In February of 2007, a co-parent at our boys’ school gave me a batch of what looked like cottage cheese-like, curdled milk. I saw kefir for the first time.
It was only after I did some googling on the internet that I discovered that kefir was one of, if not THE most potent, probiotic there is. It contains different varieties of good bacteria and far outweigh the benefits of products claiming to have lactobacilli and even yogurt.
Since then, that first batch of kefir grains has multiplied over and over again. From just that one batch, I have given out kefir grains to friends and even unknown persons who ask for them — many times over. And up to this day, our household continues to culture it, harvest its liquid and drink it plain or as a smoothie (for the kids). Our youngest, who used to consume Yakult by the pack (that comes in packs of 5 bottles), has totally switched over to kefir smoothies, thereby saving me quite a sum of money.
Kefir is not a miracle drug and does not claim to be so. But its powerful live organisms have been known to normalize the digestive tracts of people suffering both from diarrhea and constipation. Other kefir users I have come across on the internet have claimed it boosts the immune system, lowers high blood pressure and reduces the effect of acne (it can be used as a facial mask too!).
With the H1N1 virus threatening the world and who knows what other diseases are out there waiting to explode, it might be good to take a second look at kefir and see if its benefits go beyond just the ones we know so far. At the very least, if it boosts our immune system, we could stand a better chance resisting whatever viruses there are out there.
Here are links to my older posts about kefir:
Thank you, Jane, for sharing the goodness of kefir. I just did my 5th harvest today. My kids love fruit smoothies made with it. The first benefit I saw is that V got well from a 3-week viral diarrhea. She took the potent 1st straining “booster” – straight! Brave girl, hahaha.
@imom – Wow, bravo to V! So happy they love the kefir smoothies. Hope it helps our kids stay healthy.
This is the first time I hear about Kefir, and it’s an information worth sharing, especially during this time when all kinds of diseases just crop up.
I will definitely continue the conversation. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
@Meikah – You’re welcome and yes, we moms should do whatever we can to keep our family healthy.
Gud day! I bought a bottle of prepared Kefir a few months back. It is quite expensive but i researched about it, and was amazed that i can actually make it myself. but i have no Kefir grains to start with. Can you please send me some grains?? My mom tried the kefir i brought a few months back and was addicted to it because it cured her stomach problems. How can we get the kefir grains?? I am from Guadalupe, Makati City. I would appreciate your kefir grains and help. thanks.
I heard about this Kefir when one of my clients handed a brochure which looks like a probiotic drink containing Kefir. But from your posts, yours is the raw kind. Have you heard of this drink too? How is it different from the ready made drink? Coz some are not confident and don’t have the time to culture the Kefir grains.
I hope to try this out after I’ve given birth! 😉
Shall we propose Kefir to the Farm Town people? Hehehe.
I have started making my own kefir at home because my son has allergies. I drink about 8 oz a day and it has been a week. I don’t mind the tangy taste of it but I begin to put on weight. I have done some research online; found only few individuals indicated the same phenomenon. I wonder if there are more people out there like the few of us who drink kefir and put on weights?
Where can i purchase some in the Denver Metro Area
@Lisa – Oh, I am sorry but I don’t leave in the US. You may want to google ‘kefir grains’ and try to locate one near you. Good luck!
Hello Jane,
How can I avail some of your kefir grains. Would love to experiement on how to culture them and share them with some of my friends who are not getting any younger.
Please send me an email at philipgarcianeri@yahoo.com,
Many thanks and God Bless,
awesome write up on Kefir! I just did a post myself and then came across yours. Isn’t it amazing stuff?!!
@mydarlinglemonthyme – Kefir is truly something else. My current batch comes from the same kefir grains given to me in 2006.
Dear Jane, I am a father and will do anything for my kids to be healthy. Thank God for this blog of yours. I live in Sta Maria Bulacan. Please help me, how can i have a culture? is it for sale? Please reply… God bless.
@Mike – Hi and thanks for writing. I give my kefir grains out for free but pickup needs to be arranged. Right now, some readers are in line for them and I only have my personal kefir to divide up so I am trying to do this on first-come, first serve basis. Will email you privately.
I am based in Minnesota and have been nurturing my grains for a while. I’d like my mom, who is Manila, to make and drink kefir too and I stumbled onto your blog. I use organic non-homogenized whole milk from grass fed cows for my kefir. When I was still based in Manila, the milk that I drank were the ultra-pasteurized kind and from what I have read it is not recommended for kefir. What kind of milk do you use? And is it readily available?
Thank you very much for any info you can share!
hi! im form cebu city i was wondering if you supply or sell kefir grains? thank you and God bless. a reply is much appreciated. please contact me at 09228221089. 🙂
My kefir grains ‘died’ unfortunately. I’m waiting for friends to give me from their batches. Unfortunately, as you’re in Cebu, even if I did I won’t be able to send it there. Try sourcing from your area first.