Kefir milk what is it

Some research shows that kefir has the potential to be beneficial against gastroenteritis , vaginal infections, and yeast infections.

More research is needed in this area. A review reported that kefir lessened the severity of symptoms in mice infected with a parasite. Another review demonstrated beneficial effects of kefir on mice for wound healing and reduced tumor growth. Another study reported that kefir consumption reduced body weight and total cholesterol in obese mice.

However, more research on people is required. A person can make kefir at home in a clean environment. Combine 1 teaspoon of kefir grains for every cup of milk into a glass jar. Cover the jar with the paper coffee filter and secure with a rubber band. Once the milk has thickened and has a tangy taste, strain the kefir into a storage container. Cover tightly and store for up to 1 week.

It can be drunk as a beverage, used as the blending liquid in a smoothie, or poured over cereal or oats. Kefir can also be used in baked goods, soups, dips, or salad dressings, though heat may significantly decrease probiotic concentration. Kefir is safe to consume, but a person must consider certain factors before adding it to a regular diet. While people who are lactose intolerant may be able to drink kefir without symptoms, others with a milk allergy should not consume kefir made from dairy milk, as it can cause an allergic reaction.

Since kefir is made from milk, it contains some sugar. Some pre-packaged, flavored kefirs have high amounts of added sugar. People with diabetes should be especially careful to read the label and stick to plain varieties without added sugar. When made traditionally, kefir may contain trace amounts of alcohol. Kwon, C. Identification of effective microorganisms from kefir fermented milk. Leite, A. Microbiological, technological and therapeutic properties of kefir: a natural probiotic beverage.

Liu, J. Antitumor activity of milk, kefir and soya milk kefir in tumor bearing mice. Cancer 44, — Londero, A. Kefir grains as a starter for whey fermentation at different temperatures: chemical and microbiological characterisation.

Lopitz, F. Maeda, H. Structural characterization and biological activities of an exopolysaccharide kefiran produced by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens WT-2B T. Brazilian kefir: structure, microbial communities and chemical composition. McCue, P. Phenolic antioxidant mobilization during yogurt production from soymilk using Kefir cultures.

Process Biochem. Medrano, M. Kefiran antagonizes cytopathic effects of Bacillus cereus extracellular factors. Miguel, M. Diversity of bacteria present in milk kefir grains using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Mobili, P. Heterogeneity of S-layer proteins from aggregating and non-aggregating Lactobacillus kefir strains.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 95, — Nalbantoglu, U. Metagenomic analysis of the microbial community in kefir grains. Oliveira, A. Piermaria, J. Food Hydrocoll. Microbiota of kefir grains. Mljekarstvo 63, 3— Powell, J. Punaro, G. Kefir administration reduced progression of renal injury in STZ-diabetic rats by lowering oxidative stress. Nitric Oxide 37, 53— Raja, A. Effect of Lactobacillus laceis cremoris isolated from Kefir against food spoilage bacteria.

Food Technol. Rimada, P. Effects of different fermentation parameters on quality characteristics of kefir. Rizk, S. The Antiproliferative effect of kefir cell-free fraction on HuT malignant T lymphocytes. Lymphoma Myeloma 9, — Rodrigues, K. Antimicrobial and healing activity of kefir and kefiran extract. Agents 25, — Anti-inflammatory properties of kefir and its polysaccharide extract.

Inflammopharmacology 13, — Ruas-Madiedo, P. An overview of the functionality of exopolysaccharides produced by lacti acid bacteria. Saija, N. Development of a dairy-based exopolysaccharide bioingredient. Saloff-Coste, C. Nutritional and health benefits of yoghurt and fermented milks. Dannone World Newsl. Serafini, F. Kefir fermented milk and kefiran promote growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL and modulate its gene expression. Simova, E. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in kefir grains and kefir made from them.

Soccol, C. Current developments in probiotics. St-Onge, M. Kefir consumption does not alter plasma lipid levels or cholesterol fractional synthesis rates relative to milk in hyperlipidemic men: a randomized controlled trial.

BMC Complement. Suresh Kumar, A. Bacterial exopolysaccharides — a perception. Basic Microbiol. Van Hijum, S. Structural-function relationships of glucansucrases and fructan enzymes from lactic acid bacteria. PubMed Abstract Google Scholar. Vinderola, G. Effects of the oral administration of the products derived from milk fermentation by kefir microflora on immune stimulation. Assimilation of cholesterol in milk by kefir cultures. Wang, S. Investigation of microorganisms involved in biosynthesis of the kefir grain.

Wang, Y. Physicochemical properties of exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens ZW3 isolated from Tibet kefir. Physical characterization of exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus plantarum KF5 isolated from Tibet Kefir. Some microorganisms can have beneficial effects on health when ingested 3.

Known as probiotics, these microorganisms may influence health in numerous ways, aiding digestion , weight management and mental health 4 , 5 , 6. Yogurt is the best known probiotic food in the Western diet, but kefir is actually a much more potent source. Kefir grains contain up to 61 strains of bacteria and yeasts, making them a very rich and diverse probiotic source, though diversity may vary 7.

Summary Kefir may contain up to 61 different microorganisms, making it a much more potent source of probiotics than many other fermented dairy products. Studies demonstrate that this probiotic can inhibit the growth of various harmful bacteria, including Salmonella , Helicobacter pylori and E.

Kefiran, a type of carbohydrate present in kefir, also has antibacterial properties Summary Kefir contains the probiotic Lactobacillus kefiri and the carbohydrate kefiran, both of which protect against harmful bacteria. Osteoporosis is characterized by deterioration of bone tissue and is a major problem in Western countries. Ensuring an adequate calcium intake is one of the most effective ways to improve bone health and slow the progression of osteoporosis Full-fat kefir is not only a great source of calcium but also vitamin K2 — which plays a central role in calcium metabolism.

Recent animal studies link kefir to increased calcium absorption in bone cells. This leads to improved bone density, which should help prevent fractures Summary Kefir made from dairy is an excellent source of calcium, and full-fat dairy kefir also contains vitamin K2.

These nutrients have major benefits for bone health. The probiotics in fermented dairy products are believed to reduce tumor growth by stimulating your immune system. Therefore, it is possible that kefir may fight cancer This protective role has been demonstrated in several test-tube studies 16 , Summary Some test-tube and animal studies indicate that kefir can inhibit cancer cell growth.

However, there are no current studies in people. We suggest a distance of at least 4 feet between cultures. When being stored in the refrigerator with tight-fitting lids, there is no need to keep distance between them. Many customers have had success using a high quality powdered milk, such as Capramilk , for culturing milk kefir. Other powdered milk brands are highly processed and may not perform well.

We have many customers who have reported excellent results using our milk kefir grains to make goat milk kefir. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when making goat milk kefir. We do not guarantee success with this milk. Avoid ultra-pasteurized milk for making milk kefir. Yes, milk kefir grains can be used to culture coconut milk kefir, though this method will not be completely dairy-free. To make coconut milk kefir using milk kefir grains, or for a dairy-free option, refer to our recipe How to Make Coconut Milk Kefir.

Almond milk is a problem. We have not found any of the kefir cultures to work well with almond milk. While many have tried using milk kefir grains or other methods of culturing almond milk, the results are generally undesirable and inconsistent. Non-homogenized milk makes wonderful kefir. The cream will rise to the top of the kefir just as it does with the milk Once cultured, the top layer of the kefir will be more yellow in color and very thick, while the skim milk portion at the bottom will be cultured but thinner than homogenized whole milk kefir.

Once the grains have been activated in pasteurized milk, they can be transitioned to culturing raw milk. Click here for instructions on how to transition your kefir grains from pasteurized milk to raw milk. Detailed instructions can be found in our article, How to Flavor Milk Kefir. Milk kefir can be used in a variety of ways. Learn more in our article, Five Ways to Use Kefir.

Check out all of our Kefir products today! Add to Cart. What does kefir taste like? How much alcohol does milk kefir contain? Does milk kefir have the same benefits as water kefir? Water Kefir Q. What are milk kefir grains? What ingredients go into creating milk kefir grains? Cultures for Health milk kefir grains are grown using only organic milk.

What is the difference between kefir grains and powdered kefir starter culture? There are three primary differences between milk kefir grains and powdered kefir starter: Milk kefir grains have a larger number of probiotics than the powdered starter culture. With proper care, kefir grains can be used indefinitely to make kefir.

Powdered starter culture can be reused for a number of batches, but will eventually stop culturing. Powdered kefir starter culture has a smaller initial investment cost than do kefir grains; however, you will need to continue to purchase new culture if you wish to make kefir beyond a few batches.

What strains of yeast and bacteria does milk kefir contain? Are milk kefir grains reusable? Is the powdered kefir starter culture reusable?