Kefir

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Re: Kefir

Ruthie (Largo, FL) on 05/27/2022
5 out of 5 stars

My husband has made homemade milk kefir for about 4 years now and we are both benefiting from it greatly. I was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus after many problems and an endoscopy. I started the kefir and went back 2 years later for a follow up endoscopy and they did biopsy's. They found no evidence of the Barrett's that time. I'm due again in the fall for a follow up and I'm hopeful they will not find Barrett's again.

My husband has always had many polyps when he has his colonoscopy. He had 13 one time and several were cancerous. He started the kefir, and 3 years later he only had 4 polyps. His doctor told him to keep drinking the kefir.

I get through the taste by making mine into a fruit smoothie. I put frozen red cherries, blueberries and every now and then add a few slices of frozen banana. Blend it in my nutribullet and enjoy!

*Note My husband has used regular whole milk to make his kefir but we are about to try the organic 2% milk. Hopefully with it being ultra pasteurized it will still process. Also, I drink a 1/2 quart in the morning and he drinks a 1/2 quart in the morning and 1/2 quart at night. Try it!

REPLY   12      

Kefir Feedback

RSW (OH) on 05/19/2021
5 out of 5 stars

I also consumed the homemade milk kefir for a few years, as advised by a poster named P. Raghavan. I ordered the grains on the internet from a reputable seller. While I wanted the probiotics, I did it as an experiment, also, to see if it reduced sugar for a relative with Type 11 diabetes. My usual blood sugar is about 99, but by using the keifer for several years, eventually brought it down to 82. My daughter informed me that it may be too low, so I stopped taking it. My blood sugar is about 99 again. I, too, had a hard time with the taste, but found it better when mixed with blueberries.
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Kefir Side Effects

Tp (Knoxville, Tn) on 06/03/2018
0 out of 5 stars

I have been making and using kefir for about a month or so and like it drink 20oz or more a day, morning+night. I have recently been experiencing very loose stool and gas. I have high BP and type 2 diabetes. But I take metformen twice a day 1000m for it and stays around 100. For BP I take lisinopril, amlodipine, metaprolol, hydrochlolothiazide (! )

Could any of these with kefir be the source of the diarrhea?

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Home Made Kefir Causing an Increase in Appetite

Mitchell B. (Nottingham, Uk) on 02/06/2017
0 out of 5 stars

Over the last couple of weeks I've been making kefir from organic whole milk, and enjoyed the results. I've also made some delicious kefir cream cheese. But I've found since having it that my appetite has shot through the roof, and especially a desire for sweet food. I've always had a good diet but have a tendency to put on weight. However, recently lost two stone in weight at Weight Watchers, so obviously do not want to put this back on through an overactive kefir driven appetite. When I stopped having the kefir my appetite returned to normal. Has anyone else experienced this?
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Kefir and Increased Life Expectancy

P. Raghavan (Virudhunagar, Tn, India) on 08/15/2016

Kefir and Life Expectancy

During tenth century, some shepherds in Bulgaria accidentally discovered Kefir when they kept goat milk in their leather bags lined with goat's intestine. The probiotics in the goat's intestine multiplied in the stored goat milk. When they drank this fermented food, they felt healthier and energetic. They kept this information as secret. They supplied Kefir starter only to their friends and relatives on condition that they should not supply kefir starter to anyone else and also should not reveal its benefits to other people; otherwise, kefir will loose all its powers.

In the year 1905, Russian Government ordered its scientists to rediscover kefir. Russian scientists went to Bulgaria and rediscovered kefir. Then kefir production started in Russia. Russian doctors gave kefir to tuberculosis patients and people with intestine problems initially. According to the document available in the net " Home remedies that some people have said worked for them ", some people are still taking kefir to cure tuberculosis. Kefir contains about 30 probiotic strains whereas ordinary yogurt contains only 2 probiotic strains.

Russian microbiologist who won Noble Prize in the field of medicine (year 1908) " Ilya Mechnikov " did a study on kefir. He divided the population of Bulgaria into two groups:

1) Kefir consuming population

2) Non-kefir consuming population

He counted the number of people who were above the age 100 in each group. The number of people who were above the age of 100 per 10000 population in Kefir consuming population was very much higher than that of Non-kefir consuming population. His conclusion was kefir consumption increased life expectancy.

My own feeling is if a person takes one half of kefir in the morning on empty stomach for about 2 days in a week regularly, can expect his / her life expectancy to go up and will face less number of medical problems since a considerable number of diseases originate in the digestive system.

Best wishes P. Raghavan.

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Re: Kefir Side Effects

Amit (Delhi, India) on 10/19/2015
5 out of 5 stars

Hello All

Lowering of blood pressure is the first thing that happened to me after the very first consumption of home made milk kefir( 30 -40 ML). It has a sedative like effect, maybe thats what people are calling brain fog...( actually I experience a kind of sleepyness which goes away after 20-30 minutes). But the blood pressure remains lowered for a long time. This is very good for someone like me who has high blood pressure. I almost dont feel the need for my BP meds but I stay on them to be on the safer side.

Once the sleepyness goes away, the head clears up and feels sharper and more alert.

The skin look and feels better.

My Breathing is better.

(Initially after taking kefir, my sinuses started clearing , a lot of mucous came out. for a couple of days.)

Another good effect of the milk kefir which I observed upon myself was that my acid reflux was GONE! This happened inside 2 days. I have a feeling that taking too much of kefir brings back some acidity. So now I just take about 5-6 tea spoons at a time(1 mouth full).twice in a day and give a break of 1 -2 days after every 5-6 days.

I would recommend taking the milk kefir fresh and directly after straining the seeds/grains. It did not seem so potent when I had it after keeping it in the fridge.So if I want to have it after an hour, I cover it and let it sit in tumbler at room temp.

incidentally the kefir I make comes via a "milk kefir "culture I bought from someone who got it from Australia.

I would recommend Milk Kefir. I think its heart friendly too.Its definitely lowered my Blood pressure.

Google> Dom Kefir to go to Dom's site. A load of Info there on Kefir.

Warm regards ,

Amit Nayar

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Kefir for Fatigue, Acid Reflux, Hives and more

Deana (Knoxville, Tn) on 06/15/2015
5 out of 5 stars

Kefir! Kefir! HOMEMADE KEFIR! Can't say enough good about this hug-from-heaven-food! I was overrun with wild symptoms of adrenal fatigue and who knows what else (16 MD specialists could do nothing for me) and then I discovered homemade kefir.

I was so very ill few years ago that I had to quit my job teaching school while I prayed for answers to weird and debilitating symptoms from hives to heart palpitations to absolute fatigue. I am not exaggerating when I say that I put aside over $400 worth of supplements each month when I found kefir. Took about a cup or so a day for three weeks before I felt the changes. At first, felt rather unwell, but I know now that there was a "die-off" of so many bad guys living within and their waste and removal from my system led to this unwell sense for a week or two, then the sun broke through! Truly!

Kefir has so remarkably changed my world that I have actually started business teaching about this food and other cultured foods. Having a ball doing something so valuable, something most weary folks don't know exists. Let's spread the news!

God bless you all. Love Earth Clinic! I have learned so much from this amazing resource. So glad to share what I eventually found to be exactly what my frail body needed. Now, more energy than ever and absolutely med free!! When you understand how the microbes in kefir work in your digestive tract, you might be drinking it daily like this grateful gal. :)

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Growing Kefir in Yogurt

Lardiver (Abbotsford, Bc) on 11/06/2014

I have an idea that I want to try and wonder if anyone else has tried this. My plan is to make my milk kefir and while it is still room temperature make yogurt and add the kefir to the mix before putting it into the yogurt maker. This if it works will give the yogurt all the bacteria of kefir, 20 some strains of bacteria instead of just the 3 strains of bacteria of yogurt. For those who don't know about bacteria, the probiotic pills you buy have 15 - 50 billion cultures of bacteria, yogurt has 100 times more and kefir has 400 times more. A lot of people don't like kefir so if growing it in yogurt makes it taste better then this will make it easyer for them to get the benefits.
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How to Make Ginger Ale Kefir

Larry (Abbotsford, BC) on 09/15/2014

I found a recipe to make ginger ale kefir with milk grains used in water, mmmmgood.

Kefir grains, 2 quarts water, 2 large tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon tumeric, 1/4 lemon, 1/4 lime, 5 thin slices of ginger.

Let sit in dark spot 1 to 3 days.

Every one likes it even though they don't like the milk kefir.

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Kefir Helping But Causing Side Effects

Zahira (Hawkes Bay, New Zealand) on 12/28/2013
3 out of 5 stars

Better But With Side Effects

I am using Kefir made from young coconut water. I tried it 2 or 3 months ago and stopped because of side effects. I have started it again and I am having the same side effects - dermititis or some fungal disease on my feet and herpes. Last time my sleep was also disturbed. I take 20 to 30mls a day. Has anyone else had this result and will it pass? There have been good side effects as well - the puffiness around my eyes went, my bowel worked better and I had more energy (despite having herpes regularly which really drain me). Any feed back would be appreciated.
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Kefir Tips

Ozmel (Melbourne, Australia) on 11/08/2013
5 out of 5 stars

Hello everyone, the kefir consumers,

I have been consuming kefir for the last 6 months. It really has done wonders for me for my bowel.

Please do not use metal utensils when dealing with kefir. It spoils in time. Instead of the benefits you will see ill effects. Metal containers, spoons, strainers and any other metal utensil will destroy your kefir. Wooden, glass and plastic utensils are the ones to use. You will see your kefir grow healthy and you will also take pleasure by sharing it with your friends.

Happy kefir making to all.

Ozmel.

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Kefir Tips

Frank (Perth/mindarie, W/australia) on 06/14/2013
5 out of 5 stars

Kefir is my GOD. I use it already on and off for over 25 yrs. I use it for many internal/external problems. Kefir lives/grows "only on full cream milk". I use it as a milk tester. If it doesn't ferment the milk, I know the product might be marketed as milk, but according to my very reliable expert "Kefir", the fluid I bought as milk is only some overpriced coloured water. I did experiment with just about any milk on the market (soy included). It will probably ferment some of the not so good milk as well, but it wouldn't grow on it. The growth factor of my Kefir is an indicator for the quality of milk. If the culture/Kefir grows like crazy, I know I bought a top quality milk. If after the fermentation I am being left with some murky fluid, I wouldn't touch it at all. Treat Kefir as you would treat any food product! It can go off. If it goes off it still doesn't mean it is dead! Strain it and add fresh milk. Repeat the process a number of times. If the Kefir responds and grows, it will revive itself and can be used again with no problem at all. As long as one follows the simple rules of the Kefir cultivation, I never ever met anyone who ever developed or had any health problems or complications caused by Kefir, maybe with stupidity. (There are always some odd ones, mainly because their body just doesn't respond to anything any longer. THE BODY'S NATURAL RESPONS/COMMUNICATION IS ALREADY IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED BY DRUGS/MEDICATIONS, therefore gives misleading info.)

Kefir should be kept in a dark place, maybe in a glass jar, with the lid lose. Fermentation needs oxygen. Kefir lives preferably on full cream milk. Any type of milk can be used, but the growth and the quality of the culture/Kefir is always an indicator! Time for the fermentation depends on the amount of Kefir, the amount of milk, and the temperature. Fridge isn't a good place. Cold slows down the growth/fermentation. May even kill the culture/Kefir, just like heat can. The best quality you've achieved when the milk is fermented and lightly thickened all the way through. If it separates, you are being left with a level of conglomerate/waterish liquid, and thickened Kefir, smells acid and not pleasant (light lemonish, sourcream smell), you left it too long. Can be used maybe for another condition, but most of the time it is an indication it is off. You left it too long. I definitely wouldn't drink it, or wouldn't offer it to my friends. In my experience the best time is around 18-24 hrs. Again the amount of milk, the amount of Kefir and the temperature, plays an important role. Make sure the Kefir you use is Kefir and not something else. People in Health Food stores should have the knowledge to give you the proper information. Although there is a problem! It grows endlessly, therefore "THANKS GOD" nobody can make any real profit out of it. The legend says it was given to the Muslims by their GOD. A more reliable version says! It originates from the Caucasus in Russia, where the mountain people used to carry their goats milk down to the villages and on the way back the grains they bought down there in exchange for their milk. The two things started to germinate creating the culture called Kefir. Good luck!

REPLY   2      

Kefir Side Effects

Joy (Falls Church, Va) on 05/06/2013
0 out of 5 stars

Hi, I have been drinking milk kefir every morning for more than a week and I noticed that it makes me acidic. I have lots of saliva and betwen 3-5 am, I have to wake up because of acid reflux. I am vegan and do not do dairy, except kefir since I want to try it out. Has anyone experienced this? This morning I change the milk to soy instead of regular dairy.
REPLY   2      

M.chris (Dallas, Texas) on 09/29/2012
0 out of 5 stars

I am not lactose intolerant, but kefir give diarrhea, but I can eat butter, youghurt, cheese, milk. I love kefir.
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Feedback on Kefir

Lynn (Racine, Wi) on 08/04/2011
5 out of 5 stars

I am an avid fan of kefir and have been drinking it for almost a year now. I grow so many grains that I have been able to start over 20 people on it. They are starting to call me the kefir lady. We have gotten great results on it in our family. My 11 year old twin daughter has Type 1 Diabetes and getting great results with blood sugars. It is as though her body is trying to work, We also have celiac disease in our family and it soothes the gut and helped heal the gut. We havent gotten sick on this except for mild detoxifying My twenty year old daughter had mrsa and had great results on a natural supplement with no scarring or reaccuring bouts it was scabbed over in a week to the doctors amazement. She did not take kefir but I wanted that info for the mrsa patients.

All I can say is that kefir is part of our daily healthy living along with supplements and all natural antibiotics. Lynn

REPLY   3      

Homemade Kefir Side Effects

Deirdre (Atlanta, Georgia) on 10/21/2010
0 out of 5 stars

I started making homemade kefir early September after hearing such great results from our Thousand Oaks, California Lisa. I purchased the grains online and used organic milk to make the kefir. I agree with Lisa that it makes your skin look great and your nails grow like crazy! Unfortunately, however, I am one of the few people who react badly to the enormous amounts of what we figured must be tryptophan in the kefir. It makes me unbelievably sleepy and happy-goofy with brain fog. I put up with the side effects for 2 weeks before giving up. I even tried putting the grains in goat milk to see what would happen. Same reaction, though not quite so potent. I had a similar reaction to hyaluronic acid containing inositol that Alfred from Bangkok, Thailand had recommended! Incidentally, the kefir does not have the same effect on my husband, who feels nothing, good or bad, after drinking kefir for the last few weeks. The uniqueness of each person's brain chemistry truly amazes me. I would love my siblings to try the homemade kefir to see if they react the same way as I do. I suspect they would!

On the subject of brain chemistry -- I accidentally discovered that my brain craves B vitamins when I bought a gluten and dairy free chocolate bar with (surprise, surprise) added B vitamins. 2 hours after eating a bar, I feel a calm and somewhat euphoric state set in that lasts for hours. I am also discovering some concoctions of fresh vegetable juice having the same effect; namely parsley greens, celery, apple, lemon and ginger.

Good luck, everyone! Thanks for all your wonderful sharing.

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Kefir for Candida

Carolyn (Hobbs, Nm) on 08/24/2010
5 out of 5 stars

If anyone is battling candida or any digestive problems for that matter, research KEFIR. I drink it daily and it has helped me tremendeously. It is good for lots of ailments and there is a ton of information on the internet. Just google Kefir Benefits. Oh yes, you can buy kefir grains to make your own kefir on ebay. Get the Caucasus grains. I like them better. Carolyn
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Kefir Helping MRSA

Carolyn (Hollywood, Florida) on 12/04/2008
5 out of 5 stars

At the end of 2006, I contracted MRSA. I still have scars from that early time before I learned about kefir. I only bought one batch of kefir grains in early 2007, and I am still fermenting using grains created from that first batch. I never took any antibiotics. After I started sipping homemade kefir all day and night, I have never had any more outbreaks, except one time in 2008, I stupidly cut back on the amount of kefir I was drinking and got paid back with an outbreak on my chest. I am sipping my kefir as I write this. My primary said my MRSA looks "dormant". Yes, it is "sleeping" but if I stopped kefir, it would rage up again.

I sprinkle some turmeric in a couple times a day. Mike will teach you all about how to make your own fresh kefir at home. Or write to me. BTW, I do not eat any kind of meat or fish, because they contain HEME iron which causes MRSA bacteria to rage up. I am 66, I garden, shop, do my web work, and live normally just as I did before I contracted this hideous MRSA. If I can do this, so can you! Anyone can email me anytime. I care about people with MRSA.

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Emilia (Vancouver, Canada) on 02/13/2007
5 out of 5 stars

I am using kefir (fermented drink) for a long time. I am making it by myself. From the country where I am coming (Macedonia) it is very a popular drink and considered very healthy. But also you can find it in the healthy stores. It helps with constipation, regenerates intestinal flora. It is very good for the skin. When you apply on the face before going to bed, after few days you will notice the results. Clean and more firm skin. Looking very youthful.
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Dawn (Holland, NY) on 03/23/2007
5 out of 5 stars

Kefir is great for lots of things. I've been using it to help my daughter's LGS. It helps you lose weight, detoxes your liver, restore intestinal flora, allergies, and so much more. It coats your intestines and helps your body break down foods. I drink 2 C a day. If you are just trying it out you might want to start with 2 oz a day and slowly increase it. I wouldn't recommend the store bought kind in the US. It only has 4 different bacteria in it. If you make your own Kefir it was over 30 things that are great for you. Plus if you are lactose intolerant, you can handle Kefir.
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