POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Nutrition & HIV => Topic started by: o on June 25, 2007, 09:26:57 am
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Hallo guys
Now, i have started drinking kefir which i make myself at home... I have also started to read the health benefits. Seems like a miracle...
Does anyone know more about it?
Please let us all know...
Greets
o
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Here is at least one finding from the net. Though i have not come through any scientific research yet...
1- The benefits of consuming kefir regularly in the diet
Easily digested, it cleanses the intestines, provides beneficial bacteria and yeast, vitamins and minerals, and complete proteins. Because kefir is such a balanced and nourishing food, it contributes to a healthy immune system and has been used to help patients suffering from AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes, and cancer. Its tranquilizing effect on the nervous system has benefited many who suffer from sleep disorders, depression, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
The regular use of kefir can help relieve all intestinal disorders, promote bowel movement, reduce flatulence and create a healthier digestive system. In addition, its cleansing effect on the whole body helps to establish a balanced inner ecosystem for optimum health and longevity.
Kefir can also help eliminate unhealthy food cravings by making the body more nourished and balanced. Its excellent nutritional content offers healing and health-maintenance benefits to people in every type of condition.
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and here is another one also giving info about what Kefir is and what the health benefits are...
2- Kefir is a fermented milk drink made from authentic kefir cultures imported from Europe. Similar to yogurt in appearance, kefir contains a unique mixture of beneficial microorganisms, including more than thirty different bacteria and yeasts. These include: Lactobacillus kefyr, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Leuconostoc cremoris, Candida kefyr, and Saccharomyces unisporous. Kefir also contains high levels of vitamin B 12, which is a common deficiency in immuno-compromised patient populations and vegetarians. Kefir also contains low levels of lactose, so it is beneficial to lactose-intolerant consumers. The levels of live bacteria in kefir are significantly higher than in yogurt, so the product should appeal to consumers who mistakenly believe that yogurt is positively influencing the microbial balance in their GI tract. Kefir contributes to a more even movement of food in the intestine. The mild acid taste and its microflora facilitate salivation, enzyme secretion in the stomach and pancreas, and improved peristalsis. The presence of lactic acid, acetic acid, and antibiotic substances inhibit decomposition processes in the small intestine. It is also an excellent buffer like yogurt.
Even though there is little clinical research evidence in the United States for the health benefits of kefir, there is substantial historical evidence and growing clinical evidence from Europe and Japan for the benefits of consuming kefir in the diet. (Otjes & Cagindi, 2003). In addition, there is growing evidence that specific strains of probiotic bacteria dramatically impact human health; to wit:
Extensive biomedical research has documented considerable evidence for the wide-ranging therapeutic properties of probiotic organisms and has established their role in maintaining optimal health. The major areas of their therapeutic clinical action include:
Competition against harmful micro-organisms including Candida ;
Preventing colonisation of pathogens through the production of inhibitory substances including acids and hydrogen peroxide and natural antibiotics;
Enhancement of digestion of lactose (milk sugar);
Reduction in blood cholesterol levels;
Immune enhancement, including enhanced macrophage activity;
Reduction in the levels of and deactivation of potential cancer causing chemicals, particularly in the colon and direct anti-tumour activity of certain strains;
Reduction in liver toxicity;
Enhancement of peristalsis, digestion, regularity and re-absorption of nutrients;
In infants, promotion of healthy digestive tract colonisation;
Enhancement and balance of oestrogen levels, prevention of osteoporosis through increased calcium uptake;
Protection against food poisoning, travellers' diarrhoea, allergies, skin problems; and enhancement of vitamin status (B, K), digestion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates ”.
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I never tried Kefir, so I can't say. Just ensure that when you prepare something that is based on bacteria you don't contaminate it. Wash the containers and sanitize!
Milker.
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http://www.heliosnutrition.com
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I remember a story of Bulgarian farmers who became 120 years old because they always had a pint of kefir a day.
I also remember a story of Sicilian farmers who became 120 years old because they always had a pint of olive oil a day.
I'm not sure though if these stories are anything else but marketing hoaxes. BUT I know that probiotics are generally good for you, the good gut bacteria keep the bad ones at bay. And it tastes nice, very refreshing. If it's fresh, there are little bubbles from fermentation which tickle the tongue.
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Hi,
I Tried it about four years ago, but didn't much care for the taste of it. Maybe if I doctor it up with strawberries, or some other fruit it would taste better. I Should give it another try. Four years ago, not much of anything, was tasting good to me.
Take care-----Ray
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I just checked Auntie Doxie's link to Helios Kefir and - drum roll please - it is Gluten Free!
Think I'll give it a shot.
HUGS,
Mark
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I loooove Kefir. I need to pick some up tomorrow. I love blueberry kefir best. I was introduced to it many years ago by my dance teacher. He drank it all the time and always had a bottle with him.
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Dear friends,
The Kefir i am talking about is the one that you can ferment at home instead of buying from the store.
Because the one you buy from the store doesn't have all the bacteria that home made kefir has.
To do the fermentation you need kefir grains.
And to see its effects, you have to drink 1 liter of Kefir everyday.
And certain fermentation time is good for certain illnesses.
The times i will post later.
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Cultivating Kefir requires patience. It's not unlike planting vegetables for own consumption. Most Kefir grain users are open to sharing their grains as the good bacteria colony ferments and grows, assuming it is well cultivated. Otherwise, it can become infested and die. This holds true also for the Kombucha tea cultures.
I have provided a link for possibly obtaining these grains from a Kefir grower near you. Contact them and explore more. Good luck!
Kefir Grains List : http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php (http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php)
Growing Kefir: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/making_kefir (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/making_kefir)
Fermenting Kefir: http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/fermenting/kefir_howto.shtml (http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/fermenting/kefir_howto.shtml)
Blessed Be! ;)
Michael
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Cultivating Kefir requires patience. It's not unlike planting vegetables for own consumption. Most Kefir grain users are open to sharing their grains as the good bacteria colony ferments and grows, assuming it is well cultivated. Otherwise, it can become infested and die. This holds true also for the Kombucha tea cultures.
I have provided a link for possibly obtaining these grains from a Kefir grower near you. Contact them and explore more. Good luck!
Kefir Grains List : http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php (http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php)
Growing Kefir: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/making_kefir (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/making_kefir)
Fermenting Kefir: http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/fermenting/kefir_howto.shtml (http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/fermenting/kefir_howto.shtml)
Blessed Be! ;)
Michael
Oh my goodness! I haven't heard of Kombucha tea in years. I used to make it myself, but that was pre-cocktail.
Like I said, in those days, we tried anything.
HUGS,
Mark
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Oh my goodness! I haven't heard of Kombucha tea in years. I used to make it myself, but that was pre-cocktail.
Like I said, in those days, we tried anything.
HUGS,
Mark
And what was the effect of that (kombucha I meant) ?.;)
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And what was the effect of that (kombucha I meant) ?.;)
Well, it was supposed to promote overall health. I think all it ever did for me was taste terrible. ;)
But it was fun to watch it grow in the jug!
HUGS,
Mark
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Kefir is great, my mom ( who is from the Ukraine) got me started on it, she has been drinking it for years. We love it. I tried getting my husband to drink as well, but no such luck, he can't stand anything unless it's wrapped in a McDonalds wrapper. However, I have recently got him on Danactive, which he will drink because of the commerical, hey it's a start.
So try Kefir, you might like it. By the way Trader Joes carries Kefir in regular and strawberry flavors.
Happy Yogurt drinking,
Nicky
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Honestly, I just bought Kefir from a health food store just the other day, and it tastes like hot open ass.
Maybe if I mix it with something it will taste better...so sour! awful!
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and it tastes like hot open ass.
But that's not too bad then, is it?
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it tastes like hot open ass.
I will do a side-by-side taste comparison and post my results. ;D
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I will do a side-by-side taste comparison and post my results. ;D
I'm spread open and waiting! I haven't had a good rim job in weeks!
Plain kefir is n-a-s-t-y, I find, so I prefer rasperries and/or chocolate in it. Horribly lactose-intolerant, but the bugs have decomposed enough of the sugars for me to handle it without producing an anal symphony.
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I placed this post up in the Soy milk thread. ( which I also don't like the taste of. ) I was thinking of putting a packet of Carnation instant breakfast into it. Maybe it will help with the taste of the Kefir. Or perhaps adding some Ovaltine to it. :P
Ray
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hello people,
i do not know how our taste has been influenced by the food market... everything has to have a taste!
here in the netherlands i can hardly find any product without having the flavour of something else...
Kefir is sour and you can get used to it. Cause to get the best result, i drink 1 liter a day.
And that i obtain by fermentation of the milk at home, the product which is sold at the shelves are not up to the standards of home made Kefir...
greets.
by the way apart from the intestinal comfort, Kefir has helped in reducing the Acne on my face. Moreover, after 2 years, it is the first time that the fungi at my toes got really small...
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Hey o, do u use pasturised milk or did u managed to obtain pure fresh raw milk? U must have a pretty big colony to be able to drink 1 litre daily. How long do u ferment each batch b4 consumption?
Peace!
Michael
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hallo Merlin,
i just use the pastorized milk, it can be half-fat or fat, goat or cow milk...
Kefir turns it to good bacterias anyway. Though i have read that in the mountains they were using goat milk.
i had received from my cousin just some kefir grains as big as half a wallnut. it was less than a month ago, now the amount is tripled!!!
i will give it to other people. Normally i always ferment it in 24 hours. 12 hours is good when one has constipation, and it has to be 36 hours if one has diarrhea...
greets
o
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Thanks 4 the info o. Stay healthy! ;)
Blessed Be
Michael
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I posted this in the soy milk thread. (don't ask me why???)
OK, I bought some Kefir, thought I would give it a try.
Nobody warned me about the consistency of that stuff.
All I have to say is, "Ewww."
HUGS,
Mark
Edited to add:
I just tried it again and it wasn't so bad. Maybe it wasn't cold enough the first time or something. Anyway, it actually was pretty good this time. It is strawberry flavored and I could actually taste the strawberries this time.
It is somewhat costly though. But, what the heck, its only money.
HUGS,
Mark
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I threw mine away after it sat in the fridge for a month.... still not a big fan of the sour ass taste
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I posted this in the soy milk thread. (don't ask me why???)
OK, I bought some Kefir, thought I would give it a try.
Nobody warned me about the consistency of that stuff.
All I have to say is, "Ewww."
HUGS,
Mark
Edited to add:
I just tried it again and it wasn't so bad. Maybe it wasn't cold enough the first time or something. Anyway, it actually was pretty good this time. It is strawberry flavored and I could actually taste the strawberries this time.
It is somewhat costly though. But, what the heck, its only money.
HUGS,
Mark
I threw mine away after it sat in the fridge for a month.... still not a big fan of the sour ass taste
It does taste pretty crappy doesn't it? :) :o I hate throwing stuff away, but this stuff went down the drain quite fast. :P
Ray
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The taste is not much different from yoghurt except being more sour because of the fermention. If u kept it in the fridge for a month, the culture should possibly still be alive as cold slows the replicating process. Smell it..it should be similar to Brie cheese.
If you managed to obtain the real Kefir grains (not those commercial starter kit in man made powdered form), it will be pretty cheap to produce and grow it yourself. All you need is just change the milk every 24-36 hours depending on how concentrated you want the curd to be.
The other cousin to Kefir is of cos Kombucha (using green/black tea & sugar), which also requires very little work as well. Only thing, for both kefir and kombucha, gotta keep all your equipment, like jars, filter, hands..etc, clean.
Good health & Blessed Be! :)
Michael
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Admit it Michael, kefir tastes like shit. ;)
MtD
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I wouldn't know Matty cos I never tasted shit b4. ;D I'm sure even shit will taste different depending on what was eaten before, not to mention the consistency. :o
Kefir is an acquired taste. If one can take pickles, the sour in kefir is no where near that. Also, the longer the fermentation, the more sour the taste, so a 12 hour kefir tastes more like brie cheese. And there are some cheese in the market that smells and taste like vomit. :P
Blessed Be!
Michael
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Merlin,
Do you make yogurt at home too? If so, how do you do it? I hear it's really easy.
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Hi Cat:
I don't cos since Kefir contains more beneficial strains of bacteria, I stopped taking yohgurt exclusively. Ocassionally, I do mix fruity yoghurts with the Kefir if I want a more broader taste. :)
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Just a brief update. Kefir made it to the new list of superfoods in Men's Health under msn.
Happy reading. :)
http://health.msn.com/centers/highbloodpressure/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100159956&imageindex=6 (http://health.msn.com/centers/highbloodpressure/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100159956&imageindex=6)
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Thank you for sharing.
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There is also water kefir if milk is not your cuppa. ;D