Kefir is a fermented drink that contains probiotic bacteria and has lately seen a meteoric rise in popularity throughout the world. Even though it has been around for centuries, it is currently quite easy to get in the majority of grocery shops and can be purchased at a price that is not prohibitively expensive!
Kefir is beneficial to one’s health in numerous ways. It has been shown to promote bone health, the immune system as a whole, liver and kidney function, digestion, and even lessen the risk of developing cancer.
On the other hand, if you consume this nutrient-dense drink at the incorrect time, you run the risk of missing out on all of these benefits.
When would you say is the ideal time to consume kefir? Always wait until your stomach is empty before drinking kefir in the morning. Kefir is best enjoyed this way. If there aren’t any other factors getting in the way, your body will be able to absorb the vast majority of the nutrients far more efficiently. You may also consume it in the evening, just before you go to bed, however, some medical professionals disagree with this recommendation.
In today’s lesson, we will discuss the most significant advantages that come from consuming kefir or items made from kefir. In addition to that, we are going to take a quick look at the nutrients that are in it, when you should drink it, and how you should consume it on a regular basis.
Kefir: What Is It?
Kefir is something that everyone has heard about, yet only a small percentage of people fully understand what it is. If you’re one of them, be ready for your life to be turned upside down!
Kefir is a fermented milk drink that is comparable to consuming yoghurt that is not sweetened and may also be written kephir or kefir.
This libation may trace its roots all the way back to the North Caucasus area. The countries of Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia have the highest adoption rates for it. It wasn’t until after a number of decades had passed that it gained popularity in other westernised nations throughout the world.
In modern times, kefir is made by inoculating the milk of animals with kefir grains, which is a considerably simpler process than the old one. In addition, producing kefir in a commercial setting is far more affordable and takes significantly less time.
Kefir is widely regarded as a nutritious beverage, as you may already be aware. It has a wealth of nutrients and may provide some possible health advantages, much like the majority of fermented foods. Let’s take a more in-depth look at a few of them!
Nutrients In Kefir Milk
There are a lot of publications on the particular amounts and percentages of nutrients that kefir supplies, which is helpful if you are someone who enjoys monitoring their intake of macronutrients. This is just a general review to provide you with an idea of what you are putting into your body!
To begin, all of these amounts come from one cup of kefir milk with a reduced amount of fat. If you get kefir with the full amount of milk fat, it will undoubtedly have an impact on the majority of these values.
Kefir, like the majority of dairy products, has a respectable quantity of animal protein; around 9 grammes are found in one cup of kefir. In addition to that, it has a high carbohydrate content but very little fat (only approximately 2–3 grammes). Keep in mind that this is a low-fat alternative to kefir, therefore the fat content should be limited as well!
Kefir has a very high calcium content, and one serving provides roughly 24% of the daily required requirement (daily recommended intake). In addition to that, it has a very healthy quantity of vitamins B2, B12, and D. In terms of minerals, it has a very high concentration of phosphorus and magnesium.
This fermented milk beverage is packed with bioactive components such as organic acids and peptides.
What Advantages Does Consuming Kefir Have for Your Body?
Kefir may have a number of positive effects on your health that you may take advantage of. In order to have a comprehensive discussion on any topic, we will first break it down into its component parts.
Now, we won’t go into an excessive amount of depth on each, nor will we describe every single advantage that may be had from this. But the ones we’re going to talk about today are backed by science and, to some degree, may be considered facts!
Kefir Is An Extraordinary Probiotic Food Source.
It has been discovered that kefir is an even greater source of probiotics than yoghurt; in fact, it may easily contain more than 60 different types of bacteria and yeast!
Keep in mind that all of these bacteria and yeasts are beneficial to your health. These microorganisms help you maintain a healthy weight, enhance digestion, and have a positive impact on your mental health overall!
Kefir Contains Properties That Fight Bacteria
Kefir is thought to include probiotics that may help prevent infections and aid in the fight against infections already present in the body. In particular, a strain of bacteria known as Lactobacillus kefir can only be found in this beverage.
A further component that aids in the battle against bacterial infections is kefiran, which is a one-of-a-kind carbohydrate found in kefir milk.
Kefir is Beneficial to the Overall Health of Bones
This includes improving the strength of your bones and lowering your risk of developing bone-related disorders such as osteoporosis. In the long term, it could be able to assist in lowering the danger of bone fractures!
But what exactly is the source of this advantage? The primary reason for this is the substantial quantity of calcium. Kefir, on the other hand, has a significant amount of vitamin K2, which is a vitamin that does not get as much attention as the others that aid in the body’s ability to absorb calcium.
Kefir Aids In Digestion
Again, similar to the probiotics found in the majority of fermented beverages, the probiotics found in kefir assist restore the bacterial equilibrium that is disrupted in the digestive systems of many individuals.
It assists in the treatment of diarrhoea, may ease symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and assists in the relief of stomach pains brought on by food poisoning. Additionally, it may aid in the reduction of bloating, acid reflux, and gas.
Kefir is Beneficial to Both the Liver and the Kidneys
Kefir is beneficial for the liver and may help lower the risk of the fatty liver syndrome, which is brought on by an abnormal accumulation of fat around the liver. Kefir may also assist in reducing the amount of cholesterol and triglyceride that is deposited in the liver.
Kefir has the potential to lower the levels of creatinine and uric acid in your body, which would be beneficial to your kidneys. Both of them, in large enough quantities, is very hazardous to one’s health.
There is some evidence that kefir may help reduce the effects of cancer.
This was one that piqued our interest quite a bit!
Kefir’s probiotics really helped lower the number of cancer cells in human breast fat by a greater percentage than yoghurt’s probiotics did; in fact, it reduced the quantity by 56%, whilst yoghurt only reduced it by 14%!
Now, it should come as no surprise that a great deal more investigation into these consequences should be carried out. On the other hand, as we all know, the only situations in which probiotics are useful are those in which they are used to either prevent or cure cancer.
Best Time To Drink Kefir
Because the timing of kefir consumption might have an impact on the efficacy of the fermented beverage, a lot of people are curious about the optimal time to consume the probiotic beverage.
It’s really similar to taking medicine. In order to avoid the medicine from upsetting the lining of your stomach, it is necessary to take some forms of medication after you have eaten.
It is recommended that kefir be eaten on an empty stomach. This is not because there are any adverse consequences on your body if you don’t, but rather because your body will be able to absorb more nutrients if your stomach is empty when you drink kefir.
The majority of individuals like to have it first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach).
Tryptophan is an amino acid that is found in kefir, and research has shown that tryptophan helps people sleep better. Many experts advocate drinking a little amount of kefir before going to bed. You will still take in and be able to absorb all of the nutrients that it contains. Despite this, the majority of individuals continue to advise against doing so.
Since this beverage is quite satisfying, you may have it either with or without meals. Just be sure you don’t overindulge just because you consider kefir to be a beverage. It is possible to eat it as a meal, and in fact, many people do so.
What Is the Recommended Amount of Kefir to Drink?
This is something that needs to be addressed with either your physician or your nutritionist. Kefir generally confers advantages, and some individuals eat as much as three cups of it on a daily basis. However, even an excessive amount of something that is beneficial may be detrimental to one’s health.
Consider the situation in this light. One cup of kefir has around 161 calories in it. That works out to around 483 calories for three glasses, which is more than the majority of nutritious meals include. That amounts to around one-third of the calories that are advised to be consumed by most persons on a daily basis.
Therefore, even if you obtain a lot of nutrients, you probably won’t be satisfied for the rest of the day. In addition, you will not get the benefits of some nutrients that are offered by other substances.
If you are just starting out with kefir, it is recommended that you consume no more than one cup each day. However, many individuals believe that three glasses is an acceptable amount. To reiterate, the optimum time to take it is first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. But you should constantly think about the benefits and drawbacks of the quantity that you are consuming.
How Long It Will Be Before You Start Seeing Results
If you eat at least one cup of kefir every day, it will take your body two to four weeks, on average, to demonstrate a discernible change in your general health. This is the case whether or not you consume kefir.
In light of the above, you should immediately discontinue the use of kefir if you experience any adverse effects, such as allergic reactions or intolerances.
Is There Kefir That Is Vegan Available?
Kefir is obviously not a product that can be consumed by vegans. Kefir is often prepared from cow’s milk, but you may also get it made from sheep’s milk and goat’s milk. Cow’s milk kefir is the most common kind.
Kefir milk may be produced using water, coconut cream, or other plant-based milk in addition to milk. However, you can still get kefir milk which is vegan.
In addition, there has been an increase in the number of goods manufactured to fulfil a variety of additional dietary requirements. Additionally, vegan kefir water is becoming increasingly popular and may even be found in most grocery stores.
Kefir Drinking May Cause the Following Side Effects
Unfortunately, this is not a product that is going to work for everyone since a large number of individuals are allergic to lactose or have lactose intolerance. Therefore, it is clear that they cannot participate in this activity.
If lactose and dairy are an issue for you, you may purchase a kefir milk replacement that does not include lactose and is also vegan. On the other hand, if you have an allergy to the grains used to make kefir, you must absolutely avoid consuming any of these products.
Some people have unpleasant side effects when they first start taking kefir, such as bloating, nausea, constipation, and stomach cramps. The reason for this is that your body is acclimating to a large number of probiotics that it has been receiving.
If you keep taking kefir, you should no longer have these negative effects. If they don’t, you should either stop drinking kefir or talk to a doctor about it.