Probiotics, are they good for us, and is Kefir better?

Probiotic drinks have become very popular, do we need them or are we doing what the marketeers tell us? And is there a better way to correct the imbalance in our digestive systems?

I am trying home made Kefir the ‘new’ but old, wonder cure for candida and other digestive related ailments.

Nearly 60% of UK households now regularly buy probiotic drinks spending a total of £164m a year. In 1980 they did not exist.

Has our diet changed that much to need these drinks or are we reacting to a clever marketing campaign? That cost £40M. If some experts are right in saying probiotics drinks are destroyed straight away by our stomach acid, 60% of households must think again in these austere times.

Yes, most people drink too much alcohol and eat too much meat, fat, and sugar and not enough vegetables and pulses.

This causes the wrong bacteria to take over our lower intestines and the build up of yeasts such as Candida. These produce toxins that can effect us in many ways.

Candida symptoms include: Inability to focus, Poor memory, Brain fog, Irritability, Anger, Dizziness, Depression, Crying spells, Panic attacks, Low libido, Persistent extreme fatigue, Hyperactivity, Cravings for sweets and alcohol, Insomnia, Poor coordination.

The marketeers tell us that their tasty probiotic drinks will replace the bad bacteria and correct the imbalance in the gut. ‘Experts’ say the bacteria is destroyed by our stomach acid and will not reach the lower intestine where it is needed. Which makes sense.

So I am trying Kefir made from live Kefir grains that turn milk into a yoghurt type drink that is very live, even fizzy. The grains are kept in a jar and convert half a pint of milk in to yoghurt every day. The yoghurt is sieved off and the grains fed with more milk to keep them alive. The yoghurt can be drunk, or mixed with cereal and fruit as desired, and will keep growing and producing Kefir for as long as it is looked after.

I sieve mine in the evening and mix it with whole oats and currants to soak overnight for breakfast. I am hoping the oats will carry the friendly bacteria the whole way through my gut.

Healthy & clever Carrot Man?

I am also trying water Kefir as I would rather not consume so much homogenised milk (see previous blog) these grains are kept alive with sugary water and mixed with fruit to produce a fizzy drink high in probiotics.

You can buy both types of Kefir grains in our MarketPlace and read more about Kefir and how to look after it here. I have got in to a routine to feed my Kefir every day and it is working really well. It has tripled in size so have given some to two friends so far, if I was a regular probiotic buyer I would have saved double the cost of the Kefir in six weeks.

And am I fitter and cleverer, I think so!

Your comments and feedback are welcome below. Anyone been cured by Kefir? If probiotic drinks contain live bacteria why do they last so long on the shelf? My kefir will either keep multiplying or die.