[[File:Kefir.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Kefir]]Other names : kefīrs, keefir, kephir, kewra, talai, mudu kekiya, milk kefir, búlgaros<br> Kefir is a fermented milk drink made with kefir "grains" (a yeast/bacterial fermentation starter) and has its origins in the north Caucasus Mountains around 3,000 BC. It is prepared by inoculating cow, goat, or sheep milk with kefir grains. Traditional kefir was made in skin bags that were hung near a doorway; the bag would be knocked by anyone passing through the doorway to help keep the milk and kefir grains well mixed.<br> There are actually two types of kefir: milk kefir and water kefir. Milk kefir is made from dairy (or non-dairy milks like coconut milk) and water kefir is made from, as the name implies, water. Water kefir is a great alternative for people with dairy sensitivities, and its lighter formula can be used for different recipes.<br>See also : for example, the Ontario company Kind Organics makes a mojito-flavoured water kefir that tastes just like a virgin version of the drink.*[[fermented food]]*[[Probiotics]]
==Special Precautions of Kefir==
* According to the University of California Berkeley "Wellness Letter," certain probiotics strains, such as Enterococci, cause problems if you have a weakened immune system or certain bowel problems. The newsletter adds that you should never give probiotics to infants. Also, a 2001 study of kefir in rats found that while kefir treated diarrhea and stimulated immune function in younger rats, it provided neither of those benefits in older rats.
* Kefiran is a polysaccharide produced by kefir grains, and it might have helpful health benefits. Some research has connected kefiran to reduced cholesterol and blood pressure in lab rats.
* [[Phosphorus]] is the second most abundant mineral is our bodies, and it's also found in kefir in significant quantities. This is good news because phosphorus is needed to help our bodies use carbohydrates and proteins for cell growth and energy.
* immune-boosting and anti-viral activity : One study found that kefir and its constituents have immune system-regulating activity and the ability to enhance the immune system’s capacity to fight off viruses.
==Kefir vs. [[Yogurt]]==
Yogurt is a source of probiotics, the live organisms (including healthy bacteria's) that are naturally found in our digestive tracts. These organisms help stem the growth of harmful bacteria and boost our immune systems. But kefir is an even better source of these helpful little guys — three times the source of yogurt, it's thought. This is because kefir is made by fermenting milk with 10 to 20 different types of bacteria and yeasts, where yogurt is usually just fermented with a handful of types; this leads to a higher probiotic count in the final product.
== References ==
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[[Category:home remedies]]
[[Category:Food Therapy]]
[[Category:home remedies]]
[[Category:Probiotics]]