During the past couple of years, kefir has been a debate of many scientists around the world. Its alleged benefits were shortly after confirmed and kefir became a staple of any healthy diet. Since it’s a probiotic beverage, kefir is known to improve digestion and reduce cholesterol. On top of that, kefir is very cheap to make and it can be a very delicious beverage!
In this article, we’re going to talk about water kefir benefits and why you should start consuming it. If you’re already accustomed to this amazing product… well, it doesn’t hurt to know more about it, right?
Table of Contents
Top 10 Water Kefir Benefits
1. Better Probiotic Than Most Milk Products
Not all bacterial organisms are malevolent. Some bacteria can destroy your body, while some of them can rebuild it. With probiotics, it’s actually beneficial. Probiotics are fermented beverages which contain beneficial bacteria that drastically improve your digestion process, which can reduce bloat, stomach pain, and cramps. Many people refer to yogurt as the best probiotic but kefir is actually more powerful. If you drink kefir on daily basis, not only that you’ll have better digestion but also reduce weight, and mental health.
Compared to other dairy products, kefir grains come with up to 61 strains of yeasts and bacteria. As such, kefir grains are a potent source of positive bacteria that can greatly improve your digestion process. Needless to say that yogurt is still a great probiotic. However, compared to kefir which has a lot more strains and yeasts, yogurt simply pales in comparison.
2. Water Kefir Improves Bone Health
In elder people, osteoporosis is one of the most common diseases. This includes deterioration of bone tissue which represents a serious disease if not treated well. Thankfully, kefir comes with an ability to improve bone health and potentially mitigate any possibility of bone structure deterioration. When the bones are weakened, they are prone to fractures, which can cause a lot of problems. As many people say, taking an adequate amount of calcium is crucial and can slow down the progression of osteoporosis, if there’s a need for it.
If you aren’t a vegan, you can also take into an account milk kefir instead of water kefir. We’re saying that because it’s a great source of both calcium and vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 improves calcium digestion and generation and is crucial in reducing the risk of bone fracture by 81%, which isn’t a small thing! Some studies conducted on animals showed that bone structure and bone density were improved upon the introduction of kefir in the diet.
3. Protection from Cancer
In the 21st century, cancer is one of the deadliest diseases out there, if not THE deadliest. Millions of people around the world suffer from this stubborn condition in which abnormal cells in your body grow out of control. The tumor forms and this tumor can be either malicious or benign. As we mentioned in one of our previous articles, researchers found out that kefir can reduce tumor growth by stimulating and modulating the immune system. That being said, it’s quite possible that kefir can fend off cancer.
Scientists investigated this thoroughly. One study showed that the number of human breast cancer cells was reduced by 56%. Compared to yogurt extract which only lowered these cells by 14%, kefir is in clear advantage. However, this study was conducted on animals. People still need to test the positive effects of kefir when it comes to cancer reduction.
4. It’s Easy to Make at Home
Water kefir is ridiculously easy to make at home. If you’re not sure about the quality of kefir you bought, you can only buy kefir grains and do it yourself. Kefir grains are available literally everywhere – in your nearest market or health food stores. Put a tablespoon or two of kefir grains into a jar and pour 500ml of milk or water. To spice things up a bit, you can even add full-fat cream (in milk) or some dried fruit (in water), and leave the jar for around 3 days at room temperature.
Once it’s ready, you can immediately drink it. The best thing about it is that it can’t be too old. You can drink it whenever you want and it can spend months in your cellar. Isn’t that wonderful? Having all those healthy ingredients at an affordable price is something we all want. Here, you get healthy ingredients AND lots of delicious aromas… that’s a win-win combo!
5. It’s Low in Lactose
Both water and milk kefir are low in lactose. Of course, milk kefir still contains some amount but this amount can be almost completely discarded. As for the water kefir…well, there’s no lactose at all! Many people struggle to digest and decompose lactose which then leads to stomach pain and even diarrhea. Thankfully, water kefir is a strong probiotic, even stronger than dairy products, yet doesn’t contain any lactose, which is a relief. On top of that, enzymes in water kefir will help you break down lactose if you ate dairy products previously.
If you want to make lactose-free kefir, be sure to use water, fruit juice, coconut water or any other non-dairy beverage.
6. A Huge Source of Calcium
I know we mentioned the high amount of calcium in kefir but this important mineral isn’t important just for your bones. Your heart and muscles also need some calcium to function properly. Along with vitamin D, calcium can promote increased recovery from cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. In kefir, there’s a substantial amount of calcium. To be exact, 175 grams of kefir will give you 20% of daily RDA for calcium.
Aside from kefir, calcium can be found in dairy products, soya beans, broccoli, cabbage, and fish such as sardines and pilchards. Combined with kefir, this food will let you intake an optimal amount of calcium each day.
7. Lots of Vitamin B
Every vitamin is important for your body and so is vitamin B, which kefir has to offer. Vitamin B can be found in eggs, liver, cheese, red meat, and shellfish but we think that kefir is one of the most delicious ways to get it to your body. Especially important, however, is vitamin B12 that promotes the health of your nervous and blood system. Furthermore, thiamine (vitamin B1) is great for reducing stress hormone cortisol and helps you stay calm. Biotin is one of the important components of vitamin B.
Biotin is a substance that helps your body to digest and use other types of vitamin B. Needless to say that biotin is also responsible for hair growth and its quality.
8. Phosphorus at its Best
Many of you will probably discard phosphorus as a less important mineral. What if I told you that it’s one of the most abundant minerals in your body? Well, that’s true. The truth is also that kefir has a lot of phosphorus in it. Phosphorus is here to help your body and digestive system to easily digest proteins and carbohydrates and turn them into cell growth and energy respectively.
Aside from that, phosphorus is used by bones and teeth. It makes your bones stronger and your teeth healthier. Phosphorus also works in conjunction with your kidneys, making filtering excessive waste in your kidneys much easier.
9. Bacteria Killer
Water kefir is so beneficial for your health that it may help in mitigating various bacterial infections. Unique to kefir, a probiotic Lactobacillus kefiri, is here to fight against some of the most stubborn bacteria out there. This includes Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella, which you can get by eating raw eggs and by not washing your hands.
Kefir also has a polysaccharide called kefiran. This carbohydrate is said to also have some antibacterial properties. However, its efficiency is yet to be examined.
10. Fat-Burning Capabilities
Do you want to burn fat? Simply buy some kefir grains and make yourself delicious water kefir! This beverage is very low in calories and on top of that, various probiotics will make your stomach work like a charm. You won’t get bloated even if you drink a bit more, and you’ll still lose some fat since there aren’t that many calories. If you want something delicious, you don’t need to turn to guilty pleasures. In fact, this one might be called like that, but it’s far from guilty – that’s for sure!
If you’ve read our article from start to finish, you already know why you should start drinking kefir. Its health benefits are so widespread that we couldn’t count them all in this conclusion. Improved digestion, lower cholesterol, cancer protection, and more, are only a fraction of what this beverage can do. Scientists are still examining kefir and it’s quite possible that we’ll get some new revelations about it.
As for this moment, kefir remains one of the best things you can pour into your body. Whether it’s a milk or water kefir, health benefits are almost the same. The only difference is that milk kefir has more proteins and fat, making it a bit less exciting for those on a diet.