Kefir

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What’s Kefir?

Kefir is a cultured, enzyme-rich food filled with friendly micro-organisms that help balance your “inner ecosystem.” More nutritious and therapeutic than yogurt, it supplies complete protein, essential minerals, and valuable B vitamins.

Kefir is simple and inexpensive to make at home.
Kefir is used to restore the inner eco-system after antibiotic therapy.
Kefir can be made into a delicious smoothie that kids love.
Kefir is excellent nourishment for pregnant and nursing women, the elderly, and those with compromised immunity.

What if I’m lactose intolerant, and don’t do dairy? Or don’t digest milk products well? Is kefir right for me?
The beneficial yeast and friendly bacteria in the kefir culture consume most of the lactose (or milk sugar). Eat kefir on an empty stomach first thing in the morning before (or for) breakfast and you’ll be delighted to find it can be easily digested — as numerous people who have been lactose intolerant for years have discovered.

Why Kefir is better than Yogurt

How to Introduce Kefir Into Your Diet

Some people thrive on kefir right from the start and others may need to proceed more slowly. Remember that people with candidiasis lack milk-digesting bacteria, so you may have to build up your “tolerance” of kefir. Start with about four ounces in the morning on an empty stomach. Every second day increase the amount until you are able to drink a full eight ounce glass.

If you are just beginning the therapeutic version of the Body Ecology Diet’s health recovery program, it might be best to wait three to six months before introducing kefir. You may first need to clear your body of accumulated toxins and see your symptoms disappear. Moreover, people with candidiasis have what Chinese medicine calls the condition of dampness. Unfermented and improperly combined dairy products can lead to even more dampness and excess mucus. Here are some suggestions for introducing kefir while conquering dampness.

Eat Body Ecology Diet foods, which are drying.
Use proper food combining techniques to make kefir less mucus-forming (see the Body Ecology Diet 7th Edition).
Drink plenty of water and eat grains that have been soaked and then cooked. These add moisture and fiber to the colon.
Clean your colon. If a colon is free of blockages, kefir is tolerated more quickly. We have found that people who report having trouble with kefir, often have not followed the advice on colon cleansing. You probably also need to add acidophilus and bifidus bacteria to your small and large intestines. These wonderful bacteria also help to clean and improve the health of your entire digestive tract.
Be sure to get adequate exercise. Exercise stimulates the colon and improves elimination.

Why Kefir is better than Yogurt

Tips for making perfect kefir from milk.

Print these Tips

Time and temperature are two important factors that determine how thick and tasty your kefir will be. In the warmer months kefir may be ready to drink in 18 hours. If you let it sit out too long at room temperature, it will become thick and eventually start turning into cheese and whey. If your kefir is “lumpy” and too sour, you are definitely leaving it out too long. It should be creamy and “drinkable”…a little thicker than milk. At this point, shake it well and place the kefir into your refrigerator. It will thicken a little more since it is continuing to culture, but at a much slower pace. Making kefir is an art, not an exact science. With each batch you make, adjust the time until you get it just the way you like it. Each area of the country and each kitchen seem to be a little different. Donna finds that her kefir always cultures faster for her in California than in Atlanta.

Body Ecology’s starter culture is just that…a starter. After you start your first batch of kefir (in milk or the liquid from the young coconut), you can use a small amount of that first batch to make your second batch. How much to use is included in the instructions found in each package of starter. If you transfer too much kefir from one batch to the next, you’ll create a product that cultures too fast and tastes too sour. You can make about 7 such “transfers” from one batch to the next. After that, the yeast start to get crowded out by the more aggressive lactobacillus.

María

Please, could anybody tell me if it is possible to have the kefir after warming?. Thanks.
Harrell or Elaine Whitener

My wife and i live in Cherokee County Alabama,which is North East Alabama right on the Georgia Alabama border and would appreciate any help in locating some Kefir grains and talking to some one with knowledge about Kefir and how to make it.Thank you..Harrell
- YVONNE
  
  DID YOU FIND SOMEONE TO GET YOUR KEFIR GRAINS? I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE CLOSE TO GET SOME GRAINS. USED THE POWDER KIND… REALLY GOOD TASTING BUT I AM FINDING THAT THE GRAIN IS MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL. I AM FAIRLY CLOSE TO YOU IN GA. THANK YOU,
April

I have kefir grains for sharing! Please help, they are eating me out of house and home! 😉 I am in Northern Virginia. email me cjacksonrun ala gmail. 🙂
- Brent Fisher
  
  I would like some Kefir grains also. Will you send some to me to?
- Karen
  
  I would love some Kefir as well. Can it be shipped without damage? If so please let me know what you charge.
- Susan
  
  Not sure about your email address…I’d love some. [email protected] In Maryland
- Susan
  
  In return, I’ll send you an Amish Friendship Bread starter!!
  - Mj
    
    are you sharing it for free?? [email protected] from Richmond 🙂
- Mj
  
  are you sharing it for free?? [email protected] from Richmond
- Deborah Gunn
  
  You still have the grains?
- Patrick Cardine
  
  Hi April,
  
  I would love some grains. Please let me know how to get them, I live in Norther VA and have dairy goats would be happy to trade.
  
  thanks,
  Patrick Cardine
  [email protected]
mary

No offense meant to Body Ecology Diet’s health program. I will do more reading on it, and what is obtainable where I live. Mary
mary

My Mom had a kefir plant for many years in South Africa, maybe even before that, in Zimbabwe, and called it yoghurt, perhaps because of it’s real name pronunciation or maybe she was told it was yoghurt. I was delighted to obtain some live grains recently in Australia, now buying a book through Amazon called Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, it has many good recipes for making ie sauerkraut, other vegetables, baking, cheeses, fish sauce etc. Goodbye additives 🙂 hello good old homemade.
I also learned about ‘oil pulling’ yesterday..imagine that! What else is there that we don’t hear about? Apart from the really weird stuff 🙁
Mary
Jack

I got my kefir grains from a member of a local Weston A. Price Foundation club … at one of their chapter meetings. She gave me about 2-3 tablespoons of the grain covered in raw cow’s milk in a plastic seal-tight bag. I added about two cups of raw whole cow’s milk to the mixture (in a mason jar with loose fitting lid), set it out on kitchen counter for 24 hours, and voila … just great!!! Don’t heat the milk (either before or after fermentation) — that destroys much of the nutritional goodness in the raw, unpasturized milk. You can use store-bought milk if the “good stuff” is unavailable to you.

I added some honey and vanilla to it to make it drinkable. To the remainder, I added maple syrup and some orange juice to taste. MMMmmm good. Check out “www.westonaprice.org” for the low-down on Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts.

This was not meant to be a commercial; I just wanted to share a website that has opened my mind to the wisdom of returning to some of our long-ago traditions.

PS: The website I cited (above) will help you find local sources for kefir grains, instructions on how to make kefir or yogurt, and where like-minded traditionalists (whole food junkies) meet. The WAP Foundation has 523 chapters in the USA, and 78 chapters in twenty other countries. “To better health.”
- Jack Pogue
  
  Susan , thanks for the info..I not unlike you and many others, believe that traditonal
  approaches are much more apt to retun resulst than modern medicine.. I shall
  check out that web site and will send you a website of a local chiropractor that
  has a radio show that you can call in and ask questions relative to your individual
  physical ailments and he will give you advice on how to begin to maximize your
  health..You can get his show on the web and call in from anywhere…
  
  Thanks you for sharing the websites…I greatly appreciate your help….
- kristin
  
  Thanks for the info. I checked out your link and didn’t understand how to navigate the webpage. Could it be a typo?
Erika

I have water keifers n i wanted to know if water keifer the same mil keifer or if the water once can turn into milk once??
Thank You God bless You
- Shabine
  
  No,, they are 2 different types of grain. I have just been given one starter for both. The water one reminds me of cider and my husband adds flavored syrup to make it sweeter. I add a little lemon to mine.
Ruben M

I also have kefir grains which I love to share for those in need so let me know if you do I live in Ottawa, Canada
- Bev Ully
  
  I am interested in your kefir grains. I did get a few from someone in Ontario, just got them today and
  have them in some home-made coconut milk and milk from the store so don’t know if they will survive.
  There are only about 4 grains. Is this enough? Maybe I should have put them in just a small amount
  of milk to get them growing. I’m just really anxious to have something to drink. If I don’t produce more
  kefir grains I would like to contact you again. Thanks
  - Carolyn
    
    Hi Bev… could you let me know who you got your Kefir from? Would love to try.
    Thanks
- Kristen D.
  
  Would you be willing to send some by mail to London ON? I would be happy to mail you some postage stamps to cover cost of shipping.
- Tanya Collins
  
  Hi Ruben M,
  
  Am interested in your kefir grains please. I live in central Ottawa – please let me know how I can get these from you.
  
  Best,
  Tanya
- Lois
  
  I am interested in obtaining the kefir that you add milk to. Let me know if this is what you have and cost sending to Sidney BC
  Thank you, Lois
- Rashmi
  
  I will love to have Kefir grains. I live in Ottawa. Do you still have some to share?
- Vedo Sanjari
  
  Dear Reubin,
  I would love to have some kefir grains to make water coconut kefir. I have a son diagnosed with Autism, and I would really like to get him started on Kefir. By the way I live in barhaven, Ottawa. Please let me know if you still have some to share. Greatly appreciate it.
Ninju

I live in Ghana. Can anyone help me with Kefir grains or starter?or where in Ghana can I get it to buy
laird

I began making kefir in August of 2010 and my last batch of kefir( June,2011) was my 40th batch from the original 2010 culture. The culture is just as active and good tasting as it was the first time I used it.
- Tammy
  
  I recently started using kefir and absolutely love it. While undergoing a parasite detox for the small intestine it coats so well you can literally feel it. I know people with IBS that I shared grains with and to their surprise they no longer have pain in the stomach. It is such an easy process and so worth it to the your ecosystem that everyone should be on it for a season in the year.
Esther

Hi, I have kefir grains for sharing in Alicante, Spain.
Des Battiss

Hi,
I have live Kefir grains available. I live in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa.
It’s not a huge amount and is free to anyone wishing to start their own Kefir culture.
Cell No. 083 400 7684
- Lavinia
  
  Hi
  Please could you help me with some kefir grains. My cell no is 076 7002521
  Greetings
  Lavinia
shalinder

where i can find milk kefir grains in india?
shalinder

where i can firn milk kefir grains in india
- Perry N
  
  check this website out for people who share kefir grains. This list has two places in India where you can contact for kefir grains.
  
  http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php
Melanie

Kefir is a lifestyle change! I used to have chronic upset stomach…i never went to the doctor for it because i thought everyone had it.i started drinking kefir when i was 16 years old. When i told my mom that kefir cured my chronic upset stomach, that’s when my mom told me that having a daily upset stomach was not normal.kefir was a god send to me.I didn’t know there was a life without an upset stomach.it fixed my digestive system, and I have lost weight because of it. Also i was diagnosed with mono last fall, supposedly a six week illness, and i drank kefir everyday and it shortened my illness by over two weeks! I have turned my whole family to this product, and my boyfriend family, my bfs mother has diverticulitis, and she drinks kefir regularly as well. This product has so many wonderful things to help our bodies stay strong. I will drink this delicious stuff for the rest of my life.thank you makers of kefir! You have fixed my health problems, and i lead a happier life because of it. Thanks again!
- Marianna
  
  I am currently on milk kefir and need to try water kefir because milk products do have inflammatory properties which affect me. I went to several health food stores in town and had no luck, and I can find plenty of receipes for water kefir sodas online, but I can’t find out where to order it.
  
  I’d greatly appreciate if you could let me know.
  Thank you,
  Marianna
Crystal Rhodes

I have about 6 times the amount of grains I started with and some have grown as large as small prunes. Does this mean they are bad now? Some had gotten so large that I broke them apart into smaller pieces. I think I have too much now as I’m making about a half gallon of kefir in 24 hours no problem. Also I had not been shaking my batch as it made so the curds and whey were separated. Is that also bad? I feel so lost on what I should or shouldn’t be doing.
- Perry N
  
  Crystal, you can list yourself as a kefir provider on this website. That’s how I got mine via this website. Those who want grains can contact you and if they’re local, they can pick it up from you. Thanks.
  
  http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php
Linda Leeth

How can I get another copy of the instructions for making the Kefir? Inadvertently, I either threw away or somehow destroyed
the instructions that came with the packet I ordered. Can you help me please. Thank you, Linda Leeth
- Bill
  
  Dear friend,
  
  I am fairly new in this adventure /cultivating kefir/
  
  I traveled in Europe and I fallen enjoying KEFIR. For a while we tried to find and buy from local stores and health food outlets.Some not even know what I am asking.
  
  Finally stupid of me searched in the Internet and I learned a great deal about it
  
  First I ordered seed and I get a very strange liquid substance with wierd smell.
  
  How ewer I started and brilliantly succeeded.
  
  I recommend you do the same way and you can be sure you will succeed.
  
  PATENT,and TIME
letty

Hi, I’ve been reading the different comments on kefir.I’m really interested to find where I could get this.Please help me. Thanks
- Perry N
  
  http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php (may be your local city has someone listed on this website who can give you the grains)
John Drummond

I know the word “Kefir” is actually an age old fermented product, and I don’t mean to incite a controversy or debate over your name “Kefir'”, but you must be aware that in South Africa it is probably the most offensive racial slur word directed against blacks (especially during the ignoble Apartheid era). Unless, of course, you live under a rock. What’s next , “Kyke” juice ? Or “Spic” tonic ? I would like to see your marketing plan for South Africa. I guarantee you that if you even attempt to introduce ‘Kefir” to South Africa, you will have full blown riots in your hands, especially in Joburg. I am going to start a Facebook and Twitter campaign against such brazen racism. Read what Wikipedia has to say about the “other” definition of “Kefir”: kaffer or kaffir – derogatory word for a black person; as in “Don’t call me a kaffer”. Equivalent in offensiveness to “Nigger” in USA. Derives either from the Dutch word “kaffer” meaning ill-mannered or clumsy, or the Arab “kafir” meaning infidel. Kefir, Kaffer, Kaffir,Kafir, if it sounds like a duck, then it must be a duck!
- Lenoard Polenz
  
  That’s kaffir, you idiot, not kefir.
  - L. Bresie
    
    This is not South Africa.
- joann
  
  Hello,
  This product has been around longer than South Africa has been a country therefore the racial slur to which you refer could not possibly be a slur. Also, having spent time in South Africa, the previous reply is correct, the slur is kaffir. Further, the word is not pronounced as it appears, rather it is pronounced KAY FEAR. So, please find another thing to become militant about.
- B.S. Smith
  
  John, I’ve also heard that Kiefer Sutherland is outraged by these active cultures and their blatant disregard for an otherwise awesome name. I guess his peers are now referring to him as “Milky Sutherland” in a vain attempt at schoolyard humor.
  - Mike
    
    Good luck with your crusade John. I think the word idiot is spelled the same and means the same thing in “Joburg” as it does here, where at least for now people still have a right to their own opinion and can use a site like this to exchange information about an excellent, healthy lifestyle and product. Someone really needs to get a life.
- Lee
  
  There are many people in S.A. that has the Kefir culture going, I am not sure about Joburg, but there are a few in Cape Town and Durban. You can spell it the way its pronounced then as Kefeer. Not everyone is narrow-minded to think it as racism when this has absolutely nothing to do with race. You need to do a bit more research on what this culture is, there are many books and websites you can check out for more info.
- boris
  
  hay john you should stop playing with your doodle
m. teresa

Me gusta y es muy recomendable, tengo y lo mantengo;quisiera que me indicaran recetas sin leche, no puedo consumir nada que contenga calcio, lo tengo estrictamente prohibido por el medico por que produjo calcio en exceso, le estaría muy agradecida de poder volver a consumir kefis.
- Rosa
  
  Hola Teresa,
  
  Puedes culturarlo en leche de coco, leche de almendars, leche de soya, practicamente cualquier clase de leche de nueces o semillas. Yo lo estoy culturando en leche de soya, de coco y apenas empece con leche de almendras.
  
  Tamiben Puedes usa el Kefir de agua, que dependes lo que le heches, pero te da un sabor a tepache. Comunicate conmigo si quieres kefir de agua, tengo suficiente para compartir.
  
  Rosa
  - raquel
    
    hola, he leido que tienes suficiente kefir de agua para compartir. me gustaria que me mandaras un poco, ya que ultimamente no paro de tomar antibioticos por una cosa y otra y el medico me lo ha recomendado. Si puedes mandarlo lo agradeceria. Dime si necesitas un sobre con sello o como lo harias. gracias de antemanoy saludos
    - Rosa
      
      Hola Raquel,
      
      No habia checado este blog, Mandame un email a [email protected] si todavias nececitas el kefir, tengo kefir the agua y kefir the leche, Tengo granos secos y frescos.
      
      Rosa
  - Mariana
    
    Hola Rosa, y ese kefir de agua lo puedo usar con leche tambien correcto? a mi tambien me encantaria poder obtener un poco si no es molestia. Gracias
    
    Mariana
    - Rosa
      
      Hola Mariana, tu tambien comunicate conmigo at [email protected], y no el kefir de agua solo lo puedes use con agua o jugo, pero tambien tengo kefir the leche. Mandame un email.
      
      Rosa
  - Nicole
    
    Donde se compra el kefir? a mi tambien me gustaria tenerlo. Es como el Activia??? o el yakult??
    - Rosa
      
      Hola Nicole, you tengo kefir, comunicate conmigo, y es mucho mejor que el activi, y el yakult.
      email me at [email protected]
      
      Rosa
  - Maria
    
    Hola Rosa, Podrias compartir tu kefir de agua? bueno, si todavia tienes extra para compartir.
    Por favor hazme saber si te debo algo, incluyendo gasto de envio . He tenido muchos problemas
    estomacales, espero esto me ayude.
    Gracias de antemano
    Maria
    - Rosa
      
      Hola Maria, comunicate conmigo a [email protected], todavia tengo kefir, ya que crecen como locos si les das lo que necesita. Yo tambien tenia problemas estomacales por mas de 15 meses, y al mes de empezar a tomar kefir, mis problemas estomacale eran bien leves, ahora no tengo problemas stomacales, nadamas cuando como de mas LOL
      
      Rosa