mixed in.Most raw milk farmers don't do what we do (and pasteurized milk farmers definitely don't). It's kinda gross when you think about it. But, having any manure or urine or dirt or residue from equipment in raw milk definitely makes it sour quickly. It also made me think about temps for storing raw milk.Our cooler is kept at 35F. It seems that this nearly stopped the fermentation. Compare this to a regular home fridge, which is usually 40-42F. Those 5-7 degrees matter! It makes me want to get a separate mini milk-only fridge at home that I keep colder.Anyway, I digress. Farm Day was amazing!!! If you came, we'd love for you to leave your comments below. We'll be attending a few more events this fall, and we'd love to see you there! Healthy Food, Healthy Body. An Event for Healthy Living.October 19, 1-4pmTenafly NJWise Traditions ConferenceOctober 25-27Orlando, FLDocumenting Hope ConferenceNovember 15-17Orlando, FL

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We're many small farms. We let farmers do what they love - farm.

Our name is Miller's Bio Farm, and honestly it should change. It really should be Miller's Bio Farms (plural).Why? That's because we aren't just one farm - we are collection of likeminded, small, local, (nearly all) Amish, family farms. We are so lucky to be in Lancaster County, where more and more people are getting into natural farming and food. When Aaron, the founder, started out, he did a lot of things himself. He milked cows, he raised pigs in the woods, he had mobile coops with chickens, had a few beef cattle, and even butchered some chickens.But he never raised laying hens or kept bees. He never butchered his own meat. Besides pasture, he never grew and mixed his own feed. I mean, there were so many things he didn't do.And really, it was never just Aaron, it was his wife Rebecca and their kids too. I mean, doing it all that would be A LOT for one family! And, with smaller properties in Lancaster County (compared to expansive ranches in other parts of the US), there's not enough space either.  It's always been a collaboration of farms.We value our farmers' independence. They join us if they align with and can meet our natural standards. But, we want them to own their animals and operations, to make decisions for themselves, and be able to do what they love - farm. Right now, here's where our natural foods come from: Dairy: Aaron's two brothers, John and David, have two small 100% grass fed dairy herds. John's herd is on site and produces all of our fluid milk. David's herd is about 20 minutes away. His milk is used for dairy products like cream, cheese, and yogurt.Eggs: We have a handful of local farms, all within 1.5 hours of the farm. They all follow the same exact farming practices and give the hens the same quality feed.Beef: We have one beef farmer. He's actually a bit of trek, nearly 3 hours from the farm. But his property is just so beautiful.Pork: We have one local farm that raises pigs in the woods. He also grows produce, so in addition to what they forage and their corn & soy free feed, the pigs get lots of yummy seconds and thirds of fresh veggies. Chicken: This comes from one farm about 1.5 hours west of our main farm. Daniel, the chicken farmer, used to be our on site dairy farmer. But he decided that he likes chickens more than cows. And plus, he kinda wanted his very own operation, too. Turkey: This comes from a very local farm that raises turkeys just for us.Seafood: From Wild for Salmon, which is a collection of fishers all following the same natural standards and sustainable harvest practices.Honey: From two different honey farmers. One makes our regular honey and has hives on our main dairy farm. The other makes our creamed honeys.Produce: This is from Lancaster Farm Fresh, which is a collection of farms. They have great transparency, so we're able to find out the growing practices and where it comes from. We'll be pulling another produce farmer in soon to get it even more local. Farmers became farmers for a reason. And it's not because they like computers or talking to people or packing orders. So we do the processing and manage the website and pack orders and do the customer service and help spread the learning around. And our farmers... well... they farm and provide you that amazing food. How do you feel buying from a collection of farms? What's most important to you when buying food?

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Here's how we test our raw cow milk on site. Cleanliness so important!

Have you ever noticed that our raw cow milk tastes clean and not barny? Have you noticed that it lasts longer than other raw milks? Our dairy farmers work hard for this. It all comes down to cleanliness... and therefore milk safety. We test every batch of milk on site for general bacteria counts. Here's how and here's why.

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Why meat from stressed animals tastes worse (and it’s also inhumane).

Have you ever noticed that some meat tastes way different from a different farm's (or supermarket’s) meat... even when they boast the same farming practices? Why is that? Would it surprise you that the animals' welfare plays a vital role in the meat they produce? For some of us, this is common knowledge. But many still don’t realize the extent of suffering some animals are put through at the farm where they are raised (if you can even call some of them farms). Let’s look at some common living conditions on conventional farms: Imagine the life of these animals... they're ultimately locked up with nowhere to go, fed with the cheapest feed their owner can source. It's pretty far from "natural". They live in a stressed environment every day, but... The most stressful time for these animals is the slaughterhouse.  There are a few reasons why: Transport. Animals like consistency, not travel. The farther and longer they travel on a truck or train, the more stressed they become. Many conventional animals travel days to reach the processor.Being in an unknown environment. When an animal is moved to a new environment, their fight or flight stress response kicks in.Chaotic or rough handling: With beef cattle and pigs, they might be shoved by humans if they need to move to a new yard. With chickens, they might be thrown. And, they often need to shove their way to get food from a trough.Long waiting time: When conventional animals are sent to the processor, they are often kept there for days (or even weeks). Studies show that the longer the animal remains at the processor, they produce lower quality stressed meat than animals quickly slaughtered after arriving.Knowing what's going to happen: At some processors, animals can see other animals being killed. This causes massive stress spikes in the animals.  Miller's does it all humanely. At Miller’s Bio Farm, our animals for meat live happily and free on the pasture their whole life. Foraging fresh grass and plants in the summer. While getting dry feed in the colder months when the pasture isn’t flourishing. You can see pictures and read more about our farming practices here. However, the reality is we still have to kill animals to produce meat. But we aim to keep it as quick and humane as we possibly can.  Our animals are slaughtered the day they arrive, mitigating the high stress conventional beef or pork would have spending days in a slaughter house. Our processor makes the process low stress and humane by giving the animals room and privacy. Here's what slaughter is like: Beef: Each beef is brought in individually to the slaughter room where they are shot with a bullet, quickly striking them down. Pork: Each pig is brought in individually. They are quickly stunned with an air gun, instantly rendering them unconscious. Chicken: They are hung in a cone, which calms them down. Then their throat is slit, instantly killing them. So what's the science behind meat and stress? When an animal gets stressed, their adrenaline and cortisol start to rise. Their body (like ours) uses glycogen, a stored energy to create this adrenaline. With low-stress slaughter, this glycogen isn’t depleted. Instead, it’s retained in the muscle meat post slaughter then converted into lactic acid. This is what helps keep the meat low in pH, tender, and more flavorful.  However when under high stress, the glycogen is used up for hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, raising the pH of the meat and affecting the quality of the meat. When meat has high pH, oxygen cannot diffuse deep into the muscle. Making the meat coarse, retain more water that is lost when cooking, lessen shelf life, and still appear pink even when cooked thoroughly. Stress affects everyone differently. And this goes for animals as well.  Stressed pigs typically makes pork more acidic, pale, and crumbly. This results in what is known in the industry as “pale, soft, exudative” (PSE). Meat that is practically unsellable. Conventional farms tackle this stressed unsellable meat by mixing it into ground meat. Why improve living and slaughtering conditions when you can improve your profits? As for other meats like beef, high stress meat is usually tough, dry, and acidic. Just like PSE meat it has a much shorter shelf life also. This meat is known as “DFD” (dark, firm, dry). Again, this is a result of glycogen being depleted to fuel the stress state the animal is in.  However, you can also still get PSE beef and DFD pork, too. An an example, here's what pork in each state looks like. You are what you eat. You’ve probably heard this saying before. When it comes to stressed meat, it’s absolutely true. Studies have shown that the high levels of stress hormones in meat can have a negative effect on humans, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, impaired immune function, and even cause various forms of cancer! This is the hidden cost of mass produced meat.  What is most important about your meat? Does the welfare of animals stress you out? ----- Sources Effects of Pre-Slaughter Stress on Meat Characteristics and Consumer ExperienceAdverse effects on consumer’s health caused by hormones administered in cattleThe Effect of Stress on Livestock and Meat Quality Prior to and During Slaughter The effect of pH on beef eating quality *Editing and visual content by Marie Reedell. 

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