News Taffy

In the last few years, you may have heard of kefir but like me, may not have paid much attention or tried it. Since my recent unfortunate experience with the side effects of antibiotics, I have become a huge fan of kefir and so should you. Kefir is a nutritional powerhouse and should be a regular part of your diet.

Kefir is a fermented milk product made from cow or goat milk and is one of the most probiotic rich foods you can find. Kefir is similar to drinkable yogurt, especially if fruit or honey has been added to sweeten it. Kefir grains are cultures of yeast and lactic acid bacteria that look something like tapioca. They are added to the milk and left to sit and ferment the sugars in the milk. Unsweetened, kefir tastes like somewhat sour but is great to add to smoothies or serve over fruit. Right now, you may be turned off the whole idea and think fermented milk sounds pretty disgusting but don’t give up yet. You can buy plain, unsweetened kefir and flavor it any way you like or it comes in various fruit flavors.

More important is what kefir can do for you! It may be helpful for you to review some information on probiotics so you will better understand the role kefir plays in your digestive system. You can refer back to my article on September 30, 2015 by clicking on this link. Long story short, probiotics or our good gut bacteria play a significant role in our health from our digestive system to allergies, our immune system and everything in between. If your gut bacteria is wiped out as mine was from antibiotics or you have been eating all the wrong foods and starving your good bacteria, it is vital that you take in sufficient quantities of probiotics to replace them.

A 6 oz. serving of kefir has 6 grams of protein, 3 to 6 grams of fat, 20% of your daily needs for calcium, high levels of vitamins B12 and K2, magnesium, folate and biotin, all for only 100 calories. Studies have shown that kefir is antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic and fights infections by prohibiting the growth of various harmful bacteria. The probiotics already in your system or in kefir help you properly digest food, preventing constipation or diarrhea. The good bacteria, vitamins and minerals in kefir boost your immunity by fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses, improve bone density by building healthy bone tissue and fight allergens. Though made from milk, kefir is generally well tolerated by people who are lactose intolerant.

If you have been experiencing some trouble with your digestive system such as irregularity, bloating or even diarrhea, give kefir a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised after a few days. Do look for a brand that has less added sugar as some do contain high amounts which sort of defeats the purpose as sugar is bad for your good gut bacteria. I have definitely noticed a difference in my own well being since adding kefir to my diet.