KEFIR – A FERMENTED “SUPERFOOD”

I would personally class kefir as a superfood, and here’s why: the various types of beneficial microbiota contained in kefir make it one of the most potent probiotic foods available.

It contains many different strains of not just beneficial bacteria, but beneficial yeasts as well. Kefir contains several major strains of bacteria not commonly found in yogurt. The naturally occurring bacteria and yeast combine symbiotically to give superior health benefits.

We don’t fully understand the gut microbiome, but more and more research is showing how vital the bacteria that live in our digestive system are to our health. For fascinating reading on the gut micro biome, check out the Human Food Project.

Kefir is an excellent source of essential amino acids. The complete proteins in kefir are partially digested and therefore more easily utilised by the body. It is a good source of the amino acid tryptophan.

Melatonin and serotonin, both synthesized by the body from the amino acid tryptophan, together regulate peristalsis of the digestive tract and have a relaxing effect on the nervous system.

Kefir is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly those important for bone health such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Since it is a product of bacterial fermentation, it is also very likely a good source of the elusive vitamin K2, which is also crucial for bone health, particularly if the milk comes from grass-fed cows. It is also a good source of B vitamins, particularly B12.

Even people with lactose-intolerance can usually tolerate kefir since the beneficial bacteria and yeasts consume most of the lactose originally present in the milk.
The curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, making it easier to digest so it is a particularly excellent and nutritious food for babies, the elderly and some people with digestive disorders.

Research has demonstrated that kefir has anti-microbial properties (against bacteria such as E-coli and Salmonella) as well as anti-inflammatory properties.

Some studies have also shown an anti-tumour effect. In one study, kefir consumption inhibited tumour growth and induced the apoptotic form of tumor cell lysis, suggesting that kefir may play a role in cancer prevention.

This paper reviews the literature on kefir: Microbiological, technological and therapeutic properties of kefir: a natural probiotic beverage. 

Read Chris Kresser’s article on kefir here. 

Where can you buy kefir in the UK?

I get raw (unpasteurised) kefir from Plawhatch Farm on the edge of the Ashdown Forest, near Sharpthorne. The farm is a community-run, organic, biodynamic farm and the cows are grass-fed. For anyone local – you can visit their website to find out more.

Chuckling Goat sell raw goat’s milk kefir and coconut water kefir, available to buy online.

Rhythm Health produce raw coconut milk kefir, available to buy in Wholefoods and certain branches of Holland and Barratt: http://www.rhythmhealth.co.uk

How to Use Kefir

You can drink kefir as it is, if you like the taste. I add it to smoothies, where it adds a creamy taste and texture. Check out the recipe for my Ultimate Gut Health Smoothie here.

Nutrition in Kefir

It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and an easily digested and bioavailable source of protein. It is also a fantastic source of beneficial bacteria and yeasts making it a great probiotic.

Probiotics in Kefir

Considering the price of most decent probiotics on the market, and comparing the list of strains found in common probiotics compared to the long list of microbes commonly found in kefir, you can see that kefir is cheap in comparison and probably superior too. So if you can’t afford probiotic supplements then you should definitely consider adding kefir to your daily diet.

BACTERIAL STRAINS COMMON TO MILK KEFIR GRAINS

1. Lactobacillus acidophilus
2. Lactobacillus brevis
3. Lactobacillus casei
4. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus
5. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii
6. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis
7. Lactobacillus helveticus
8. Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens subsp. kefiranofaciens
9. Lactobacillus kefiri
10. Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei
11. Lactobacillus plantarum
12. Lactobacillus rhamnosus
13. Lactobacillus sake
14. Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris
15. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis
16. Lactococcus lactis
17. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris
18. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum
19. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides
20. Pseudomonas
21. Pseudomonas fluorescens
22. Pseudomonas putida
23. Streptococcus thermophilus

YEAST STRAINS COMMON TO MILK KEFIR GRAINS

1. Candida humilis
2. Kazachstania unispora
3. Kazachstania exigua
4. Kluyveromyces siamensis
5. Kluyveromyces lactis
6. Kluyveromyces marxianus
7. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
8. Saccharomyces martiniae
9. Saccharomyces unisporus

References

Microbiological study of lactic acid bacteria in kefir grains by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods
Analysis of the microflora in Tibetan kefir grains using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION

Typical of milk, several dietary minerals are found in kefir, such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, molybdenum, manganese, and zinc. Also similar to milk,[13] kefir contains vitamins in variable amounts, including vitamin A, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E.[15] Essential amino acids found in kefir include methionine, cysteine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, lysine, and valine,[15] as for any milk product.[13]

PROBIOTICS

Probiotic bacteria found in kefir products include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, Lactococcus lactis, and Leuconostoc species.[3][12][16] The significance of probiotic content to nutrition or health remains unproven.[17][18]

Lactobacilli in kefir may exist in concentrations varying from approximately 1 million to 1 billion colony-forming units per milliliter and are the bacteria responsible for the synthesis of the polysaccharide kefiran.[4]

In addition to bacteria, kefir often contains strains of yeast that can metabolize lactose, such as Kluyveromyces marxianus, Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces fragilis, as well as strains of yeast that do not metabolize lactose, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulaspora delbrueckii, and Kazachstania unispora.[3] The nutritional significance of these strains is unknown.

About Me

Hello, I’m Chloe. I’m a nutrition and health coach and I’m on a mission to inspire & support women so they can go from feeling fatigued to feeling fabulous!

I help women who are FED up of being overweight, addicted to sugar and feeling tired ALL THE TIME to lose weight and optimise their health by fixing hormonal, digestive, autoimmune and energy issues.

My step-by-step programme, Revitalise, will help you lose weight, get back your energy, restore vitality and create lifelong health using the power of beautiful & delicious REAL FOOD.

I’m here to make it easy for you to eat healthy, delicious food without counting calories or feeling deprived. You’ll reset your relationship with food, shift your mindset and build new habits for a complete health transformation!

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