Kefir -- Repopulating the gut

[NancyM]

Well, I finally ordered and got my kefir grains (not really grain-grains, more like bacteria culture). I keferized some milk at first (I'm casein sensitive so I shouldn't be drinking it) and it was delicious! Loved it. But then I moved the grains to almond milk with some added honey, and I'm currently culturing that. Not so crazy about the almond milk.

Just curious if anyone else has experimented with kefir and noticed any good effects from it?

[annelb]

I think Pakisa100 is the Kifer expert. She is not posting on this forum much but I think she checks in from time to time. She is part of Yahoo group. http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/cancelthatglutenorder/ She also posts on Neurotalk.

Found this from our lost files http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:i9twACbNdzIJ:brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php%3Fp%3D820610+site:brain.hastypastry .net+kefir+%2B+braintalk+%2B+hastypastry&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=7
It is about fermented foods.

Anne

[jcc]

Let us know how the almond milk kefir works. Hmmm... I wonder how it would work with the chocolate almond milk?

Where did you get your kefir culture from?

Cara

[NancyM]

I did a search on Google and there was a list of people willing to share or sell their grains, so I contacted one in my state and paid 14.95 to have them shipped. I don't still have the link unfortunately.

I've got vanilla, unsweetened almond milk. I think I'd like it better without the vanilla. I add honey for the kefir grains to eat.

I think after the almond milk is gone I'll try "fruit water" kefir.

My intestines are so well behaved right now. I still haven't figured out if it was the turmeric causing a problem or whether the glutamine solved the problem. I'll have to try the turmeric again and see what happens.

From what I've read the kefir has many more types of bacteria than yogurt does.

[NancyM]

Interesting, I must have some super charged kefir grains. I often find it has separated even before 24 hours: http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/Makekefir.html#Utensils (scroll down a bit).

[SleepingBean]

I haven't started on Kefir yet, but I am very interested. Some areas of question I have are:
1) what exactly are the levels of beneficial bacterias in the non dairy homemade yogurt (such as cashew or coconut yogurts made without starter cultures, but purely dairy free from scratch). I cannot find any good stats on this ANYWHERE!

2) what about the yeasts and sugars and alcohol issues for the true kefir milk. For those with very damaged guts, and those batteling candida, I just don't understand why the yeast is okay. I understand that the culture needs the yeast, and it supports the entire process, but for a Candida damaged gut, is it truly safe?

I have read that if you're using the true kefir culture, you can use non dairy products with it, but you should switch it back to milk (raw milk, preferred) every 4-6 weeks (got that bit of info from Dom's site).

And Raw Milk....okay, is anyone doing this? Besides the legality of attaining (or more specifically the legality for the farmer in selling) raw milk, I don't know if the difference in the actual bacterias at end result are grand? I'd love to see some good studies on this!

I'd also like to see some studies on the homemade dairy yogurt vs the non dairy yogurts. Another area I cannot find good info (can be maddening!)

Kefir sounds great. But with my severe dairy reaction, I don't really find myself sold. Unless I can do it with real milk, it seems like homemade non dairy yogurts may just fill the void?
But then, I haven't been able to find any data to back up that assumption!

[NancyM]

I haven't started on Kefir yet, but I am very interested. Some areas of question I have are:
1) what exactly are the levels of beneficial bacterias in the non dairy homemade yogurt (such as cashew or coconut yogurts made without starter cultures, but purely dairy free from scratch). I cannot find any good stats on this ANYWHERE!
No clue. I never heard of doing it without a starter of some sort. But this site has an overwhelming amount of information about kefir in general, and non-dairy kefir as well: http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html#alternativekefir


2) what about the yeasts and sugars and alcohol issues for the true kefir milk. For those with very damaged guts, and those batteling candida, I just don't understand why the yeast is okay. I understand that the culture needs the yeast, and it supports the entire process, but for a Candida damaged gut, is it truly safe?
I read something else about that today. Something like Candida is a totally different sort of organism than the yeasts found in Kefir and that the Kefir yeasts are beneficial. I don't know how much of that to believe.


Kefir sounds great. But with my severe dairy reaction, I don't really find myself sold. Unless I can do it with real milk, it seems like homemade non dairy yogurts may just fill the void?
But then, I haven't been able to find any data to back up that assumption!
I'm making Kefir without milk now. Yes, it does sound like I'll have to do a few batches with milk every now and then to keep the kefir going.

[NancyM]

I wonder if... If I could find lactose, just the milk sugar, and put that in my non-dairy liquid, if that would satisfy the hunger of the kefir grains.

[SleepingBean]

I don't know, but I see room for some serious studies in this area :)

Let us know how you like the kefir water when you get to that!

[koz]

I have been on kefir for about 6 months - got my original grains through Doms site too
It has done wonders for my digestion and bowels ....... I used to always suffer with constipation but it has gone

and I seem to be digestion food much better have even managed to put on a little weight

I use raw goats milk as we have our own goats

I am chemically sensitive and react very badly to any alcoholic drinks but have had no trouble with the kefir

I have kefir with flax seed every morning for breakfast

we forment our kefir for 48 hours although now summer is here it does get a bit too sour so we put it into the fridge after 12 hours

we also feed it to our chooks and it has improved their egg laying

and it has also fixed our dogs digestive problems

koz

[jcc]

Hi koz! I know that the Dan! doctor we saw said for most people kefir is the best choice of probiotic....gentle, but enough for most people. It is great to hear you have had such a positive response.

We are just finally getting around to trying Natrol's biobeads ... and it seems my daughter has tolerated her first dose just fine. I'm going to start every other day for a week, and then every day. If she doesn't tolerate these, then kefir might be my next choice.

Cara

[annelb]

Wrong place to post this. :o

I started a new thread.
Anne

[NancyM]

I was toying with the idea of trying to give some to my cat. I think I will. :)

Well, my bowels have been SO well behaved for about a month now. I just can't get over it.

[annelb]

Well, my bowels have been SO well behaved for about a month now. I just can't get over it.

That is great news :cool:
Anne