Complete Nutrition food -KEFIR

Kefir is considered to be a complete nutrition food and possess health benefits which are good for the whole body .

1. Kefir contributes to a healthy immune system as it is a balanced as well as nourishing food.
2. The tranquilizing effect of tryptophan on the nervous system is said to have benefited several people suffering from sleep disorders and  depression.
3. Regular use of kefir will improve your bowel movement, reduce flatulence and you will soon have a healthy digestive system.
4. Consuming kefir also means getting rid of unhealthy food cravings as it nourishes your body completely.
5. Using kefir regularly, as part of your diet, can have a particularly profound calming effect on your nerves.
6. It is full of beneficial bacteria and yeast, vitamins and minerals, and complete proteins.
7. Kefir helps in cleansing your intestines and digests easily too. 

Note :  Keeping kefir for 48 hours ( after seiving kefir which is 24 hours old , keep the strained kefir  for further  24 hours  with out the grains )  will further improve the level of  probotics , vitamins and minerals   in it and is considered to have more nutritional value than 24 hours old kefir . 48 hours kefir is though little more sour in taste than 24 hours kefir .

No Fat Diet - KEFIR

Kefir is a milk beverage which is  little tangy in taste . Kefir being a complete meal in itself  is recommended by many dieticians to include in the diet chart. Its has all the essential  vitamins , minerals , probiotics  and nutrients that make kefir a super rich food and a must in everybody’s  diet plan . Kefir not only helps in weight loss but also nourishes the complete body . It also has healing properties which repairs the damaged cells in the body and makes  our bodies internally  more strong which is why it helps in  loosing  weight  .

Dieting with kefir doesnot require you to starve yourself but if you drink  kefir in breakfast with a fruit of your choice that calls for a high dose of healthy breakfast .  Since it has proteins and calcium in good quantities so one doesnot feel  hungry  after taking  kefir     till lunch time .Regularly consuming kefir in breakfast will not allow fat to get deposited in the body . Kefir also has a  relaxing effect on our nervous system . If you include low-fat kefir( use skimmed milk while making kefir )  in your weight-loss menu and you consume fewer calories than you burn off each day, you should lose weight .

Regularly drinking Kefir helps to reduce BMI , Lower waist circumference and also body fat .One reason for this is kefir’s high protein content. Protein helps you feel full for long periods of time and boosts your body’s energy expenditure and makes you eat less by controlling your mouth .
Whole-milk fruit-flavored kefir products, however, aren’t the best choice for weight loss because they are higher in calories.One cup of plain, low-fat kefir contains about 11 grams of dietary protein.Low-fat kefir, when consumed in recommended quantities, is a healthy addition to a weight-loss meal plan. It makes a convenient between-meal snack that  also helps you meet your dairy requirement. 

If you are following palio’s diet where all dairy products are prohibited you can take kefir since it is 99% lactose free and is easily digestible . Taking kefir will compensate for not taking milk and will also help you in loosing oodles of weight .

Nutritional value of kefir

Probiotics: Kefir is one of the most potent sources of probiotics and can be mixed with smoothies or you can just drink it by itself!

Phosphorus: Kefir gives you an ample supply of phosphorus which helps in utilizing the carbohydrates, fats and proteins for growth of cells, maintenance and energy.

Essential amino acids: Apart from the good bacteria ,  kefir is full of minerals and essential amino acids which help your body heal and maintain bodily functions. Tryptophan, which is known for its relaxing effect on the nervous system, is found abundantly in kefir.

Calcium and magnesium: There is a whole lot of calcium and magnesium which are important minerals for a healthy nervous system.

Vitamins: In addition to being rich in Vitamin B12, B1 and Vitamin K, kefir is the powerhouse of biotin (B Vitamin) which aids the body in assimilating other B Vitamins like folic acid and pantothenic acid. An adequate intake of B Vitamin helps in regulating your kidneys, liver and nervous system which in turn boosts your energy levels and promote longevity and assist in weight loss . 

Milk KEFIR Vs Yogurt

Both yogurt and milk kefir are cultured milk products. Both the foods are good for health as they are rich in calcium, protein, vitamin B and potassium. They are a little sour in taste and have an identical tart. Both yogurt and milk kefir can be found in plain form and in different fruit flavors. The live cultures used to produce both yogurt and milk kefir results in the breakdown of the milk sugar. This facilitates lactose digestion. Their primary difference lies in the types and numbers of beneficial bacteria contained in them.

Below are the chief differences between milk kefir and yogurt :

1) Milk kefir contains plenty of beneficial yeasts  that eliminates the pathogenic yeasts from the body. They keep the intestine clean and healthy. These beneficial yeasts are not present in yogurt.

2) Both yogurt and milk kefir contains probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria and beneficial yeasts that are normally found in the intestine of humans. They restrict the growth of harmful bacteria which can cause diseases and also boosts the immune system of the body. Milk kefir contains three times the probiotics that are present in yogurt.  Your immune system will be  highly boosted and you will stay healthy.

3) The consistency of milk kefir is much thinner than that of yogurt. It is usually obtained as a beverage. You can pour some milk kefir over a cereal, drink it or combine it with fruits to make smoothie. On the other hand, the consistency of yogurt is thicker and it cannot be drunk.

4) The individuals who are totally lactose intolerant can tolerate milk kefir but they cannot tolerate yogurt. This is because the plenty of beneficial bacteria present in milk kefir would digest the lactose in the milk. Therefore the lactose that would be left in kefir is almost 1%. So lactose intolerant individuals can easily have milk kefir.

5) Milk kefir is also easier to digest than yogurt . This makes milk kefir a nutritious and ideal food for the elderly people, babies and people having chronic digestive disorders.