Healthy with Kefir
Tibet Kefir mushroom (grains)
A long time ago I started to develop problems with my digestive system, after a visit to the doctors I started to take tablets for it. In one of my conversations with some of my relatives I was given Kefir mushroom (grains) to try. I stopped taking the tablets and replaced them with Kefir. Since then, I don’t have any need to go back to tablets again. Later I talked to people about it and found more and more healing powers of Kefir. I am happy to share Kefir grains with you for free.
Here is some information about Kefir:
Kefir is a fantastic source of many nutrients. Kefir is a fermented drink, traditionally made using cow's milk or goat's milk (or Coconut milk). It is made by adding Kefir mushroom “grains” to milk. These are not grains or mushroom in the conventional sense, but cultures of yeast and lactic acid bacteria that resemble a cottage cheese or cauliflower in appearance
Benefits of taking Kefir mushroom:
It gives strength back to your body after use of antibiotics.
Builds immune system.
Has anti-inflammation and anti-allergen quality.
Helps reduce body weight.
It normalises your intestine system.
Helps with energy level build up.
Place a clean mushroom in a jar and pour on cold milk.
For one person, you only need 4 or 5 tablespoons of mushroom, which will need 0.5 Litre of milk
Place kitchen towel or some other material (make sure air is getting through) over the top of the jar, and put in some warm place (not in straight sunlight)
Leave for 24 hrs to let it work its magic.
After 24 hrs pour the contents of the jar into a sieve and collect liquid from it in bowl, with the help of a tablespoon moving carefully around sieve, making sure you collect all the mushroom.
DO NOT EAT THE MUSHROOM even though it looks like cottage cheese or cauliflower.
Afterwards wash the mushroom with warm water.
Then place the clean Mushroom into another jar, or clean the previous jar, and put more milk on it.
The sieved liquid needs now to be stirred and poured into a mug, and now it’s ready to drink.
How to use
Best is to drink in evenings about half an hour before going to bed. Normal course is 20 days in a row.
Then stop for 10 days.
Then start the process again, for up to one year
After a year, do not start the course again, for a minimum of one month.
You can use your imagination and add to the drink fruits, berries, same as you would do with yogurt.
When you leave mushroom alone for some time
Clean it and then put in jar, only pour on top mixture of water and milk, cover as usual, and put it in the fridge. That way mushroom can stay there without growing for a long time. Occasionally, check on it, clean it and make sure it has enough milk and water on it.
How the mushroom grows
After 17 – 20 days you will see the mushroom is nearly twice the size, so now you can share the mushroom with friends.
Kefir is all the rage in the natural health community.
It is high in nutrients and probiotics
, and is incredibly beneficial for digestion and gut health.
Many people consider it to be a healthier and more powerful version of yogurt.
1. Kefir is a Fantastic Source of Many Nutrients
Kefir is a fermented drink, traditionally made using cow's milk, goat's milk or coconut milk.
It is made by adding milk to the kefir mushroom "grains".
These are not grains or mushroom in the conventional sense, but cultures of yeast and lactic acid bacteria that resemble a cauliflower or cottage cheese in appearance.
Over a period of 24 hours or so, the microorganisms in the kefir grains multiply and ferment the sugars in the milk, turning it into kefir.
Then the grains are removed from the liquid, and can be used again.
So basically, kefir is the drink, but kefir grains are the "starter kit" that you use to produce the drink.
The lactic acid bacteria turn the lactose in the milk into lactic acid, so kefir tastes sour like yogurt, but has a thinner consistency.
175 ml (6 oz) serving of milk Kefir contains
· Protein: 6 grams.
· Calcium: 20% of the RDA.
· Phosphorus: 20% of the RDA.
· Vitamin B12: 14% of the RDA.
· Riboflavin (B2): 19% of the RDA.
· Magnesium: 5% of the RDA.
· A decent amount of vitamin D.
This is coming with about 100 calories, 7-8 grams of carbs and 3-6 grams of fat, depending on the type of milk that is used.
Kefir also contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds, including organic acids and peptides that contribute to its health benefits
Dairy-free versions of kefir can be made with coconut water, coconut milk . These will not have the same nutrient profile as dairy-based Kefir.
Bottom Line: Kefir is a fermented milk drink, cultured from Kefir grains. It is a rich source of calcium, protein and B-vitamins.
2. Kefir is a More Powerful Probiotic Than Yogurt
Some microorganisms can have beneficial effects on health when ingested.
Known as probiotics, these microorganisms can influence health in numerous ways, including digestion, weight management and mental health.
Yogurt is the best known probiotic food in the Western diet, but kefir is actually a much more potent source.
Kefir grains (mushroom) contain about 30 strains of bacteria and yeasts, making it a very rich and diverse probiotic source.
Other fermented dairy products are made from far fewer strains, and don't contain any yeasts.
Bottom Line: Kefir contains about 30 different microorganisms, making it a much more potent source of probiotics than other fermented dairy products.
3. Kefir Has Potent Antibacterial Properties
Certain probiotics in Kefir are believed to protect against infections.
This includes the probiotic Lactobacillus Kefiri, which is unique to Kefir.
Studies show that this probiotic can inhibit the growth of various harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Helicobacter Pylori and E.coli Kefiran, a type of carbohydrate present in kefir, also has antibacterial properties
Bottom Line: Kefir contains the probiotic Lactobacillus Kefiri, and the carbohydrate Kefiran, both of which can protect against harmful bacteria.
4. Kefir Can Improve Bone Health and Lower The Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis ("porous" bones) is characterized by deterioration of bone tissue, and is a massive problem in Western countries.
It is especially common among elderly women, and dramatically raises the risk of fractures.
Ensuring an adequate calcium intake is one of the most effective ways to improve bone health, and slow the progression of osteoporosis
Kefir made from full-fat dairy is not only a great source of calcium, but also vitamin K2. This nutrient plays a central role in calcium metabolism, and supplementing with it has been shown to reduce the risk of fractures by as much as 81%
Recent animal studies have shown that Kefir can increase calcium absorption by bone cells. This leads to improved bone density, which should help prevent fractures
Bottom Line: Kefir made from dairy is an excellent source of calcium. In the case of full-fat dairy, it also contains vitamin K2. These nutrients have major benefits for bone health.
5. Kefir May be Protective Against Cancer
Cancer is one of the world's leading causes of death.
It occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, such as a tumor.
The probiotics in fermented dairy products are believed to inhibit tumor growth by reducing formation of carcinogenic compounds, as well as by stimulating the immune system
This protective role has been demonstrated in several test tube studies
One study found that Kefir extract reduced the number of human breast cancer cells by 56%, compared with only 14% for yogurt extract
Bottom Line: Some test tube and animal studies have shown that Kefir can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. This has not been studied in people.
6. The Probiotics in it May Help With Various Digestive Problems
Probiotics such as Kefir can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in the gut.
This is why they are highly effective for many forms of diarrhea
There is also a lot of evidence that probiotics and probiotic foods can help with all sorts of digestive problems
This includes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers caused by H.pylori infection, and various others
For this reason, Kefir may be useful if you have problems with digestion.
Bottom Line: Probiotics like Kefir can treat several forms of diarrhea. They can also lead to major improvements in various digestive diseases.
7. Kefir is Generally Well Tolerated by People Who Are Lactose Intolerant
Regular dairy foods contain a natural sugar called lactose.
Many people, especially adults, are unable to break down and digest lactose properly. This condition is called lactose intolerance
The lactic acid bacteria in fermented dairy foods (like Kefir and yogurt) turn the lactose into lactic acid, so these foods are much lower in lactose than milk.
They also contain enzymes that can help break down the lactose even further.
Because of this, Kefir is generally well tolerated by people with lactose intolerance, at least when compared to regular milk
Also keep in mind that it is possible to make Kefir that is 100% lactose free, by using coconut water, fruit juice or some other non-dairy fluid.
Bottom Line: The lactic acid bacteria have already pre-digested the lactose in Kefir. People with lactose intolerance can often eat Kefir without problems.
8. Kefir May Improve Symptoms of Allergy and Asthma
Allergic reactions are caused by inflammatory responses against harmless environmental substances.
People with an over-sensitive immune system are more prone to allergies, which can provoke conditions like asthma.
In animal studies, Kefir has been shown to suppress inflammatory responses related to allergy and asthma
Human studies are needed to better explore these effects.
Here are 8 health benefits of kefir that are supported by research: