Art Challenge: Healthy drinks🍹🧉 (ENDED)

Hmmmm I will return later on in the day with my picture as it is too early in the day for my pick me up and go drink...😉💯 as it will get you going even when your get up and go seems like it's gone....

Thanks for the tag @DaniTheOG, @Diamond Lim and @rebelchild

Hi @wykoon thank you very much for this awesome thread. Thank you for the tag @Diamond Lim

My healthy drink is milk kefir. Simple and easy to make. I have a glass every day and it helps a number of conditions I suffer from.

1. Kefir Is a Fantastic Source of Many Nutrients

Kefir is a fermented drink, traditionally made using cow’s milk or goat’s milk.

It is made by adding kefir grains to milk. These are not cereal grains, but grain-like colonies of yeast and lactic acid bacteria that resemble a cauliflower in appearance.

Over approximately 24 hours, the microorganisms in the kefir grains multiply and ferment the sugars in the milk, turning it into kefir.

Then the grains are removed from the liquid and can be used again.

In other words, kefir is the drink, but kefir grains are the starter culture that you use to produce the beverage.

Kefir originated from parts of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. The name is derived from the Turkish word keyif, which means “feeling good” after eating

The grains’ lactic acid bacteria turn the milk’s lactose into lactic acid, so kefir tastes sour like yogurt — but has a thinner consistency.

A 6-ounce (175-ml) serving of low-fat kefir contains

• Protein: 4 grams
• Calcium: 10% of the RDI
• Phosphorus: 15% of the RDI
• Vitamin B12: 12% of the RDI
• Riboflavin (B2): 10% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 3% of the RDI
• A decent amount of vitamin D

In addition, kefir has about 100 calories, 7–8 grams of carbs and 3–6 grams of fat, depending on the type of milk used.

Kefir also contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds, including organic acids and peptides that contribute to its health benefits

Dairy-free versions of kefir can be made with coconut water, coconut milk or other sweet liquids. These will not have the same nutrient profile as dairy-based kefir.

2. Kefir Is a More Powerful Probiotic Than Yogurt

Some microorganisms can have beneficial effects on health when ingested

Known as probiotics, these microorganisms may influence health in numerous ways, aiding digestion, weight management and mental health

Yogurt is the best known probiotic food in the Western diet, but kefir is actually a much more potent source.

Kefir grains contain up to 61 strains of bacteria and yeasts, making them a very rich and diverse probiotic source, though diversity may vary

Other fermented dairy products are made from far fewer strains and don’t contain any yeasts.

3. Kefir Has Potent Antibacterial Properties

Certain probiotics in kefir are believed to protect against infections.

This includes the probiotic Lactobacillus kefiri, which is unique to kefir.

Studies demonstrate that this probiotic can inhibit the growth of various harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Helicobacter pylori and E. coli 

Kefiran, a type of carbohydrate present in kefir, also has antibacterial properties

4. Kefir Can Improve Bone Health and Lower the Risk of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is characterized by deterioration of bone tissue and is a major problem in Western countries.

It is especially common among older women and dramatically raises your risk of fractures.

Ensuring an adequate calcium intake is one of the most effective ways to improve bone health and slow the progression of osteoporosis

Full-fat kefir is not only a great source of calcium but also vitamin K2 — which plays a central role in calcium metabolism. Supplementing with K2 has been shown to reduce your risk of fractures by as much as 81%

Recent animal studies link kefir to increased calcium absorption in bone cells. This leads to improved bone density, which should help prevent fractures

5. Kefir May Be Protective Against Cancer

Cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death.

It occurs when abnormal cells in your body grow uncontrollably, such as in a tumor.

The probiotics in fermented dairy products are believed to reduce tumor growth by stimulating your immune system. Therefore, it is possible that kefir may fight cancer 

This protective role has been demonstrated in several test-tube studies

One study found that kefir extract reduced the number of human breast cancer cells by 56%, compared to only 14% for yogurt extract

6. The Probiotics in It May Help With Various Digestive Problems

Probiotics such as kefir can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in your gut.

This is why they are highly effective at treating many forms of diarrhoea

What’s more, ample evidence suggests that probiotics and probiotic foods can alleviate many digestive problems

These include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers caused by H. pylori infection and many others

For this reason, kefir may be useful if you have problems with digestion.

7. Kefir Is Low in Lactose

Regular dairy foods contain a natural sugar called lactose.

Many people, especially adults, are unable to break down and digest lactose properly. This condition is called lactose intolerance (25).

The lactic acid bacteria in fermented dairy foods — like kefir and yogurt — turn the lactose into lactic acid, so these foods are much lower in lactose than milk.

They also contain enzymes that can help break down the lactose even further.

Therefore, kefir is generally well tolerated by people with lactose intolerance, at least compared to regular milk

Keep in mind that it is possible to make kefir that is 100% lactose-free by using coconut water, fruit juice or another non-dairy beverage. I would just like to mention at this point you can get water kefir grains which may be more suitable for for this purpose.

8. Kefir May Improve Allergy and Asthma Symptoms

Allergic reactions are caused by inflammatory responses against certain foods or substances.

People with an over-sensitive immune system are more prone to allergies, which can provoke conditions like asthma.

In animal studies, kefir has been shown to suppress inflammatory responses related to allergies and asthma 

Once the kefir starts to look clumpy, it’s ready. After you gently strain out the liquid, the original kefir grains are left behind.

You can now put the grains in a new jar with some milk, and the process starts all over again.

It’s delicious, nutritious and highly sustainable.

I use plastic utensils, as metal can contaminate the kefir. Use glass airtight jars, such as Kilner jars for fermenting and storing.

Kefir is very versatile and there are many recipes where you can use it in cooking as well as substituting it for milk/yogurt for example with cereal or fruit.

It is delicious made into a smoothie, and my favourite is with fresh mango.

Great for making home made cheese, which I have done, and as such has more health benefits.