Consumed regularly and in certain situations or conditions, kefir provides us with beneficial bacteria for health, as well as live yeasts and other nutrients.
Although it is true that probiotics have become fashionable in recent years, the reality is that they are not new at all; on the contrary, its elaboration goes back hundreds of years, even millennia. This is what happens with kefir, a probiotic of natural origin that was already produced, elaborated and consumed in the Caucasus area, where it originally comes from.
It is a fermented drink -whose appearance resembles yogurt in most cases, which is made from the fermentation of kefir granules or nodules. In its origin, it is common to call kefir not only the nodules but also the resulting drink.
However, despite resembling yogurt, there are differences between the two foods that should be highlighted. For example, in the production of yogurt, a solely lactic fermentation usually occurs, while in kefir the fermentation is not only lactic but also alcoholic, resulting in its characteristic carbonated texture. Also, the taste of yogurt is milder, as kefir tends to have higher acidity.
Regarding its qualities, as it is a probiotic, it becomes an excellent natural drink when it comes to improving our body’s defenses. Why? Mainly because it contains around 400 million microorganisms for each gram of product, among which are beneficial bacteria for the intestinal flora, by maintaining, stabilizing and reinforcing it.
When is it appropriate to take kefir?
Although we can consume probiotics at any time, adding them to our diet on a regular basis, the truth is that they are especially useful on certain occasions, or when faced with certain diseases or conditions.
For example, it is useful when you suffer from some type of infectious disease such as cystitis, the inflammation of the bladder usually caused by a bacterial infection, or vaginitis, which consists of inflammation and / or infection of the vagina mainly due to a bacterial infection. Thanks to the fact that it helps to strengthen the body’s defenses by enriching and improving our intestinal flora.
As it helps to reestablish the intestinal flora, increasing the presence of “good” bacteria in our intestines, it is particularly interesting to consume kefir after an episode of diarrhea, as well as during gastroenteritis, which is the inflammation of the inner membrane present. In the intestine, and can be caused by a virus, parasites, or bacteria.
For this last reason, its consumption is also interesting in case of following a medical treatment based on antibiotics. Why? Mainly because these types of drugs are useful in the treatment of infections of bacterial origin, but in addition to reducing and eliminating pathogenic bacteria, it also does so with “good” bacteria, reducing their presence in the body.
This does not mean that antibiotics are not good for your health; On the contrary, its discovery represented a very important medical advance when it comes to treating bacterial infections that, left untreated, can be serious and even cause death. However, they should only be consumed after prescription by the doctor, only when necessary, and under his supervision.
How to take kefir to enjoy its qualities?
If you want to consume kefir in order to enjoy its different qualities and benefits, the truth is that there are a wide variety of options, all of them simple and easy to follow. For example, as it is a fermented drink, it can be consumed like this, simply by serving it in a glass and drinking it little by little.
It becomes a refreshing drink, although due to its acidic flavor you will have to get used to it. But if its flavor still shocks you a bit, you can choose to add a little panela or honey (although it is not preferable). Or prepare delicious fruit smoothies, adding a little kefir to the drink.
It is also possible that you prefer to know other options to add kefir to our recipes or dishes. If so, it can become an excellent option for breakfasts or snacks (but without abusing its consumption, since its excess can be harmful to health).
You can add kefir to your cereal or fruit bowl and consume it for breakfast. In turn, there are those who use it in a wide variety of recipes: salads, cakes, creams or cold soups, or simply consume it in the same way as if it were a yogurt.
