Milk Kefir: Benefits, Side Effects, How to Make It?
Everything you need to know about milk kefir
THE milk kefir is a drink with multiple health benefits. There are two types of kefir. Milk kefir and water kefir also called fruit kefir which is also a drink rich in probiotics and microorganisms.
Discover its virtues and how to make your own by reading on.
What is milk kefir?
It is a fermented drink that tastes a lot like drinkable yogurt. It has a tangy, creamy flavor, and it’s loaded with probiotics that are good for you.
It is most commonly made with whole milk which can be cow's milk, goat's milk, or sheep's milk. It can be made with non-dairy alternatives such as coconut milk, rice milk, or almond milk.
Since it is a fermented drink, most people who are lactose intolerant can drink kefir.
If you want to discover this drink we invite you to discover the site kefirs.fr which has a great selection of products.
What is in milk kefir?
Milk kefir contains less sugar than yogurt because the lactose in milk is largely converted to lactic acid. It contains three times more probiotics than yogurt and a greater diversity of good bacteria.
Health Benefits of Milk Kefir
These benefits are largely linked to the significant presence of probiotics.
Kefir is also nutrient dense, with lots of protein, B vitamins, potassium and calcium.
Drinking milk kefir therefore promotes our intestinal flora and strengthens our immune system because it contains living microorganisms.
How to make milk kefir
This recipe uses teaches you how to germinate the bacteria needed to create your kefir.
Be careful if you are not comfortable with preparing fermented milk products, we advise you to buy your kefir rather than making it. It is a fermentation process that must be well mastered to avoid contaminating your kefir with bad bacteria.
Here is the list of utensils needed for its preparation. Pay attention to their composition because it is important.
1-. The container:
- Glass is by far the best option for culturing kefir.
You should avoid: metal and plastic
2-. Covering during fermentation: You have many options for covering your culture container. When choosing a cover, keep in mind that:
- The lid must allow the culture to breathe.
- Effective coverings include dishcloths or tightly woven fabric, paper towels, paper coffee filters, etc.
- You will also need to secure the lid to keep out pests like ants or flies. You can do this with a tight rubber band or even with the rings from canning jars.
3-.Using a Plastic Strainer: Once the kefir culture is complete, there are several ways to remove the kefir grains to place them in fresh milk. We recommend using a fine mesh plastic strainer as the best option, especially when working with new grains. Again, when straining grains, avoid metal.
The recipe for milk kefir
Ingredients for its manufacture:
- 1-2 teaspoons of active dairy kefir grains.
- A liter of cow's, goat's or coconut milk
- Transfer the active kefir grains in up to 4 cups of fresh milk.
- Cover with a coffee filter or fine mesh tea towel held in place with a rubber band or pot ring.
- Place in a warm place, between 20° and 25°, for growing.
- Culture until the milk is slightly thickened and the aroma is pleasant. This usually takes 24 hours, but may take less time in warmer temperatures, so keep an eye on your grains.
- Once the milk changes texture and the culture is complete, separate the kefir grains from the finished kefir.
- Place the kefir grains in a new batch of milk.
- Store the finished kefir in the refrigerator.
What is the recommended daily dose?
Kefir is a fermented drink , full of probiotics and other healthy ingredients. It contains a considerable amount of bacteria and yeasts that have an effect on the intestinal flora. This is why you should be careful when incorporating kefir into your diet.
Start your dose of kefir gradually by drinking no more than 100 ml of kefir per day. You will probably feel the effects of kefir quickly. It depends on your sensitivity and diet.
Is it possible to drink too much?
You may need to limit your kefir consumption if you experience more serious side effects. This happens when you have health conditions that recommend you consume less protein, fermented drinks, probiotics, acidic foods, etc.
You should always seek advice from your doctor when you feel discomfort . You should find your own limits where you feel comfortable and stick to them. Whether it is less or more than 1 cup is up to you.
Side effects of kefir
This fermented drink has many health benefits, but it also has side effects.
These include constipation and abdominal cramps.
These side effects are more common when you first start taking kefir.
Kefir is considered safe for children ages 1 to 5, but check with your pediatrician first if you have any concerns. Children under 1 year old should not consume cow's milk products, but breast milk, which is rich in natural probiotics.
You should consult your doctor before drinking it if you have a condition that weakens your immune system. People with autoimmune diseases should also consult their doctor before using kefir. While the bacteria in kefir is beneficial for people with strong immune systems, it can increase infections in people with unbalanced immune systems.
Conclusion
This drink is safe for most people and a single serving is packed with vitamins and probiotics. It is best consumed in moderation and can help create and maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in multiple body systems. But remember, these are living organisms that will need to be cared for. You can buy it at health food stores if you are not used to making this type of preparation. This is certainly safer.
Discover our articles on fruit kefir and kombucha right here:
kombucha and fruit kefir
kefir and kefir grain
The health benefits of kefir are numerous. Kefir has been consumed for thousands of years, dating back to the nomadic tribes of the Caucasus Mountains in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a fermented milk drink made by adding kefir grains to milk and allowing the mixture to ferment. The name “kefir” comes from a Turkish word meaning “to feel good after eating.” The unique properties of this drink have been attributed to its rich microbial profile as well as the various metabolites produced during fermentation. These include short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and antioxidants.
Kefir is a fermented dairy product with a creamy texture, tangy taste, and countless health benefits.
Kefir is a fermented dairy product with a creamy texture and tangy taste. It contains beneficial probiotic bacteria that can help improve your overall health.
Kefir has been around for centuries and people have used it as a treatment for various ailments, but you don't have to go back that far to discover how kefir can improve your life!
Kefir originated in Eastern Europe, where it was originally made by adding kefir grains to whole sheep or goat milk stored in goatskin bags and allowing the mixture to ferment. The combination of the animal skin bag and the fermenting milk created an ideal environment for fermentation.
Kefir originated in Eastern Europe, where it was originally made by adding kefir grains to whole sheep or goat milk stored in goatskin bags and allowing the mixture to ferment. The combination of the animal skin bag and the fermenting milk created an ideal environment for fermentation.
Kefir grains originally consisted of a complex symbiotic microbial community containing beneficial yeasts and lactic acid bacteria.
The kefir grains used to make the original drink were composed of a complex microbial symbiotic community that contained both beneficial yeasts and lactic acid bacteria. The kefir grains resembled small cauliflower florets, whitish in appearance.
Kefir grains are a symbiotic community of yeast and bacteria. They are a combination of beneficial yeast and lactic acid bacteria, which gives kefir its unique taste and texture.
Kefir grains look like cauliflower florets and have a whitish appearance.
Unlike yogurt bacteria, which are only lactose-fermenting lactic acid bacteria, kefir grains contain a wide range of microbes, including yeast and bacterial species that can ferment lactose as well as other sugars. This diverse group of microbes can perform various metabolic conversions, leading to the production of health-promoting secondary metabolites such as vitamins (e.g., vitamin B12), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and others.
Unlike yogurt bacteria, which are solely lactic acid bacteria that ferment lactose, kefir grains contain a wide range of microbes, including species of yeast and bacteria that can ferment lactose as well as other sugars. This diverse group of microbes can perform various metabolic conversions, leading to the production of health-promoting secondary metabolites such as vitamins (e.g., vitamin B12), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and others.
We hope you found this article informative and helpful in your quest to learn more about kefir. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below. We also encourage you to share with us your own experiences with this wonderful product, as well as your tips for making it at home!
Discover our featured eco-friendly products:
Our rechargeable toothbrushes , our children's toothbrush , our razor and our shaving brush .