Kefir To Strengthen The Immune System
In recent years, kefir has become very popular, especially among those who want to improve their health naturally through food.
It is an excellent probiotic product for improving intestinal balance and digestion.
A very interesting feature of kefir is that it can also be consumed by those who are lactose intolerant.
Why? Lactose tends to “inflame us”, is not digested well and causes discomfort, since it is a type of sugar of animal origin.
During the fermentation process, lactose turns into lactic acid, which helps digest it better. However, you have to decide yourself whether it is good for your body or not.
Today we present an article to learn more about this incredible probiotic, based on some studies conducted by various dieticians and published in the magazine “Authority Nutrition”. Read on!
What is kefir?
Kefir is fermented cow or goat milk. It has a very characteristic acidic and intense flavor that is due to the disappearance of the sugar as a result of the fermentation process.
During this treatment, lactose levels drop, facilitating the digestion of this product.
This process, carried out in complete safety, is the cause of the appearance of some yeasts and bacteria that strengthen the immune system and improve the health of the bacterial flora.
For sure you are wondering if kefir is a yogurt. Not exactly:
- It tastes slightly bitter, while yogurt is not as intense due to its higher lactose content.
- You can buy it liquid or in grains, while yogurt always has a creamy texture.
- During the fermentation process, kefir retains only the most basic nutrients of milk, significantly reducing the presence of lactose.
- In this way, thanks to its microorganisms, it improves the intestinal flora more than yogurt does and eliminates the pathogenic bacteria that live in the intestine and which are often the cause of gastroenteritis.
Kefir: one of the best probiotics for health
When we talk about probiotics, the first thing we think of is, of course, the classic natural plain yogurt.
However, one of the best probiotics in the world is kefir. The Cooperative Research Center for Bioscience in Spain has released the following data on kefir.
Antibacterial and antifungal properties of kefir
Kefir is very effective in fighting numerous bacteria, such as salmonella, H. Pylori , shigella , E. coli and even fungi such as Candida albicans .
This is due to the active ingredients of kefir, such as polysaccharide compounds which, in case of infection, act as powerful antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and healing agents .
The immune power of kefir
Kefir acts as an immune defender of the intestinal mucosa. For this reason, you should add liquid or grain kefir to your diet, as it contains more than 30 strains of healthy bacteria and yeasts that improve overall health, but especially digestive health.
You can consume kefir every day accompanied by a fruit. For best results, you can also make drinks to strengthen the immune system.
According to nutritionists, this fermented milk derivative contains a unique type of probiotic known as Lactobacillus kefiri, one of the best remedies for harmful bacteria.
It improves bone health and reduces the risk of suffering from osteoporosis
As you know, osteoporosis is a chronic disease that causes pain and increases the risk of bone fractures and is particularly common among women.
An effective way of strengthening bone tissue is, without a doubt, to increase the dose of calcium. However, many do not tolerate the lactose contained in cow’s milk.
A useful alternative is kefir which, in addition to being rich in calcium, has a high content of vitamin K2, a type of nutrient essential for promoting calcium metabolism.
Just add it to your diet regularly and watch its effects. If you find that you digest it without problems and its consumption does not bother you, you can take it every day for breakfast.
How to use?
Where can you buy it?
- In the supermarket, at the dairy counter or in the diet food section.
- In organic shops.
- You can find it liquid or in grains.
How to consume it?
- If you buy it in grains, you can consume 100 grams per day. The ideal is to mix it with honey.
- The best thing is to take it for breakfast, paired with a fruit (like papaya), cereals or oats.
- If you buy liquid kefir, you can drink 100ml after lunch. It will help you digest and, if drunk regularly, will improve the bacterial flora and immune system.
We conclude by reminding you that, even if kefir contains a small amount of lactose, it is still a dairy product, so you have to see what effect it has on your body.
Usually, it is great for health and also very tasty.
