Try It! Tuesday....Kefir....or just try Greek Yogurt

Today is Tuesday, and I am pushing myself to try new things, whether it be recipes, new foods, or just lifestyle changes. My sister recently left us a bottle of kefir, and I am going to try it. I have to admit it kind of scares me a little bit, but the benefits of this little known dairy product are huge:


Note: All of this information comes from Kefir.net


Easily digested, it cleanses the intestines, provides beneficial bacteria and yeast, vitamins and minerals, and complete proteins. Because kefir is such a balanced and nourishing food, it contributes to a healthy immune system and has been used to help patients suffering from AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes, and cancer. Its tranquilizing effect on the nervous system has benefited many who suffer from sleep disorders, depression, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

The regular use of kefir can help relieve all intestinal disorders, promote bowel movement, reduce flatulence and create a healthier digestive system. In addition, its cleansing effect on the whole body helps to establish a balanced inner ecosystem for optimum health and longevity.

Kefir can also help eliminate unhealthy food cravings by making the body more nourished and balanced. Its excellent nutritional content offers healing and health-maintenance benefits to people in every type of condition.If Kefir sounds like a little too much to handle right now, why not take a baby step and introduce plain Greek Yogurt into your diet. You can sweeten it on your own, or add any type of fruit you like. Did you know, that the average "already sweetened" yogurt you buy in a grocery store contains ..... 12 tsp of sugar?

I don't know about you, but my tea mug is bigger than my yogurt cup, and I sure don't put near that much in my tea ( I don't use sugar at all, I use Agave..but that's a different post :)

If you can get in the habit of buying plain yogurt, with no added sugar, that has not been pasteurized, and contains live bacteria, the health benefits for you are much more.

Below is a comparison of yogurt to kefir, which also gives you the benefits of yogurt....Enjoy! Both kefir and yogurt are
cultured milk products... ...but they contain different types of beneficial bacteria. Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.

Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.

It also contains beneficial yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.

Kefir's active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy.

Because the curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, invalids and the elderly, as well as a remedy for digestive disorders.

I'm going to try it...are you? Try It Tuesday!!!

Recipes with Kefir

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