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Kefir is a fermented milk drink. The word kefir is said to have originated from the Turkish word "Keif" which means "good feeling". Kefir dates back many centuries to the shepherds of the Caucasus Mountains who carried milk stored in leather pouches where it would ferment into fizzy sour yoghurt.
Metchnikoff, a Nobel-prize winning biologist at the Pasteur Institute, first suggested that lactobacilli might counteract the putrefactive effects of gastrointestinal metabolism in 1908. He attributed the long and healthy life of the people of the Caucasus Mountains to their consumption of soured milk. In modern times there's a great deal of interest and research into probiotics and the health giving properties of fermented milks like kefir.
The Kefir Culture
Kefir is a living culture, a complex symbiosis of more than 30 microflora that form grains or cauliflower-like structures (sometimes called plants) in the milk. As the culture ferments the milk these structures grow, creating new grains in the process. Real kefir from live culture is an endlessly self-propagating process.
Microorganisms present in the grains include lactic acid bacteria, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lb delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lb helveticus, Lb casei subsp. pseudoplantarum and Lb brevis, a variety of yeasts, such as Kluyveromyces, Torulopsis, and Saccharomyces, acetic acid bacteria among others. They've been shown to inhibit both salmonella and E. Coli in laboratory tests.
Kefir and Health
Kefir has many reputed health benefits. It has antibiotic and antifungal properties. It's been used in the treatment of a variety of metabolic disorders, atherosclerosis, and allergies, tuberculosis, cancer, poor digestion, candidiasis, osteoporosis, hypertension, HIV and heart disease. You might find it odd that that a drink containing yeasts would be good for treating candidiasis but it has been helpful to many people, both by restoring a better balance to the gut flora and because some elements of the microflora will kill off Candida Albicans. Not all yeasts are harmful.
In addition to beneficial bacteria and yeast, kefir contains many vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, B2 and B12, vitamin K, vitamin A and vitamin D. Tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids abundant in kefir, is well known for its relaxing effect on the nervous system. Because kefir also has an abundance of calcium and magnesium, also important minerals for a healthy nervous system, kefir in the diet can have a particularly calming effect on the nerves.
The abundance of enzymes brings more health benefits, especially to lactose intolerant people, many of whom can tolerate kefir without difficulty, as long as the kefir is raw and not cooked (cooking destroys the enzymes).
Kefir For Protein
Low-fat dairy products are good sources of protein, especially if you limit your intake of meat. Yogurt and milk are not your only options, however. Low-fat kefir, a fermented milk product, provides protein along with other nutritional benefits, making it a healthy addition to your diet.
About Kefir
Kefir results when milk is combined with bacteria and allowed to ferment. Yogurt is created using the same process, but more and different types of bacteria and yeast are used to create kefir. The bacteria in kefir, known as probiotics, may improve digestion and prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut. Kefir has a texture like pourable yogurt, a tangy taste and a fizzy "mouthfeel." Kefir comes in a plain, unsweetened version or in a number of flavors including fruit, coffee and chocolate. Kefir, as a dairy product, is also a source of calcium and vitamin D.
Protein
One cup of kefir contains 11 to 14 grams of complete protein. A complete protein provides all the essential amino acids your body cannot create on its own. Other complete proteins include eggs, beef, chicken and fish. Because kefir comes from milk, the protein is composed of a combination of whey and casein. Consuming dairy sources of protein, such as kefir, may help you accelerate weight loss.
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