Kefir

[ladybird64]

I did use the search function but I'm a bit weary and to wade through all the posts will make my eyelids droop...anyway, I wanted to know if anyone who makes their own has bought the grains from a cheap source like Ebay? I want to have a go at making it but I'm a bit nervous about what I might be getting, and can't really spend too much.

Ta

 

[catherinecherub]

I'll tag @Brunneria as I think she makes her own.

 

[Brunneria]

Thanks, CC

Yes, I make my own. Bought my grains from Amazon, and been very pleased with them. They arrived in a tiny plastic bag inside an ordinary envelope, and I really wondered if I had wasted my money. But they have been working their little fluffy toes off ever since, and I am now making about about 400mls a day.

From memory, I think I got to choose from quite a range - full or low fat milk, organic, coconut milk, water (and sugar). All that means is that the grains were already acclimatised to the food source of choice.

I went for FF organic milk, and that is what they have been munching ever since.

Very pleased with them, although I am still quite a newbie, only been making for about 6 weeks. I think.

My main surprise was how much I enjoyed the flavour!

 

[ladybird64]

Thanks Catherine. Brunneria, ta for the help on this - can I ask if there was a particular reason you decided to start drinking this, maybe digestive health? I'm guessing it has no effect as such on BG levels?

 

[Brunneria]

Its the probiotic aspect that made me interested.
I can't remember where, but I have been noticing references to how important the gut biome is, and a while back I started to make my own coconut yogurt (yum, but a bit of a phaff).

Then I read that yogurt bacteria are great, but they don't move in and set up colonies, they just arrive, live for a while, and then die out. So you have to keep eating them, to keep replenishing them.

Kefir colonies are different. they are a combo of fungus and bacteria, and they do (or at least some of them do) move in and set up shop. so there is less need for daily doses - frankly, I have no desire to eat yog every day for ever, whereas a small swig of yog drink most days (aka kefir) seems much more manageable.

As for the bg impact:
My testing was delightfully consistent.
After 250ml of kefir, my BG rises approx 0.5mmol/l at 45 mins, and stays there til 1.5 hours. At 2 hours, it is back down to fasting level, or maybe a fraction lower.

Here is the best site I found for all those FAQs
http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefir-faq.html#leavingkefir

 

[ladybird64]

Brunneria, is it ok if I drop you a short PM?

 

[Munkki]

I got to babysit kefir grains for a friend maybe a year ago. When she came back from her holiday, I returned half of them to her, and ever since I have been using mine with full fat, mostly organic, right now also raw milk. I believe kefir is very healthy, but I had no particular reason why I started doing this. My digestion is quite good, my immune system quite strong, and the kefir could have contributed, I believe. Every few months I have been giving a batch of grains away, but at the moment I need to grow them for a bit longer These babies end up being quite cheap in the long-term and are quite stable too.

Good luck, if you decide to give them a go

 

[ladybird64]

I've ordered mine from Amazon

 

[~Helen~]

I've been making Kefir for around 2 months, using organic whole milk. I have too many grains now, so very happy to post some out to anyone in the UK who would like some.

 

[ardneham]

Where could one buy the best of Kefir in Bern, Switzerland please?

Thanks

 

[Munkki]

Its the probiotic aspect that made me interested.
I can't remember where, but I have been noticing references to how important the gut biome is, and a while back I started to make my own coconut yogurt (yum, but a bit of a phaff).

I am looking into coconut yoghurt at the moment. Do you now add probiotic capsules, or do you simply add a few tablespoons of kefir to let it ferment? Do you have a link?

 

[Brunneria]

There is a thread around here somewhere, maybe 6 months back, maybe more, about coconut yog.

Will try and find it.
Here ya go!
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/coyo-and-home-made-coconut-milk-yoghurt.78518/#post-874697
Should answer most questions, and probably good to bump the thread, anyway.

 

[swarnag]

Can I have some Kafir, @Helen.If you have Xtra please let me know.

 

[letsy]

Thanks for all this info. Id never heard of kefir. I make my own yogurt so think I will give kefir a go too. googled it and found this article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4401881/

 

[Munkki]

Thanks for all this info. Id never heard of kefir. I make my own yogurt so think I will give kefir a go too. googled it and found this article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4401881/

Oh, that is amazing! I think I will generally give more ferments a try, Sauerkraut etc.

 

[Hazeljk]

If i drink kefir do I still need yakult? I have a severe intestinal bug which only

 

[Hazeljk]

Responds to antibiotics then it starts again. Do you need special equipment to make kefir?

 

[Rit13]

I've been making Kefir for around 2 months, using organic whole milk. I have too many grains now, so very happy to post some out to anyone in the UK who would like some.

Hi,
I am looking for normal full fat milk kefir grains.
Pls help
Regards
Rit

 

[Rit13]

Hi Helen,
Are you still making kefir?
I am looking for whole milk grains.
Ta

I've been making Kefir for around 2 months, using organic whole milk. I have too many grains now, so very happy to post some out to anyone in the UK who would like some.

 

[Patstewart]

I did use the search function but I'm a bit weary and to wade through all the posts will make my eyelids droop...anyway, I wanted to know if anyone who makes their own has bought the grains from a cheap source like Ebay? I want to have a go at making it but I'm a bit nervous about what I might be getting, and can't really spend too much.

Ta

I have been making my own for a few months. I bought a kit and culture from Amazon, and Lakeland. I buy grains now from Lakeland, and they are around £5 for two packets. 1 packet makes 1 litre, and can be recultured around 4 times. I use long life full fat organic milk and it takes around 24 hours per lot. Then it goes in the fridge and almost lasts a week. I love the flavour of it. I first tried the stuff they sell in Sainsbury's and kept the plastic bottles which I store my kefir in.
I have an IBS type of problem following extensive bowel survey for a perforated abscess and kefir really has improved it a lot. I drink about 100 miles a day.