Kefir Grains - Benefits of Kefir Grains & Bacteria

Nov 22
11:59

2015

Roberto Smith

Roberto Smith

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Bacteria... love them or hate them? The answer is, both. Bacteria can be annoying, inconvenient, and even deadly, but the truth is, we need them. Our body is filled with million of good bacteria species which help us digest food, produce vitamins, and keep out the bad bacteria.

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When the good bacteria are out of balance,Kefir Grains - Benefits of Kefir Grains & Bacteria Articles all sorts of health problems can occur. Kefir milk is a great way to keep your good bacteria in balance and thriving.

Kefir is rich in probiotics. In fact, they make kefir what it is, fermenting the milk sugars into lactic acid. Introducing a nice daily amount of probiotics into your system does wonders in digestion. Think of your body as a factory which receives shipments from all over the world. You have to have a great team of unpackers to be able to get all that merchandise in and to keep things running smoothly. Since the lining of your mouth, stomach, and intestines are frequently receiving "shipments" from the outside world, a good horde of beneficial bacteria is necessary for good health.

When your good bacteria are out of whack, the results can be, well... explosive. Have a lot of gas? Bloating? Trouble digesting milk products? These can all be stemmed from a lack of good bacteria, and thankfully, can be cured with a little "probiotic boost". Drinking a glass of kefir in the morning or eating it with your cereal or granola can be a great way to keep your digestive beneficial bacteria in balance.

Kefir, like milk products, contains large amounts of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous, which are all vital to various body processes. Kefir is rich in antioxidants, which inhibit free radical damage in the body. It helps to prevent genetic mutations and has high levels of various vitamins and nutrients. These all depend on the amount of time fermentation has occurred and the variety of microbes present. For example, the longer kefir ferments, the higher the concentration of folic acid in the kefir milk. As lactose (the sugar found in milk) ferments, it turns into lactic acid. In kefir, the more lactic acid present, the less lactose. The lower lactose level not only decreases the plight of those unfortunate lactose-intolerant souls among us, but aids in digestion of other lactose products. So, drink your kefir and say goodbye to upset stomachs after an ice cream binge!