4 reasons to drink kefir
Kefir is a slightly sparkling, slightly sour drink. It is made from milk or water, it contains bacteria and it is booming. You can buy it ready-made at the supermarket or health food store or make your own from milk or sweetened water, using kefir grains. The internet is credited with the most powerful health benefits. Don’t believe everything they say because all those claims are pretty exaggerated. Still, drinking kefir is quite a healthy idea: we give four reasons.
1. Kefir contains yeasts and bacteria
Kefir is created by fermentation. In this chemical process, yeasts and healthy bacteria are used to change the taste of a product and extend its shelf life. The making of kefir probably started in the Caucasus. People used milk, added yeast and bacteria and let the milk ferment at a lukewarm temperature. Due to the action of the bacteria, the milk sugar, which is naturally present in milk, was converted into lactic acid and the yeasts made the milk a little fizzy. Traditionally, making kefir was a way of extending the shelf life of milk, but many people also found the kefir very tasty.
When you drink kefir, you immediately get a portion of yeasts and healthy bacteria. That’s not scary or dangerous, because these are healthy bacteria that can help support the bacteria in your gut. Sometimes we can use some extra bacteria. After all, we live in a society in which we pay very close attention to hygiene and in which we hardly get really dirty anymore. Drinking kefir can then make a small contribution to the intake of healthy bacteria. And what do you notice about that? Some people notice an improvement in bowel movements or have less of a bloated stomach. Whether it does anything for your body is difficult to predict. But it’s worth a try.
2. Water kefir is a tasty alternative to alcohol
Are you trying to drink less alcohol? You are not alone, as it is becoming increasingly clear that drinking less is better for your health. But then, what do you drink if you don’t want wine, but still want a festive drink? Take water kefir! It’s made from water and something that contains sugar (for example, dried fruit, maple syrup, or sugar). It is nice and fresh and slightly bubbling. By the way, it is not 100% alcohol-free, because due to the fermentation process, kefir contains about 1 percent alcohol.
3. Suitable for lactose intolerance
Do you have a lactose intolerance and can therefore not tolerate regular milk? There is a chance that you can tolerate milk kefir. In it, the lactose (another word for milk sugar) has been converted into lactic acid by the bacteria. A matter of trial and error, because there is always a trace of milk sugar left behind. But most people with a mild lactose intolerance can just drink milk kefir. And so you benefit from the good things that milk provides, such as proteins, calcium, vitamins B2 and B12.
4. Kefir is low in sugar
You do need sugar to make kefir, such as lactose in milk kefir or the added sugar in water kefir. But after conversion by the bacteria, both milk and water kefir contain little sugar. This makes both drinks naturally ‘light’ and therefore beneficial for anyone who wants to use less sugar. Good alternative to sweet milk drinks or soft drinks!
