Kefir and IgE antibodies

[canoe]

The Spring 07 Living Free, has an article that mentions Kefir being used in research in Tawian, National Formosa University, that in mice, both milk and soy Kefir may inhibit the production of IgE, a substance that plays a role in allergic reactions. After 3 weeks of the kefir, the amount of IgE specific to egg protein had been reduced three-fold. The notation is made that this may not be suitable for people with milk or soy allergies. Research was published in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

I found this particularly interesting since I have persistent high levels of IgE >269 Ku/L, nl <114 Ku/L

Will have to see if I can make some coconut kefir.

Thanks for the information, Nancy.

Marilyn

[NancyM]

Wow! Interesting!

[canoe]

Name of the Magazine is Living Without, not Living Free. Sorry about the error.

Marilyn

[Marciab]

Do you think this would explain why I can tolerate dairy kefir, but no other dairy ?

Also, sometimes, I can handle cantaloupe and sometimes I get painful sores on my tongue immediately. I still eat a whole cantaloupe every week for potassium.

Do you know if kefir can affect the way other foods are tolerated ?

Thanks ... marcia

[diamondheart]

Do you think this would explain why I can tolerate dairy kefir, but no other dairy ?

Also, sometimes, I can handle cantaloupe and sometimes I get painful sores on my tongue immediately. I still eat a whole cantaloupe every week for potassium.

Do you know if kefir can affect the way other foods are tolerated ?

Thanks ... marcia

I'm not sure about the IgE explanation, but this is what I understand about kefir. The microorganisms in kefir will break down most of the lactose in the milk. If you are allergic to lactose, then maybe that's why you can tolerate kefir. Kefir also has many beneficial probiotics for the gut that can help you digest your food better and help heal your gut.

Not sure about the cantaloupe thing.

I gotta go strain my kefir, my nightly ritual! Kefir is about the only dairy I can really tolerate well too. I'm going to learn how to make kefir cheese!

Claire

[koz]

very interesting !

my DH gets "strange" ( to him ) attacks of diarhea(sp?) ........ to me it is obviously after eating lots of gluten but he doesnt want to know that ...........

we have been making kefir for about a year and during tht time the attacks disapeared .........

but recently we accidently killed a batch of kefir grains so he had to go without for a while ........ during that time the diarhea returned with a vengeance but stopped when he resumed his morning kefir again

koz