Kefir

Things to do with your Kefir:

• How to make Milk Kefir
• Kefir Smoothie Recipes
• Kefir Cottage Cheese
• Kefir Butter

A little bit about Kefir and Kefir Grains

Kefir is an super-duper fermented milk drink that is packed with enzyme-rich food with friendly bacteria known as probiotic. Probiotic is live microorganism like bacteria or yeast that provide various health benefits when consumed.
Kefir is packed with micro and macro nutrients, essential vitamins and minerals like proteins, vit B, Vit K, folic acid, Potassium, magnesium and phosphorus among others. It has anti-tumor properties, prevents disease, increases digestibility, controls toxins and boost the immune system by keeping healthy bacteria in our disgestive tract.

Kefir is made from the kefir grains, which looks like cauliflower florets with a gelatin texture. It looks like yoghurt but it taste delightfully tangy and is a thinner texture than yoghurt, more like a drinkable yoghurt.
Although they are both cultured dairy product, they contain different strains of micro organisms. Yoghurt contains two types of bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus where kefir contains over 30 strains. Hence why making kefir has just got to be part of your kitchen.

Kefir grains are said to have originated in the Caucasus Mountains in Russia. Russians would put the kefir grains and milk into a goatskin bag and hang it above the door, so that as someone passes through the door they would bump the bag with there head, which helps improve the fermentation process.

BENEFITS OF THIS AMAZING CULTURE
Detoxification
Eliminates constipation
Heals inflammatory bowel disease
Reduces or eliminates allergies
Builds bone density
Reduces or eliminates asthma symptoms
Cleanses the intestines
Reduces or eliminates cold and flu illnesses
Cures acne
Treats yeast infections
effective as the strongest natural antibiotic without side effects
Replenishes the body with good bacteria after antibiotic use
Treats diarrhea
Aids lactose intolerance
Promotes deep sleep
Heals ulcers
Promotes a natural good feeling
To name but a few.

Milk kefir can be made with cows, goats and sheep milk. The kefir grains convert the lactose into a simplier form of sugar (glucose and galactose), these digestible forms of sugar make for an easily digestible food. Which is why kefir is generally tolerated by lactose intolerant people.

It is an amazing culture. I absolutely love it. Its great for smoothies or just to drink plain. When anyone in my family is feeling sick or if there is a flu or cold going around or if you are just not feeling good, I dish out the smoothies. I, from my own experience, have noticed my immune system is tougher. I make kefir smoothies about every second day for me and my family. We started off having half a glass each and worked our way up to a full glass, just to let our stomach's get use to the idea of it.
There are loads of delicious flavours of smoothies you can try out.