Kefir drinkers - how much do you drink per day?

[mathnerd]

I have been drinking homemade kefir for about 5 months now - 1 cup per day in a smoothie. I sometimes do a second ferment of the kefir with a piece of orange and drink it the next day. But, so far, I am yet to see any health benefits. My family has a bunch of allergies and they too drink about 1 cup a day and have not had any changes to their allergies. I am wondering if I need to up the intake to see any difference.

 

For the kefir drinkers on this board, how much do you drink per day? Do you see any benefit from it? 

[Guest]

My kids each drink half a cup in their smoothies and we have seen a big improvement in tummy issues, including stomach aches and regularity. They are getting sick less often too.

 

I have it less frequently and in smaller doses.

 

My intolerances have improved quite a bit and my non anaphylaxis allergies are less easily triggered, but I'm doing other protocols that may be helping more so I cannot say whether it is due to fermented foods or the other protocols.

Edited November 28, 2015 by Arctic Mama

[Rosie_0801]

If the allergies are not caused by a lack of appropriate gut flora, I wouldn't expect to see any change by drinking kefir.

 

 

We have kombucha around here, not kefir. The only health benefit I have is to aid digestion when stress is knocking my system around.

[Guest]

There is some evidence that cultures help with system wide inflammation in the work they do in aiding digestion, so they assist with certain kids of allergies through a secondary mechanism, but not directly. There are some good studies out about it, I'll see if I can locate them and any dosage recommendations.

[kewb]

Kefir helps ny husband with gut issues not allergies. He prefers it plain and straight up but will drink it in a smoothie. He would drink 2-3 glasses. When he needed to go gluten and dairy free for awhile my kefir grains died. I need to get more.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

any suggestions on where to get kefir grains that are not dehydrated?

[Guest]

any suggestions on where to get kefir grains that are not dehydrated?

You can message me if you'd like some. I'd be happy to ship water or milk kefir grains if you pay postage. Alternately you can get them off Etsy.

[mathnerd]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

There is some evidence that cultures help with system wide inflammation 

 

This is similar to what I had read - that probiotic cultures in kefir prevent inflammation throughout the body. I was hoping to see drastic improvement in allergy conditions when I started drinking kefir. I will continue for a while to see if the situation improves.

[38carrots]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

 

This is similar to what I had read - that probiotic cultures in kefir prevent inflammation throughout the body. I was hoping to see drastic improvement in allergy conditions when I started drinking kefir. I will continue for a while to see if the situation improves.

 

This is anekdotal, but when we were seeing a holistic healer who recommended kefir, he also recommended drastic reduction of sugar and some other foods that were considered irrittants. Like no tomatoes, potatoes (nightshades). No buckwheat. I don't remember what else, as it was years ago, but we had a list taped to the wall. FWIW, DD's asthma improved dramatically.

 

I thought I'd mention this, because you mentioned drinking kefir in smoothies. What ingredients go into your smoothies?

[mathnerd]

This is anekdotal, but when we were seeing a holistic healer who recommended kefir, he also recommended drastic reduction of sugar and some other foods that were considered irrittants. Like no tomatoes, potatoes (nightshades). No buckwheat. I don't remember what else, as it was years ago, but we had a list taped to the wall. FWIW, DD's asthma improved dramatically.

 

I thought I'd mention this, because you mentioned drinking kefir in smoothies. What ingredients go into your smoothies?

Thanks for that information. We usually eat low carb and whole grain diet. But, we do consume a lot of tomatoes! So, that might be something to regulate.

 

My smoothies are mostly fruit based: a handful of organic "power greens", 1 teaspoon of Spirulina powder, frozen berry mix, 1/2 cup acai berry juice, frozen mango chunks, 1 cup kefir (sometimes, I substitute the mango with banana), 1 teaspoon Agave nectar.

Edited November 29, 2015 by mathnerd

[FO4UR]

I drink about a cup every day.  My toddler drinks maybe a quarter of a cup. She had chronic constipation something terrible, and the kefir has cured that.  If she goes without the kefir, the constipation comes back.

 

I feel better with kefir in my diet.  I think the probiotics aid digestions which makes my body have fewer wacky cravings.