Barb Hodgens

Barb Hodgens loves to cook with alternative, healthy whole food ingredients, with a focus on gut health. Barb has overcome her own gut health issues through healthy eating. Share your ideas, comments and photos at the end of this post :)

starter culture

FIND OUT WHERE TO PURCHASE FREEZE DRIED STARTER CULTURE & WHICH COMMERCIAL YOGURT TO USE TO MAKE HOMEMADE YOGURT.

The bacteria necessary in a traditional yogurt starter are: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles - Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria may also be added. The combination of these strains makes a culture that will produce a yogurt with a thick, smooth, creamy consistency and a mild tart flavour. In additional to these primary strains other beneficial strains may also be included in a culture.

This list was compiled to help our SCD & GAPS customers, however the product recommendations are for all yogurt lovers - first timers and veterans and you definitely don't need to be on a special diet to enjoy them! All of the cultures listed are guaranteed to make thick, set yogurt in the Luvele range of Yogurt Makers. For inspiration browse all of our yogurt recipes here.

YOGURT STARTER FOR 'SCD'

The original Specific Carbohydrate Diet, from the book ‘Breaking the Vicious Cycle - Intestinal health through diet’, calls for a yogurt starter that does not contain Bifidus Bifidum bacteria because it can ‘take over’ and cause health problems in some cases. While on the early stages of the diet, it is best to avoid anything that has ‘bifid’ in its name. e.g. Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus Bifidus, Bifidobacterium longum etc

SCD FREEZE DRIED STARTER CULTURE

GI PRO START - YOGURT STARTER

Sold online on their website online at the Detox People and on Amazon

STRAINS: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophiles, Casei
MAKES: 1 bottle makes up to 80 Litres of yogurt
INSTRUCTIONS: Add 1/8 of a teaspoon to 2 litres (or 2 quarts) cow or goat milk. Alternative milk requires a 1/4 teaspoon to make a non-dairy milk yogurt.
FREE FROM: Dairy, gluten and common allergens.
DAIRY FREE DISCLAIMER: “The highest quality and pure LAB cultures are used in this formula. The yogurt strains are recognized to have exposure to some dairy peptones (broken down molecular structures) during their fermentation. The final culture is filtered and has less then detectable levels of dairy proteins. Considered dairy-free yogurt based on the standards established in the nutritional industry.”
STORAGE: GI ProStart does have to stay refrigerated to keep the bacteria alive but can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 10 days with only a 5% loss of active bacteria, after 10 days the bacteria will die off quickly. Can be kept in the freezer for up to 1 year.

CUSTOM PROBIOTICS - YOGURT STARTER FORMULA 1

Sold on their website and Immune Care

STRAINS: Acidophilus, Thermophilus, Bulgaricus
INSTRUCTIONS: Scoop size = 0.8 grams. Add half scoop (0.4 gm) to 2-4 quarts of milk at 100 Deg F (38 Deg C). Mix thoroughly and ferment for 9 hours or longer. 150 billion cfu’s per gram of yogurt starter powder.
STORAGE: Keep sealed in the refrigerator to retain maximum potency. Starter can travel for 2-3 weeks without refrigeration. Expires one year from date of manufacture.
FREE FROM: Dairy, sugar, gluten, soy, casein, yeast, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, FOS or any genetically modified or engineered ingredients.

STARTER CULTURE YOGHURT

Sold on Amazon and at Yogurt Bio

STRAINS: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophiles
INSTRUCTIONS: Pack of 10 sachets

GENESIS - ORIGINAL BULGARIAN YOGURT STARTER CULTURE

Sold on their website and Amazon

STRAINS: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus
INSTRUCTIONS: Each box contains 10 foil-packets of culture, 1 gram each - for min 1 liter and max 5 liters. The final product can be used as a starter culture multiple times.
FREE FROM: any genetically modified or engineered ingredients.

YOGURT BIOS - TRADITIONAL BULGARIAN YOGURT STARTER CULTURE

Sold on their website

STRAINS: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus
INSTRUCTIONS: Each box contains 10 foil-packets of culture, 1 gram each - for min 1 liter and max 5 liters.
FREE FROM: preservatives, stabilizers, flavorings, thickeners, dyes, and sugars

YOGOURMET - FREEZE DRIED YOGURT STARTER

Sold on Amazon

STRAINS: Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, S thermophilus, L acidophilus
MAKES: Available in boxes of 3. Each envelope makes 2 quarts (or 2 litres) of yogurt.
STORAGE: Envelopes are divided in two sections of 5 grams to allow you to prepare only one quart/litre at a time. Starter is packed in sealed double-layered envelopes for long-lasting quality.
FREE FROM: Additives, maltodextrin, gluten and GMO

COMMERCIAL YOGURT AS A STARTER FOR SCD

The following commercial yogurts are only to be used as starters and are not otherwise legal foods. It is imperative to check the ingredients labels carefully. Some yogurts that are used as a starter may contain sucrose, cream and lactose however these are consumed over the 24-hour fermentation. These brands are SCD legal:

YOGURT STARTER FOR THE 'GAPS' DIET

The GAPS diet allows Bifidus Bifidum bacteria in a starter but is not a requirement, so all of the above listed SCD starter cultures may be used to make GAPS 24 hour yogurt.

CUSTOM PROBIOTICS - YOGURT STARTER FORMULA 2

Sold on their website and Immune Care

STRAINS: Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, Streptococcus Thermophilus, Lactobacilus Acidophilus, Lactobacilus Lactis, Bifidobacterium Lactis
INSTRUCTIONS: Scoop size = 0.8 grams. Add half scoop (0.4 gm) to 2-4 quarts of milk at 100 Deg F (38 Deg C). Mix thoroughly and ferment for 9 hours or longer. 150 billion cfu’s per gram of yogurt starter powder.
STORAGE: Keep sealed in the refrigerator to retain maximum potency. Starter can travel for 2-3 weeks without refrigeration. Expires one year from date of manufacture.
FREE FROM: Dairy, sugar, gluten, soy, casein, yeast, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, FOS or any genetically modified or engineered ingredients.

GENESIS - BIO YOGURT STARTER CULTURE

Sold on their website and Amazon

STRAINS: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium adolescentis
INSTRUCTIONS: Each box contains 10 foil-packets of culture, 1 gram each - for min 1 liter and max 5 liters. The final product can be used as a starter culture multiple times.
FREE FROM: any genetically modified or engineered ingredients.

YOGURT BIOS - TRADITIONAL BULGARIAN YOGURT STARTER CULTURE

Sold on their website

STRAINS: Lactic acid and bifidobacteria, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum
INSTRUCTIONS: Each box contains 10 foil-packets of culture, 1 gram each - for min 1 liter and max 5 liters.
FREE FROM: preservatives, stabilizers, flavorings, thickeners, dyes, and sugars

COMMERCIAL YOGURT AS A STARTER FOR GAPS

The following commercial yogurts are only to be used as starters and are not otherwise GAPS legal foods. It is imperative to check the ingredients labels carefully to avoid sugar, fruit juice or other additives or gelling agents.

For more on yogurt starter cultures click here.
For a list of SCD & GAPS starter cultures in the Australia & New Zealand click here
For a list of SCD & GAPS starter cultures in the US click here
For a list of SCD & GAPS starter cultures in Europe click here

If you know a starter culture or commercial yogurt that should be listed here, please contact support@luvele.com.au so we can include it in this post.

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