What are the benefits of kefir?

A whopping 58% of people in the UK have experienced gut health problems.¹ This statistic clearly shows how common gut health problems are. Unsurprisingly, the interest in fermented foods has skyrocketed in recent years, with many people on the quest for good gut health!

Ferments are naturally rich in beneficial microbes that support a healthy and balanced gut microbiome. Kefir is a fermented milk drink that can be sour, tangy, and fizzy! It’s important to make sure the kefir you buy is real. Yes, you read that right, fake kefir exists – yikes!

Real kefir is traditionally made with live kefir grains, offering greater health benefits. Kefir grains are clusters of living bacteria and yeast that ferment milk. Our kefir is identical to homemade, fermented with real kefir grains, stirred by hand, just like when Shann first made it in her farmhouse. But what sets our kefir apart? We test every single batch to ensure its safety and potency. Our kefir contains 27 strains of beneficial bacteria, helping your gut microbiome flourish – no fads, no pills, just ferments!

Let’s explore 6 key benefits of kefir –

1. Supports a healthy gut microbiome

The gut microbiome is the cornerstone of your health and wellbeing. To feel good, you need to look after your gut microbes! Research is consistently developing in gut microbiome health, with your gut microbes being linked to various other systems in the body.

Kefir is rich in a diverse range of beneficial microbes, including non-transient bacteria. These non-transient bacteria survive the digestive process and benefit the gut microbiota. Probiotics can also support the health of the intestinal lining and reduce inflammation.²

2. Supports immunity

Did you know your gut microbiome is closely linked to your immune system? 70-80% of immune cells are in the gut!³ When the balance of the gut microbiome is disturbed, this is called gut dysbiosis. This imbalance can negatively impact the gut barrier,⁴ disrupt the immune system, and increase inflammation.⁵ Kefir is rich in probiotics, supporting a balanced gut microbiome. Research also shows that kefir is an immunomodulator, allowing the immune system to work more effectively.⁶

3. Antimicrobial effects

The fantastic thing about kefir is that it not only boosts your good bacteria, but it can also suppress the bad!⁷ Say goodbye to those pesky pathogens once and for all. This action of boosting the good and suppressing the bad makes it the perfect addition to support a healthy, balanced microbiome. If you are concerned you have pathogens lurking in your gut, check out our Microbiome Test to get an all-important snapshot of your gut health.

4. Anti-inflammatory effects

Have you heard of butyric acid? Butyric acid or butyrate is produced by gut bacteria and is a type of postbiotic or short-chain fatty acid. This postbiotic has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits! Our kefir is an excellent source of butyric acid, which is responsible for the sharp, sour taste! To further support the production of postbiotics, focus on increasing your probiotics and prebiotics. This will help your gut bacteria produce more of these beneficial by-products!

5. Low in lactose

Our kefir is not completely lactose-free, but it is very low in lactose and often well tolerated by those with lactose intolerance. Let me explain – first, we use goat’s milk in our kefir, which is naturally slightly lower in lactose compared to cow’s milk. Second, the natural fermentation process breaks down most of the lactose, leaving only trace amounts. Want to know more? Check out Dr Amrita Vijay’s article – Real vs fake kefir: let’s talk lactose!

6. Rich in nutrients

Kefir is beneficial for more than its probiotic content. It also contains a variety of essential macro- and micronutrients, including protein, fat, calcium, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and more! This makes it an incredible, nutrient-dense addition to the diet. Combine the kefir with fruits, leafy greens, and your other favourite smoothie ingredients to create a delicious gut-friendly elixir!

Here at Chuckling Goat, we focus on simple but effective approaches to health. To take your gut health to the next level, look at our gut health protocol, which includes kefir, Complete Prebiotic, and Pure Fish Collagen. Combining kefir and our Complete Prebiotic creates a powerful synbiotic, the ultimate duo for good gut health!

Want to learn more about kefir? Check out Alyssa’s article – How much probiotic bacteria is in kefir?

Any questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via Live Chat, weekdays from 8am to 8pm.

What are the benefits of kefir?

Let’s explore 6 key benefits of kefir –

1. Supports a healthy gut microbiome

2. Supports immunity

3. Antimicrobial effects

4. Anti-inflammatory effects

5. Low in lactose

6. Rich in nutrients

References

Questions? Talk to a Nutritional Therapist on live chat!

More from The Gut Health Express

As Featured In