Kefir can be commonly found in the Caucasus Mountains. For many centuries, it has helped the people there survive the harsh environments. The people there actually protected the Kefir grains with their lives because it was a sign of wealth.
The harsh and unsanitary environments peaked the curiosity of scientists. Why are Kefir grains so good yet it came from such a bad environment?
Scientist tested the kefir and tried to find any trace of harmful bacteria. Surprisingly, there was none. Not even a single one! Scientists refused to believe and tested it again. They came up with a scenario where animal crap (excuse me for my language) would fall into the milk. So they injected the E. Coli into the kefir.
Within 24 hours the E. Coli was destroyed by Kefir’s friendly bacteria. Kefir has also demonstrated the ability to kill H. Pylori infections. The complex microflora of kefir has also shown a keen ability to stimulate our immune system which has been one of the commonly known benefits. It also wards off infections from salmonella, and in some cases even fights cancer. Kefir’s rich source of probiotics is certainly awesome.
Your Kefir Source would want to point out these facts because people generally skip whole foods like Kefir. Their reasons? It’s dangerous and will also cause you stomach aches and the likes.
Try kefir it out and see if it’s “dangerous“. You’ll see first hand that you won’t get anything bad from it…only a boatload of goodness.
Sponsors That Keep Kefir Grains Source Going:
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post! i totally agree as I haven’t found a single downside to kefir yet. It’s like the perfect all around food. You can make great tasting food from a ton of different kefir recipes and you can use it as an alternative to medicine too.
I have been using waterkefir for some weeks, but don’t like it at all because of the effect of the alcohol. I believe there is not much in the kefir, but it is definitely too much for me, it pulls me down, and my husband also says I don’t look well since the kefir. I feel exhausted. The kefir goes straight to my legs and head. I have tried the 24 hour fermentation as well as the 48 hours, it does not make any difference. Any suggestions are welcome!
any fermentation produces alcohol
since the bacteria/yeast converts sugar to alcohol.
maybe try milk kefir? as the milk might be able to mask the alcohol
hope that works
We have no access to healthy organic milk, so don’t know how good that will be, as commercial milk is not healthy at all. After fermenting you will still have the protein and other substances which have gone into the milk.
My husband suggests I just eat the grains without drinking the fluid. Sounds like a good idea. Will one get the full benefits that way?
After taking water kefir for 2 months, although I id not suffer from any particular complaint, it has deffinitely regularised my bowel movements and I feel great. (I do not like to drink it on its own, so I mix it with my breakfast raw cereals instead of milk or water)
I would recommend anyone persiting in drinking kefir. Diet should be balanced with prebiotics, fibre and probiotics and kefir is definitely the best option for the later.
Sometimes, when we make healthy change in our habits we start detoxying. We might suffe temporary side effects from the release of toxins accumulated by the body previously.
If we combine kefir in a good diet, no refined sugars and processed foods, with lots of fibre, detox should be quicker and we start benefiting from the kefir sooner.
I have been making and using milk kefir for about 6 weeks and I have noticed a progressive increase in gas and bloating. It has now been almost 2 weeks where my bowel movements are extremely painful and my colon is very inflamed. It may or may not have anything to do with the kefir but I have discontinued in order to asses if there is any correlation. Has anyone else had this sort of experience and what is the course to take to rectify it? Can it be that perhaps my system is just not made to consume kefir even though I fare well on yogurt? Any feedback would be appreciated.
I absolutely love kefir and love making it. I know kefir is good for constipation but since I was basically born having diarrhea I wondered how it would effect me? Well, let me tell you, it has helped 100%, I was totally amazed. My digestion has never been better.
I even give kerfir to my dog and he loves it and I know it’s good for him too.
I have never liked the taste of milk and could not drink it because of that but now thanks to kefir I can and do drink it with no ill effects.
I have been making ginger beer and it is also delicious…it is a nice change from just drinking milk kefir all the time.
Thank you for all the great recipes!
Sandy
Hi Guerino,
My husband and I also had to stop drinking water kefir because we were having stomach disconfort, I don’t know if it is because of the fermentation process because we both had stomach ulcers years ago or the alcohol in it eventhoght its a small porcentage.My son is 8 years old now and his doctor recommended he takes probiotics because he also has stomach aches sometimes, they are very expensive and I was going to try the water kefir for him too but I’m afraid because I don’t know if it will upset his stomach also even more after my experience.Any feedback will also be appreciated.
@Sandy – Thanks for sharing Sandy and kudos to you!
Hello- Is there a big difference between the probiotics in milk kefir and
water kefir? Is there any place where I could get this info?
Also, I have been allergic to dairy all of my life — also yogurt — also raw milk that has soured naturally (without kefir grains) — is it possible for someone like me to be able to tolerate milk kefir WITH the milk kefir grains? Thank you. Urszula
I was reading about sides effects and it’s scared me.I know sometimes what is good for one might not be good for you and there is including
the care about making Kefir that could contaminate Kefir solutions if
not applyed correctly.I want to heal not keeping on feeling bad.
It seem easy to make the Kefir but for some peoples it’s not maybe we
can buy it all ready done I would like to know where.I am from Canada
near Gatineau/ottawa.A feedback will be appreciated.
I have been drinking kefir every day and I was wondering if it is possible to drink too much kefir? A friend of mine said that it is dangerous to drink too much!
What is a reasonble daily amount of milk kefir to drink??
My wife and I have started with Kefir (on a daily basis) for the last 2 weeks.
a) Will it alleviate IBS? and
b) Chronic constipation?
c) Does it act as a colon cleanser?
d) I am fat but not obese, but diabetic (Type II). Will it help me lose weight?
e) Do I need to have anything else, along with Milk Kefir?
@Giselle & @Sandy
I assume you used real Kefir and not the stuff called Kefir in the stores that is not kefir. I’ve been making my own kefir for 2 years now and would like to point out some important issues.
Kefir is alive. If you consume kefir around a meal with carbs, simple or complex, the bacteria and molds in the kefir will dine to a massive extent. That is where the bloating comes from. If you eat with a protein meal, they still eat (that is their purpose, to digest your food for you) but much more slowly. Kefir is CO2 forming, the gas is CO2, and yes, it comes out both ends with a carb meal!
After consuming kefir for many months I learned that I had to be careful of carbs because kefir actually attaches to the lining of your digestive track. That’s it’s “history”, kefir is in effect an amplification of the bacteria and molds in mothers milk which in turn is intented to establish the digestive track and much of the immune system. And so after consuming kefir for a long time they line your digestive track, and any carb meal with then trigger the problem. Put another way kefir tends to force you towards a protein diet and reduce your carbs. And many suggest that is a good thing.
@wingcodavid
a) Will it alleviate IBS?
Depends on the cause. But likely yes. Did for me.
b) Chronic constipation?
Depends on the cause. But likely yes. Did for me.
c) Does it act as a colon cleanser?
It will cause food to be properly digests and “repair” your gut. This then results in a cleaner colon. There is a “but”. If you PROPERLY ferment kefir for 24 hours it a slight laxative, if ferment towards 48 hours it become constipating (but has a different enjoable flavor).
Thus once you properly learn to make it you can ferment longer to firm things up if need be.
d) I am fat but not obese, but diabetic (Type II). Will it help me lose weight?
You need to talk to a doctor. The following is not medical advice.
One of the areas bad bugs grow is in the area of the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas. I’ll leave it to you to research this. Since kefir cause it’s bacteria and molds to form a lining in your entire digestive track (from mouth to anus) it will kill bad bugs causing problems possibly removing burdens on those organs.
As for eating, kefir forced a substantial change in my diet. I have always been thin and remain so. I make and consume a lot of kefir each day, and the result is to sharply reduce my food intake by greatly reducing my sense of hunger (it’s so nutritious). I very much doubt it will help you reduce your weight, but this has been my experiance. HTH
@Silver
Never heard anybody with kefir experiance state any type of limit. I make and consume over 1/2 gallon per day. I drink kefir like other drink a liter of soda.
That said, if you are just starting, then I can see lots of problems drinking too much due to the changes that take place in your body. Better to go slow, perhap start sipping 1 cup per day over the day. And again, avoid carbs. Once your body adjusts then start increasing. And as pointed out above, if you decide to eat a candy bar all that kefir mass in your gut will let you know about it!
I’ve drank Clover brand Kefir and Trader Joe’s brand kefir.
Both make my farts and bowel movements very very smelly.
I’ve also had bloating and stomach pain all day after drinking Clover Kefir last night.
I’ve been making and drinking about a cup of kefir a day, for almost a week now and I feel all swollen and puffy like I’m turning into a blow fish or something. The scale shows I’m gaining about a pound a day and my eating habbit haven’t really increased or changed. Has anyone else experienced this?