Kefir

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Kefir Feedback

GertJr (Madison) on 05/19/2021
5 out of 5 stars

I've been fermenting my own grains for dairy kefir for years now and still cannot stand the taste. I've been choking it down all this time for the health benefits, but can't really tell you that I've seen any. I love full-fat plain unsweetened greek yogurt and, occasionally, make it myself at home. Kefir has something like 57 different strains of probiotics; yogurt only has, at most, 5.

So, my question is, what if I use fermented kefir milk instead of unfermented milk for the yogurt? Would the abundance of probiotics in the kefir proliferate in the yogurt? If they stay active but don't reproduce, I could keep on fermenting with the grains and use fresh kefir every time for the yogurt. Any thoughts on this? I have, recently, taken to mixing the kefir into the yogurt and consuming that, but it's not thick as I like it. Or am I totally wasting my time with the kefir since I can't see any health difference? I have ibs-d and insomnia and the kefir is said to help with that as well as with so many other health issues. And, I must admit, when others get sick or have allergies to pollen, I don't so maybe there's a benefit that I'm not seeing.

Also, to ORH, hang in there. If you know Jehovah God, then you know Who wins this battle. Embrace His will and all will be well.

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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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Can I Store Kefir in Plastic?

Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 08/20/2015

Those people that are making their own kefir - I hope you can answer me on this. I make my own kefir in glass but I will soon be travelling and I want to take my kefir with me, but glass is too risky to travel with, so I would like to use plastic. Can I do this, will the kefir be okay , thank you for any advice.
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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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Trying to Locate Live Kefir Grains in Canada

Jessie (Vancouver, Bc) on 03/20/2015

Chronic Yeast inections: I'd like know if anyone can tell me where to find "live" kefir grains? I've read eating fermented foods such as yogurt made of kefir can help clear up the bad bacteria.
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Seeking Kefir Milk in India

Namitgee (Mumbai, India) on 11/21/2014

I want to buy some readymade kefir milk. Where do I buy it? Who supplies it?
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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

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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Sharing Kefir Grains in Bangkok

Kath (Bangkok) on 08/31/2013

Getting Kefir in Bangkok... Nicole at Radiance Wholefoods on Sukhumvit Soi 22 shares Kefir grains with people. That's BTS Asoke or Prom Phong. The shop is open Monday to Friday 9-5. She also runs a Meet up in Bangkok for veganism / raw foods.

[email protected]
www.radiancewholefoods.com

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Kefir Tips

Frank (Perth/mindarie, W/australia) on 06/14/2013

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!

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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.
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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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Kefir Grains Survived the Refrigerator Residence

Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 09/16/2012

It's been great to see all this talk about kefir for this past week or so. I don't remember who posted first but, it was a great reminder of my kefir grains. I had been wanting to go back to kefir making since I've returned to making fermented veggies. Well, yesterday, I dug them out of my fridge where they have been residing in milk for well over a year and a half. I know kefir grains are extremely hearty because of Dom's kefir site but wasn't sure how they'd fair after such a long time in a jar of milk and neglected... Well, this evening, I am happy to say, they are alive and well and ready to make their amazing kefir once again. Good luck everyone in kefir making! Lisa
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Re: Milk Kefir Grains in New Zealand?

Tina (Houston, Usa) on 09/16/2012

http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php

Real Live Kefir Grains shared by worldwide members

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Milk Kefir Grains in New Zealand?

Cat (Tauranga, New Zealand) on 09/16/2012

Do any fellow NZers know of someone who can supply milk kefir grains? I'm happy to pay for them but hey, even better if someone's got enough to give away! I'd be happy to pass some on when I have too many also - pay it forward I say :) I'm in the Tauranga area and can be contacted at lovetolive65(at)hotmail(dot)com = just put kefir grains in the subject. Thanks in advance, Cat.
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Where to Find Kefir Grains in Ny?

Cherie (Rochester, New York) on 01/27/2012

I live in Rochester, NY and I am looking for someone local who can provide fresh kefir grains. In reading everyone's comments and in my research I am convinced that my family and I will benefit greatly by using it. I welcome any feedback.
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