Kefir Health Benefits You Cannot Get Anywhere Else

by Rajiv Pratap Singh Digital Marketing Expert

Kefir is one of the healthiest drinks. It is a thick drink which results from fermenting milk together with kefir grains. These grains are rich in polysaccharides, yeast and lactic acid bacteria. These grains have the effect of culturing the milk and thereby infusing it with healthy microorganisms resulting it slightly effervescent and tangy drink similar to but superior to the traditional yogurt. The drink supports healthy gut and at the same time offers may other health benefits.

Rich in nutrients:

Kefir is very high in proteins and a single cup contains between 8 and 11 grams of the same. The same cup will also provide you with 10% and 25% of vitamin A and vitamin D daily recommended doses respectively. The drink is also very rich in calcium and based on the 2,000 calorie diet, just a single cup will give you 30% of the recommended daily value.

Probiotics:

Kefir has high content of healthy bacteria which you cannot get in yogurt. Some examples of healthy bacteria present only on kefir include Torula kefir, Saccharomyces kefir, Streptococcus species, Acetobacter species, Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus Caucasus. These bacteria help support the functioning of the digestive system and they also prevent the growth and development of the harmful bacteria in the gut. Vitamins B-12 and K are normally produced in the human gut and these probiotics present in the kefir drink can help encourage their production.

Helpful in managing lactose intolerance:

The source of kefir is milk but the process of fermenting used to make it is almost lactose free. When consumed by persons with lactose intolerance, it can help reduce diarrhoea, abdominal pain, gas and such other lactose intolerance symptoms. Kefir’s curds are smaller than those found in yogurt and for this reason, it is easily digested in the stomach. Since the reaction of kefir to people with lactose intolerance varies, do not simply introduce it in to your diet without first consulting and discussing with your physician.

Control of body weight:

Among the most treasured kefir health benefits is that it is helpful in controlling body weight. Just a single cup contains 8 grams of fat and 5 grams of these are saturated fats. The same single cup contains 150 calories, enough to keep you healthy as you lose weight. These days there is low fat kefir which contains only about 100 calories and just 2 grams of fats out of 1.5 grams are saturated.

Important to note:

Kefir health benefits can vary depending on the method of preparing the drink. Some of the drinks you find on the local stores and supermarket shelves may not offer all these benefits. Ensure you get your drink from trusted sources, or prepare yours at home.