What’s Kefir And why should you Consume it?

Milk Kefir, due to its probiotic content, calcium, B vitamins like biotin, folic acid, and vitamin K, is considered a highly gut-friendly super food. Be it bloating, gas, or even acid reflux, kefir is a panacea for all gut-related issues. You can either buy readymade milk kefir or make it at home. It is advised to prepare milk kefir using organic milk as it is richer in nutrients and texture. Easy to get home delivered, cow milk, in fact is the most commonly used milk for making kefir. As it is vat pasteurized (as opposed to UHT pasteurization), a low-temperature method of heating milk to kill pathogens, the enzymes that help make digestion better stay intact. It is the closest possible option you can use instead of raw milk, which is said to have some health risks associated to it, besides the benefits. Other types of milk that you may use include goat milk, sheep milk, coconut milk etc.

So, why should you invest your time, money, and efforts in preparing kefir, especially when you have similar probiotic options like curd, yogurt etc? Let’s understand.

Live and Active Culture with More CFU

Let’s start with simplifying the terms first. Live and active cultures refer to the microbes found in fermented foods, making them highly probiotic i.e. a powerhouse of gut-friendly bacteria. Kefir has 12 different strains i.e. sub-types of active and cultures and Colony Forming Units (CFU) somewhere between 25-30 million. Yogurt or curd, on the other hand, can have anywhere from 1 to 5 strains with 6 billion CFU, which is more than twice the amount of probiotics. Probiotic foods, such as kefir, can help treat diarrhea caused by an antibiotics or infections, says a conducted in Oct, 2017.

More Protein

An article on milkgenomics.org cites a 2018-study conducted at the Oregon State University found that "the kefir microorganisms extensively digested milk proteins during kefir fermentation, resulting in the release of a large number of peptides. It was surprising to find that there were thousands of peptides there, and all sorts of protein changes that are not visible to the eye but visible with a mass spectrometer." In addition, 1-cup serving of kefir has 11 grams of protein, whereas, an average serving of low-fat yogurt contains only 6 grams of protein. "Protein is most satiating macronutrient and can help us feel fuller faster," says a 2016-study titled Protein for Life: Review of Optimal Protein Intake, Sustainable Dietary Sources and the Effect on Appetite in Ageing Adults.

Suitable for Lactose-intolerant

Even the best quality organic milk delivery online in Delhi may not be of much help if you suffer with lactose intolerance, the inability to digest a natural sugar found in dairy products. Lactose intolerance leads to bloating, acne, allergies etc among other health issues. But, kefir suits even the lactose intolerant; the enzymes in kefir may actually help break down the lactose. A study conducted in 2003 proved that "Kefir improves lactose digestion and tolerance in adults with lactose mal-digestion." Still, consulting the doctor before consuming kefir is advised if you suffer from severe lactose intolerance in general.

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Sophia William a freelance writer, with years of experience, creating content for varied online portals. Her content is published on many national and international publications.She has expertise in writing about travelling