Kefir is a fermented milk product that is very popular, it is tasty and healthy. It is believed that this drink began to be prepared on the northern slope of the Caucasus Mountains. According to legend, beneficial bacteria were bestowed upon the drink by Magomed himself. As a result, the highlanders began to call it “Magomed’s Millet”. To get these bacteria, you had to go to tricks. They could not be bought, only stolen.
Kefir came to Russia in 1866 or in 1908. The highlanders brought him to the Botkin hospital. In Soviet times, the drink began to be produced on an industrial scale and it became a product of daily demand.
Kefir is produced fat-free and with a fat content of 1 to 3.2%. In the first case, the calorie content of the drink is only 59 units. Accordingly, the lower the fat content, the fewer calories in the product. Low-calorie drinks are used in diet food.
The drink contains many vitamins: B12, B5, A, C, B9. They are well absorbed by the human body. A glass of drink contains 25% of the daily dose of vitamin D.
Kefir has a small alcohol content, approximately 0.02-0.06%. Such an amount of alcohol does not adversely affect even the children’s body. To feel a slight intoxication, you will have to drink at least 2 liters, and the daily dose is only 500 ml.
Useful properties of kefir
Kefir has a positive effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. The drink contains probiotics that inhibit the negative microflora. The product is recommended for use in the presence of stomach ulcers and gastritis. It does not give side effects and relieves bloating and eliminates the symptoms of diarrhea.
The drink is very useful for strengthening bone mass. This is especially important after 30 years. The effect is achieved due to the rich content of calcium in the product. Kefir can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis several times.
Helps the drink to cope with cardiovascular diseases. It contains useful polysaccharides that improve heart function. The drink neutralizes “bad” cholesterol and prevents the process of blockage of blood vessels.
Kefir helps to cope with allergy symptoms. It is no secret that more and more people in the world are facing this problem. The drink reduces the risk of developing cancer, helps to cope with breast cancer.
The benefits of kefir for women
The drink helps to restore the natural balance in the body. Due to the presence of iodine, fluorine and copper, energy production is stimulated and has a beneficial effect on the nervous state. Helps improve the quality of the skin and hair.
Kefir contributes to the establishment of metabolic processes, namely, the ability to maintain a normal body weight and prevent many diseases depends on them. It allows you to eliminate dysbacteriosis and removes harmful substances.
The use of kefir during pregnancy and breastfeeding
There are practically no contraindications for use before childbirth and during the period of feeding a child. Kefir will saturate the body with minerals and vitamins. And if the expectant mother uses medicines, then the drink will remove toxins from the body.
The drink will help get rid of puffiness and improve the functioning of the intestines, adjust the stool. Kefir helps eliminate irritability and excessive emotionality, it has a slight sedative effect.
The product is combined with almost any dish. It is consumed with fruits and flour products.
Is it possible for kefir for children
Kefir is very useful for the child’s body. However, you will have to refuse it if the child has lactose intolerance. If there are no problems, then you can include a drink in the diet from 7 months.
Kefir will help children sleep better and will be a prophylactic against rickets and anemia. It stimulates appetite and gives energy.
Is kefir good for weight loss
Kefir is very useful for people who want to lose weight. It improves overall well-being, eliminates the feeling of hunger. The beneficial bacteria contained in the product improve the metabolic process and remove harmful substances.
The most important thing is that the drink is low in calories and at the same time it saturates well.
The most common diet is kefir-buckwheat. On it you can achieve excellent results in a very short time. A more rigid version of the diet involves the use of only one kefir.
The use of kefir in diabetes
Kefir helps to activate the pancreas. At the same time, it has a rather high glycemic index – 90 units. From this it follows: so that kefir does not harm an already sick body, it should be consumed in moderation. It is permissible to consume no more than 200 ml per day.
The drink can be additionally saturated with other useful seasonings. For example, cinnamon is ideal, which requires a couple of grams per glass of drink. You can also add a small amount of ground ginger.
How to take kefir for medicinal purposes
Kefir is recommended to be consumed in the morning on an empty stomach, in the amount of one glass. Such a remedy will greatly improve your health after a fun party. But even if there was no feast, the drink will set the body to work for the whole day.
In the evening, it is also recommended to drink a glass of the drink, but not just before going to bed, as it has diuretic properties. It should be drunk at least 1 hour before bedtime, and preferably 2.
The use of kefir in cosmetology
Kefir allows you to cleanse the skin of the face and eliminate excess fat. It helps to eliminate oily sheen and whitens the skin. In the presence of freckles, it is recommended to wash with kefir, which copes well with pigmentation.
The drink tightens pores and perfectly moisturizes the skin. After 50 years, it is recommended as a cosmetic tonic for aging facial skin.
The product is used as a hair conditioner. The drink will make them silky and shiny. To do this, 100 ml of the drink is mixed with egg yolk, a little lemon peel (chopped) and a small amount of seaweed are added. The mask is applied for 30 minutes on washed hair. Then rinse with running water and shampoo your hair.
Kefir harm and contraindications
The drink has a number of contraindications for use. It is not recommended for use with exacerbation of gastritis with high acidity or stomach ulcers. During and immediately after the end of an attack of pancreatitis, kefir is prohibited.
How to make homemade kefir
You can make this delicious and healthy drink at home. So there will be a guarantee that it will not contain dyes and flavors, other chemicals. Grocery stores sell special starter cultures for making the drink.
Usually the cooking recipe is very simple, in milk, heated to a certain temperature, starter culture with special microorganisms is added. In a day you will have kefir of your own production on your table. Naturally, to get a really healthy drink, you need to choose high-quality milk.
How to choose and store
When buying a drink, be sure to pay attention to its expiration date. It is best to buy kefir, which is bottled in glass containers. It is better to refuse the purchase of “stale” goods. If the expiration date on the label is too long, then the product contains preservatives and there will be very little benefit from such a drink.
In the refrigerator, kefir can be stored for no more than 7 days, in the freezer for up to 14 days. Do not drink an expired drink, so as not to provoke gastrointestinal disorders.