Likes:
- Affordable
- Low in fat and calories
- Can be made at home or purchased already made
- Probiotic
- Aids digestion
- Tastes good
- Has a seemingly endless list of health benefits
No Dislikes
I discovered kefir in my search for products that aid with food allergies and I really like it. Kefir is milk fermented with live kefir grains that are composed of bacteria and yeasts with proteins, lipids, and sugars. The bacteria are “good” bacteria that provide countless benefits in the body. Due to the fact that the kefir grains break down the sugar in the milk, it is said to be more easily tolerated by those that are normally lactose intolerant.
Kefir can be made (by adding live kefir grains to milk) or it can be purchased already made at a local supermarket. I would like to try making my own (this is the most cost effective way since as long as they are cared for properly, the live kefir grains can live forever). I saw feedback that claims the taste is different (and better) when you make it yourself as opposed to the ready-made versions. But for now, I’ll stick with buying it at Trader Joe’s.
Kefir comes in a variety of flavors but my favorite are plain and strawberry. The strawberry tastes so good it’s like dessert. It’s similar to yogurt but with a slightly runnier consistency. It can be eaten alone or mixed with fruit, nuts, granola, protein powder, etc. for a healthy meal. There are many healthy benefits of kefir but most notably it is a complete, natural, and inexpensive probiotic. Adding healthy bacteria into the digestive track is a way to heal and prevent a whole list of ailments. I haven’t been using kefir for very long (just a few weeks) but I do find that I get fewer stomachaches and less sinus congestion (which could be contributed to Candida and probiotics are said to help rid you of this) than before. If the list below is any indication of what kefir can do, I’m excited to continue drinking it.
Here are a few of the many health benefits of kefir:
- Lowers level of LDL cholesterol
- Improves digestion
- Improves the immune system
- Cures Candida
- Treats eczema
- Has anti-oxidants and anti-aging properties
- Nourishes hair
- Regulates blood pressure
- Lowers blood sugar
- Contains anti-stress properties
- Treats sleeping disorders
- Treats depression
- Treats other stomach disorders
- Detoxifies the body
- Treats chronic intestine infections
- Treats asthma
Whether you are battling food allergies (like me), looking to treat a specific ailment, or just interested in having a healthier diet, kefir is an excellent addition. It’s an inexpensive probiotic full of much-needed healthy bacteria. It can be made by purchasing kefir grains and adding them to milk (and this can be cow, goat, soy, or rice) or it can be purchased already made at a local supermarket. The best part is that it tastes really good! I don’t think there is anything more satisfying than eating something that not only tastes good but is really good for your body.
