Whey Liquid: The Gut-Healing Superfood You Didn’t Know Your Family Needed

A mama’s guide to this golden drop for babies, toddlers, kids, pets — and you.

Let’s talk about a simple, gentle, ancient superfood that supports gut health, immunity, and nutrient absorption — for everyone in your home. Including your dog.

It’s called whey — and no, not the protein powder. I’m talking about the slightly tangy, probiotic-rich liquid that drains off your yogurt or kefir.

Whey is incredibly nourishing, easy to make at home, and totally baby- and toddler-friendly. It’s also how the GAPS Protocol recommends you start dairy for healing sensitive bellies.

So whether you’re a breastfeeding mama needing gentle probiotics, a mama of a toddler with eczema or food sensitivities, or you’re just wanting to build stronger guts and calmer immune systems — this post is for you.

Let’s dive in.

What Exactly Is Whey Liquid?

Whey is the thin, yellowish liquid that naturally separates from cultured dairy like yogurt, kefir, or clabbered milk. It's loaded with beneficial lactic acid bacteria, enzymes, vitamins, and trace minerals.

Unlike “whey protein” (the powdered supplement you’ll find at the gym), this whey is uncooked, alive, and fermented. Think of it as liquid probiotics — without the pill.

It contains:

• Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains

• Live enzymes that help digestion

• Trace minerals like calcium and magnesium

• Lactic acid — which is soothing and helps inhibit pathogens

It’s especially beneficial for people with gut inflammation, food sensitivities, or sluggish digestion — which includes a lot of our little ones.

How to Make Whey Liquid at Home

All you need is full-fat, plain yogurt made from good-quality milk (preferably raw, grass-fed or organic).

Here’s the super simple process:

1. Line a strainer with cheesecloth, a nut milk bag, or an unbleached coffee filter.

2. Place it over a glass bowl or mason jar.

3. Pour in 2–4 cups of full-fat plain yogurt.

4. Cover with a clean towel and let it drain at room temp or in the fridge for 8–24 hours.

The yellowish liquid that collects below is your fresh whey. The creamy part that stays on top? That’s homemade Greek-style yogurt or Labneh — bonus!

Store whey in a glass jar in the fridge. It lasts up to 3–4 weeks if kept clean.

Best Yogurt Brands to Use for Homemade Whey

Look for yogurts that are:

• Full-fat

• Plain, no added sugar

• Made from clean dairy (ideally grass-fed or A2/A2 milk)

Mama-favorite brands that work beautifully:

• Maple Hill Creamery (grass-fed, organic)

• Straus Family Creamery (non-homogenized)

• Kalona Supernatural (low-temp pasteurized, organic)

• Stonyfield Organic (whole milk)

• Raw milk yogurt (if available)

You can also use homemade yogurt made from raw or low-temp pasteurized milk.

Why Whey Is So Nourishing for Mama, Baby, Kids (and Dogs!)

This isn’t just a fringe foodie trend — whey is a staple in traditional food cultures for a reason. It gently delivers living probiotics and immune-supportive compounds in a form that even sensitive guts can handle.

For Mama

• Restores gut flora postpartum

• Eases bloat, constipation, and sluggish digestion

• Supports nutrient absorption, especially of minerals

• Gently boosts immune function

• Can reduce sugar cravings by nourishing the microbiome

For Baby (6 months+)

• Safest way to start dairy — even for dairy-sensitive babies

• Helps populate baby’s gut with friendly bacteria

• Supports enzyme development and nutrient uptake

• Soothes minor constipation or loose stools

• Strengthens immune tolerance from the inside out

For Toddlers & Kids

• Supports eczema healing and food allergy resilience

• Builds gut lining integrity

• Helps reduce post-antibiotic fallout

• May reduce picky eating by rebalancing gut flora

• Super gentle — ideal for kids who react to yogurt or milk

For Dogs

• Eases itchy skin or yeasty ears

• Helps detox the liver and support digestion

• Rebuilds gut flora after antibiotics

• Dogs LOVE the taste — drizzle over food!

How Much Whey to Use and How Often?

Start slow — this stuff is powerful!

Babies (6 months+):
Start with 1 drop once per day. Slowly increase over 1–2 weeks to 1 tsp per day.

Toddlers:
Begin with ½ tsp per day. Work up to 1–2 tsp daily or every other day.

Older Kids:
1–2 tsp daily in smoothies, broth, or just by the spoonful.

Mamas:
1–2 tablespoons daily — plain, in water, in smoothies, or even with lemon and sea salt as a mineral tonic.

Dogs (small):
½–1 tsp over food daily.

Dogs (large):
1–2 tbsp daily over food.

If you see loose stools or detox reactions (rashes, irritability, belly gurgles), cut the dose in half and go slower. That’s the gut shifting — and it’s totally okay to pause and restart.

How to Use Whey Liquid in Everyday Life

• Add to smoothies

• Stir into soup (once cooled)

• Mix with applesauce or mashed banana

• Drizzle over roasted veggies

• Stir into yogurt or cottage cheese

• Add to baby’s purees (zucchini, sweet potato, squash)

• Mix into homemade gummies or popsicles

• Use as a digestive tonic before meals (for mama)

• Soak grains or beans for better digestion

• Add to dog food

Just don’t cook it — the heat will destroy the living cultures.

Why GAPS Protocol Starts Dairy with Whey

If you’re familiar with the GAPS diet, you know it’s all about rebuilding the gut lining, balancing immune function, and healing food sensitivities from the root.

But dairy can be tricky for leaky guts — which is why GAPS introduces it with whey drops, not milk or cheese.

Here’s why:

• Whey contains NO casein and almost no lactose — the common triggers in dairy reactions

• It delivers beneficial bacteria to begin seeding the gut

• It’s gentle, absorbable, and gives your immune system a chance to learn tolerance in small, safe doses

The protocol begins with 1 drop per day — and slowly builds to 1 tsp or more depending on the person’s response.

This is especially powerful for babies or toddlers with eczema, food reactions, or gut inflammation.

Recipes for Whey

1. Creamy Butternut Squash Mash with Whey (Baby & Toddler)

A simple, gut-friendly mash that supports digestion and nourishes the gut lining.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked butternut squash

• 1–2 tsp fresh whey

• 1 tsp cultured ghee or beef tallow

• Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:
Mash the squash until smooth. Stir in whey and healthy fat. Serve warm. This is a perfect early food for babies or a healing side for toddlers with food sensitivities.

2. Whey-Infused Berry Smoothie (Mama & Older Kids)

Great for energy, digestion, and sneaking in probiotics.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup frozen berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)

• ½ cup coconut milk or homemade yogurt

• 2 tbsp whey

• 1 raw egg yolk (optional, pasture-raised)

• Optional: scoop of collagen or honey for mama

Instructions:
Blend until smooth. Add water if needed for consistency. Serve chilled. For toddlers, offer in a straw cup for a fun “smoothie treat.”

3. Whey & Apple Cider Gummies (Kids & Mama Snack)

GAPS-friendly and totally toddler-approved!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup organic apple cider or carrot juice

• 2 tbsp whey

• 3 tbsp grass-fed gelatin

• 1 tbsp raw honey (omit for under 1 year)

• Dash of cinnamon or ginger

Instructions:
Warm juice gently. Whisk in gelatin to dissolve. Cool slightly. Stir in whey and honey. Pour into silicone molds and chill until firm. Store in fridge.

4. Fermented Carrot Sticks with Whey (Toddler-Friendly Ferments)

Simple veggies that even picky eaters love — plus they build resilient guts.

Ingredients:

• 2–3 organic carrots, peeled and cut into sticks

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 2 tbsp fresh whey

• 1 cup filtered water

Instructions:
Place carrots in a small mason jar. Mix salt, whey, and water. Pour over carrots to submerge. Weigh down with a fermentation weight. Cover loosely and leave at room temp for 3–5 days. Refrigerate when sour enough. Offer one stick a day to start.

5. Healing Broth with a Whey Boost (For Everyone)

A staple for healing — made even better with probiotics added after cooking.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup homemade chicken or beef stock (preferably gelatinous)

• 1–2 tsp whey (added after cooling slightly)

• Optional: pinch of turmeric, sea salt, or shredded chicken

Instructions:
Gently warm broth. Cool to just above room temperature before stirring in whey. Serve in a small mug or bottle. Toddlers love to sip this with a straw — call it “warm soup tea.”

Whey is one of those forgotten traditional foods that modern moms are bringing back — for good reason. It’s affordable, easy to make, deeply nourishing, and supports gut and immune health in the most gentle, natural way.

Start small. Go slow. Trust the process.

Whether you’re sipping it in your mineral tea, mixing it into baby’s squash, or drizzling it over your pup’s dinner — this golden liquid is a quiet healer that meets your whole family where they are.

One drop at a time.