The Truth About Kefir

by Giselle

kefir truthKefir got rid of my Ulcers. It helped my friend by getting rid of her allergies. And it helped a lot of people treat, remedy or even cure different kinds of sicknesses. I just love kefir and I hope you will too. :)

You must’ve heard about kefir somewhere so you tried searching for it online or you must have a problem with your health so you were searching for a very natural and proven remedy. You are definitely in the right place. I created this site because I love Kefir! It has rid me of many unwanted health issues and changed my lifestyle for the better. Since discovering Kefir, it’s been a regular staple in my diet.

So what really is Kefir?
Kefir is a cultured milk drink. The word originated from the word “Keif” which means “good feeling” or “pleasure” and this has been around for centuries! There’s actually one main thing that’s been bothering people for centuries too. How do you really pronounce it? :-)

Sounds like it’s a glorified name for “Yogurt”
kefir yogurtIs it just yogurt with a weird sounding name? Actually it’s ALMOST similar because they are both fermented/cultured dairy products. Both are great sources for calcium, B vitamins, potassium and protein. Both have the same slightly acidic flavor too. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Kefir is thinner in consistency, just imagine evaporated milk consistency. People use it as a direct substitute for yogurt and some cuisines actually require it. Studies have proven that it is healthier than yogurt and EASIER to make.

How is making Kefir different from making Yogurt?
Let me first explain how both are basically made so you would get a better understanding. Yogurt is made by culturing fresh milk which were, boiled and then cooled, with a bacteria starter. It is then fermented in an environment warmer than normal room temperature for about 8-16 hours.The bacteria in yogurt should be consistently renewed because of it’s very limited lifespan.

Kefir is made naturally by culturing fresh milk with live kefir grains. Kefir ferments at room temperature and fermentation periods are flexible. Usually a half day up to 2 days at most. The best part is kefir grains stay alive forever! Ok, indefinitely is the better word but as long as you don’t kill them… on purpose. It’s actually pretty hard to stop them from reproducing and growing. After fermenting your first batch, just remove the kefir grains and move them to a new batch of milk to make a new one.

Wait, I’m lactose intolerant. Can I drink this?
Enzymes in both kefir and yogurt make it easy for people to digest it compared to other dairy products, which is really important for lactose-intolerant people. To prove this point, there are many studies and testimonials that people who are lactose intolerant are much better off drinking kefir. There have also been proof that people with other allergies got cured after drinking kefir.

Tell me what makes it so good?
Like Yogurt, it introduces good bacteria into your body. But you are need to eat it regularly to keep good bacteria in your system. Kefir’s beneficial or friendly bacteria comes from kefir grains and actually resides in the intestines when consumed, where they can continue to aid in digestion and repel harmful bacteria. There are also studies and proof that it cures constipation, ulcers and makes your immune system better.

How come I haven’t heard of this before if it’s so good?
Actually there are many products in your local supermarket that are kefir. You probably know the brand names, just not that it is actually made from kefir. I will be reviewing each of them soon and I hope you would look forward to it.

I have other milks at home, can I use it?
goat kefirYES! You are not limited to cow’s milk. People make it with goat’s milk, camel’s milk and even buffalo milk! You can also use soy milk, the milk of nuts, seeds or coconut, or cereal grains.

Kefir can also be made with just sugar water mixed with citrus and dried fruits called water kefir.

I have a weak stomach! How will this help me!?
Here’s a tip from me, if you drink Kefir, you will be able to drink and eat ANYTHING. It makes your stomach that much stronger.

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

Dale Hubbard 07.10.09 at 7:51 am

I’m a Diabetic type 2 can I benefit from Kifer? will it raise my blood sugar?

Giselle 07.10.09 at 11:06 am

Hi Dale, glad you asked… you can benefit a lot from kefir. It should not raise your blood sugar since the good bacteria that make up the kefir actually eats the sugar/lactose in dairy or the sugar in water kefir. There have been reports that it actually regulates your blood sugar making it return to normal levels. In any case,
I know how you might be hesitant to try something you have never tried before, and if you are, how about trying small amounts first. Keep an eye out on your sugar levels and see what happens.

I personally would love to hear the results too!

Yaz 09.09.09 at 8:47 pm

Hi Giselle:

I have milk kefir since 3 weeks now. When they first arrived they where pretty stressed and yellow looking, but they made it from the midwest US to Hawaii safely. It took about 1 1/2 weeks before I can say they came back to life and the color is now white with a slight yellow only. They’ve also grown. My question is how do increase growth rate of my kefir, because I have discovered I enjoy eating the grains alot, more than the kefir itself. My body seems to literally crave it. Sofar they have doubled in size, from 2 heaping TBS to 4 TBS, but I ate 1 TBS already, upps…….
Any suggestions?

Aloha,
Yaz

Giselle 09.15.09 at 9:07 pm

you can try changing the milk more often :)
but not too much that you would have to handle the kefir too much.

play around with it and experiment :)

Irina 09.16.09 at 12:53 am

Can you believe that a 32 fl oz bottle of kefir costs US$7 in Panama? That’s just crazy…but I still buy it :-)

Sandy 09.27.09 at 3:17 pm

I’ve been wondering if you can use other things besides sugar in kefir? Such as stevia or honey…would the results be the same? I’m trying to stay away from sugar as much as possible and is why I’m curious about this subject.

My kefir grains will be here in a few days and I cannot wait. I’m going to save myself a lot of money by making my own. :) I love and crave kefir and feel so much better when I drink it…I cannot get enough but by making my own now I will.

LiLi Chiu 10.15.09 at 5:05 pm

How much Kefir should I drink a day?

Kari 10.16.09 at 3:08 am

I have been making kefir for several weeks now. We LOVE it! However, my two smaller children and I have a milk allergy. I thought we would be ok since it is pre-digested through the fermination process. I have shown no negative reactions (my milk reaction in constipation and gas). Both of my little ones have signs of milk use again, eczema on the backs of their arms. Though, it’s not the same as when they have actual milk (serious constipation, gas, and eczema). I am trying to figure out how to change this. We have tried to find goat’s milk, but have been unsuccessful. I am looking at either using homemade almond milk, coconut milk or just water kefir. Can I use the same milk kefir grains without problems? Which of these three options would you suggest me to use? Which would be the least complicated and least expensive (as I have four who drink kefir daily).

Thanks!

Dawn 10.31.09 at 4:54 am

Hi Kari,I found water kefir on Ebay,and webs,just google water kefir

minoo 11.03.09 at 9:55 pm

i have the same guestion as lili how much kefir shoud i drink a day?

Giselle 11.26.09 at 9:33 am

anywhere from 250 to 500ml is fine :)

charles branklyn 12.20.09 at 10:52 am

i have decided to go the way of water kifer grains with sugar water and fruit.
so thanks for the infor. charles

jose 01.09.10 at 12:52 am

could i use cow milk

jose 01.09.10 at 12:55 am

organic milk is better than regular milk in the super market.

jose 01.09.10 at 12:56 am

our could i use only water.

Sam 01.16.10 at 2:46 pm

Hi! I just got my milk kefir grain a couple of days ago. I was so excited, but problem is that my kefir grain float and won’t coagualate after 24 hours. Do you have any idea why this is or any suggestions? Oh and it’s been in the mail for two weeks. Do you think my kefir grain is dead? They’re not hard, I can’t really tell if they’re yellowish, maybe my wishful thinking that there’s nothing the grain, but definitely not yellow.

Thanks
Sam

Aida 02.01.10 at 11:33 pm

how many 8oz glasses should I drink and I am trying to lose weight, will kefer help this or will i gain weight ?

Brian 02.04.10 at 11:21 pm

Questions are no longer being answered.

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