Kefir | Living in Natures Love

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP–Living in Natures Love Lifestyles insideawareness.com

Blueberries in Kefir

Wild Flower Pancakes

Kefir in fruit leather

Strawberries in Kefir

Hair Conditioner

Facial Mask

This spring Kefir was added to the exploration of living foods. This has been a beneficial pursuit and an enjoyable one as we become more familiar with it and find ways to use it. This pro-biotic is proving to be a staple in a sustainable healthy lifestyle.

Second Ferment with Fresh Fruits

One way this Author refines the flavour of Kefir and makes it easier to digest is through a fresh fruit 2nd ferment.

Milk Replacement in Recipes

Another way to enjoy the increased benefits of Kefir is by using it as a milk replacement in recipes. This Author has enjoyed biscuits, pancakes, cottage cheese and more.

Fruit Leather

Exploring ways to make healthier snacks this Author has been experimenting with drying it with fruit into fruit leather.

Hair Conditioner

Creating a home-style hair conditioner with Kefir has had tremendous results. It has increased the health of the scalp and shine and softness of this Authors hair and reduced the grey by restoring the natural colour. Those with lighter colours of hair will appreciate reading that Kefir also stripes the hair of any absorbed material so those with dyed hair may want to be cautious. As a person with lighter coloured hair one becomes familiar with the fact that this hair absorbs small particles that can turn hair a greenish colour or make the appearance of grey yellowish.

Softens hair
Restores natural colour reducing grey
Cleans pollutants out of hair
Cleans scalp (natural dandruff conditioner), increases hair regrowth

Facial and Neck Mask

Adding Kefir to home-made facial masks has had a nice result. There is a noticeable tightening of the pores and skin with increased softness in this experience.

tightens skin & pores
softens skin to baby soft!

Kefir Bathing Treatment

Bathing Experience

Those who culture Kefir will know that there will be an abundance of it once started. Having read the Cleopatra actually used Kefir (not milk) in her baths this author decided to be adventuresome and try it together with an English Daisy infused honey. There was a noticeable difference in how the skin was tightened and softened that took years off. Especially important in the process of loosing weight!

Skin softener – shockingly baby soft!

To read how easy it is to start your own Kefir Culture go to Fermenting Kefir Grains @ Home.

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Recommended:

Get traditional Kefir Grains to Culture

Kombucha, Kefir, and Beyond: A Fun and Flavorful Guide to Fermenting Your Own Probiotic Beverages at Home by Authors Alex Lewin , Raquel Guajardo

Copyright 2014 – 2019 Living in Nature’s Love by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,

Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement since 2000

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP–Living in Natures Love Lifestyles insideawareness.com

Kefir Kit – Get traditional Kefir Grains to Culture

Another exciting opportunity for exploring fermenting foods came my way when a neighbour accidentally ordered two Kefir starter kits and passed one on to me instead of returning it. This was the start of a journey to get acquainted with Kefir. The process of culturing Kefir grains is similar to the symbiotic fermentation process of Kombucha. The Kefir grain has live yeast that eats the sugar during fermenting making it 99% lactose free. This makes it an alternative source of calcium for lactose intolerant people. It is nutrient-dense, with plenty of protein, B vitamins, potassium, and calcium.

The kit came with dried kefir grains that are activated with fresh milk. Much like a scobie used to ferment tea into kombucha, the milk kefir grains culture the milk. When ready the kefir grains are strained out of the kefir and put into fresh milk to start a new ferment. The process is easy and it is cheaper than buying Kefir off the grocery shelf.

Save time & money by making yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese & kefir & whey on 1-4 litres of milk

The process to activate the Kefir grains was simple. as adding them to a cup of milk. This cup of milk was checked regularly for any changed to the texture. When it was noticeably thicker the grains were strained out and placed into fresh milk increasing the amount of milk by 1/2 a cup. This process continued until the milk was increased to 4 cups of milk with activated grains. The cycle between transferring Kefir grains into fresh milk can be 24 hours. The grains can take up to 7 days to be fully activated.

Kefir Grains

When activated they are white and in florets similar to cottage cheese or cauliflower florets. Once activated future fermentation periods is usually 24 hours in a temperature of 64 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers heat can reduce the time to 12 hours or in the cold of winter increase it to 36 hours.

Get traditional Kefir Grains to Culture

Kefir is a Yellow Food for balancing Solar Plexus Chakra

What I learned about the benefits of Kefir

I learned Kefir is a complex milk product that has high levels of vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K2, biotin, folate, enzymes and probiotics. Research suggest It is a power house for probiotics and may be a better choice than yogurt. Kefir contains a higher number of probiotic strains than yogurt and they clean and feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut like yogurt. Unlike yogurt, Kefir probiotic strains stay and colonize in ones gut andcan go out to attack pathogens and bad bacteria in the gut. Yogurt strains are transient and flush out.

Antibacterial & Anti fungal

When tested against a series of pathogens it was found to have similarities to several antibiotics in hindering microbial growth.

Reduce Cholesterol Levels

Kefir grains reduce cholesterol levels in milk 41 to 84% during fermentation.

Healthy Gut

Lactobacillus found in Kefir is used for its ability to regulate the body’s immune system and inhibit the growth of bacteria and parasites pathogenic in nature.

Balancing Blood Sugars

My neighbour began using Kefir on a Doctors recommendation to support a diagnosis of Diabetes

Contains Calcium & Vitamin K

Vitamin K activates proteins that play a role in blood clotting, calcium metabolism and heart health. Calcium helps to build strong bones, protein builds strong muscles, and potassium is essential for heart health.

Allergies & Asthma

Shown to suppress inflammatory responses related to allergies and asthma.

Cancer & Tumors

Believed to reduce tumor growth by stimulating your immune system and has been studied for liver and breast cancer.

Healthy Skin & Scalp

Applied topically anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial has calming effect on inflammations such as acne, rosacea.

Anti-Aging

Lactic acid reduces appearance of wrinkles, tightens pores and improves dry and dull skin. Contain nourishing properties that soothe sun-damaged skin.

Try replacing in Yogurt with Kefir in Dandelion Facial Mask recipe

Get traditional Kefir Grains to Culture

Ways of using Kefir

Kefir can be used in smoothies, recipes and cosmetically! It can be flavoured with herbs and fruits and used replace milk in pancakes, baking recipes and other dishes such as home-made cottage cheese. Rather than add cream to the curds, I have begun to use Kefir.

There may be an adjustment period the first couple of days while your colon integrates the healthy bacteria of Kefir. Stools may become looser and some gas may be experienced.

Get traditional Kefir Grains to Culture

For those with Auto immune disorders check with you Doctor before integrating Kefir into a regular diet staple.

Children under one should not have Kefir

Breastfed Babies receive pro-biotics through breast milk

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