Nutritionists say that whole milk is not compatible with any food products, and it is advisable to drink it separately. But kefir, thanks to its unique composition (completely different from milk), combines perfectly with a lot of products.
Why can a drink obtained directly by fermenting milk be consumed with other foods, but milk itself cannot?
The fact is that in the process of preparing a fermented milk drink, part of the proteins breaks down, and the lion's share of lactose (milk sugar) is converted into lactic acid, which is an excellent accelerator of the process of digestion of food received at the same time. It is thanks to lactic acid that kefir is a dietary product that significantly improves the condition of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive processes.
Varieties of kefir
Every store sells many varieties of this amazingly refreshing, tasty and healthy fermented milk product. It is produced with various fillings (fruit, berry), it is enriched with probiotics (bifidobacteria, acidophilus and lactobacilli), it comes with a reduced or increased content of lactose, protein and mineral salts.
Kefir - benefits and harms are determined by its composition and varieties. You can verify this in any supermarket. There is fat kefir (3.2%), low-fat (2.5%) and low-fat (0-0.5%), and depending on the degree of ripening it is divided into weak (one-day), which has the lowest percentage of lactic acid and alcohol and strong (three-day) - a strong drink with an acid and alcohol content of up to 0.65%).
Depending on the type of kefir and the method of its preparation, it has different effects on the body. For example, nutritionists recommend drinking weak kefir for constipation, and three-day kefir, on the contrary, for indigestion and dysentery. But all varieties of the drink undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on the body, increasing its tone and defenses.
How kefir helps you lose weight
Even after a three-day diet on kefir, you can lose a couple of kilograms, and those who like the drink can start looking for new clothes in a smaller size.
Benefits of kefir for weight loss:
- increases metabolism
- quickly fills you up thanks to its protein content
- improves the ratio of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract
- stimulates the immune system
- lowers cholesterol levels
- prevents and treats urinary tract infections
- treat irritable bowel syndrome
This miracle remedy also has disadvantages:
- Long-term use may cause stomach upset.
- If you go on a diet for more than seven days, you can end up exhausting your body.
- To make the diet more effective, at the end of the day it is necessary to do cleansing enemas, which cannot be called pleasant procedures.
- The kefir diet is strictly contraindicated for people suffering from rheumatism, gout and rickets.
Therapeutic properties of kefir
Regular inclusion of the drink in the diet:
- normalizes the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract;
- enhances intestinal motility;
- eliminates dysbacteriosis;
- Helps cleanse the body of free radicals and carcinogens.
- increases immunity;
Not everyone knows that up to 80% of immune cells are located in the intestines, which is why the health of the entire body directly depends on its condition.
When consuming kefir, the load on the heart and blood vessels is reduced due to better and faster breakdown of incoming food. This probiotic drink, taken an hour before bed, is especially beneficial. If you make it a rule to drink this healing drink every evening, you can significantly lose weight, normalize stools, cleanse yourself of waste and toxins, and increase your metabolism.
List of contraindications
If you drink kefir in large quantities if you have stomach problems, it will harm your health. Chronic diseases can worsen during weight loss, and then you can end up in a hospital bed.
You should not lose weight this way if you have the following contraindications:
- allergy to milk protein;
- increased stomach acidity;
- ulcer in any of its manifestations;
- chronic or worsened gastritis;
- pancreatitis;
- tendency to bloating and flatulence;
- individual intolerance.
So losing weight with kefir is not suitable for everyone. In order not to harm your health, before starting any diet (for example, kefir-apple diet), it is best to undergo a medical examination and consult with an appropriate doctor. Otherwise, the results may not please you, but may seriously disappoint you. In addition to contraindications, you need to know a few more nuances for successful weight loss in this way.
You need to know this! When choosing to lose weight on kefir, keep in mind that during this period of time you will not be able to engage in serious mental work, since you simply will not have the strength for it. This amazing product relieves tension and relaxes the nervous system in a matter of minutes.
Compatibility of kefir with various foods
The beneficial properties of kefir depend on how well this drink is combined with the products that we simultaneously consume with it.
There are a number of products with which kefir is contraindicated:
- whole milk;
- seafood;
- fish;
- eggs;
- meat.
Products with which kefir should not be combined, but still possible if necessary:
- legumes;
- mushrooms;
- seeds;
- nuts.
Products that, when consumed simultaneously with kefir, have an excellent effect on all organs and systems:
- bran, fiber;
- vegetables, including leafy greens;
- fruits, including dried fruits;
- berries, including dried ones;
- juices;
- Bee Honey;
- jam and other sweet preparations;
- bread;
- whole grain.
How to make weak kefir at home
For sourdough, you can use pharmaceutical compositions or a regular store-bought drink. For every 200 ml of homemade village milk, you should take 5-6 ml of ready-made kefir. Then the liquid is placed in a jar in a warm place for a day and your healing one-day drink is ready. You can drink it yourself, or you can prepare medicinal cocktails.
What products can replace kefir in your diet if you can’t eat it?
Kefir contains milk fungus, which increases acidity in the stomach. Therefore, for persons suffering from high levels of it, the diet is contraindicated. But there is a solution to the problem: replacing the fermented milk drink with a special starter. This is a ready-made mixture containing several types of bacteria. It can be purchased at pharmacies or specialty stores. At first glance, the mixture does not look alive at all. But the bacteria are simply dried in a special way to increase shelf life. When they find themselves in a favorable environment, they come to life. And you get homemade delicious kefir, which you can prepare if you follow the instructions on the package.
Kefir cocktails for health and weight loss
Drink with apricots
Useful for diseases of the heart and blood vessels: atherosclerosis, arrhythmia, hypertension, as well as for the prevention of anemia, stroke and myocardial infarction.
Recipe: During the 2-3 season, soften the apricots with a fork and mix with a glass of kefir. And the rest of the time, instead of fresh fruits, you should take dried apricots or apricots (after removing the seeds from them). Dried fruits are soaked for several hours in warm water, then crushed with a knife or blender and mixed with the drink.
Kefir with prunes
Dried plums, as well as fermented milk drinks, normalize digestion, relieve constipation, help strengthen intestinal motility and significantly improve its bowel function. Therefore, the combination of kefir with prunes is a miracle cure for the intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract.
Recipe: Wash several fruits, remove the seeds and soak for 3 hours in cool water, then chop the fruits with a knife and mix with kefir, and drink the water in which the plums were lying in the morning on an empty stomach. To enhance the cleansing ability and greater antibacterial effect, add a little honey to the finished cocktail.
Kefir with strawberries
This delicious nutritious cocktail is an effective remedy for metabolic disorders, pancreatitis, obesity, peptic ulcers and problems with the heart and blood vessels. The drink also relieves swelling, improves immunity and saturates the body's cells with antioxidants.
Recipe: Mash two heaped tablespoons of fresh berries and stir in a glass of kefir. Instead of fresh berries in winter, dried, frozen or ground with sugar are used.
Drink with grated apples
Apples are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, organic acids, pectins, dietary fiber and iron. The cocktail is useful for obesity, heart and vascular diseases, as well as for normalizing blood composition. In addition, apples are available almost all year round.
Recipe: To prepare the drink, grate one apple and mix the pulp with a glass of kefir.
Options for kefir diets
Nutritionists around the world have developed many varieties of the kefir diet, which we will talk about now. However, they differ from each other in terms and restrictions. The more rigidity, the shorter the duration.
A significant disadvantage of all diets is the psycho-emotional stress. Are you mentally ready to withstand such a test? The most important thing in diets is psychological attitude. Losing weight should be a conscious and correct goal. If you force your body, force yourself to do something that you don’t really want to do, you can fall into a state of stress. And this already threatens prolonged depression and the emergence of health problems. Therefore, perceive diets not as a duty, but as a benefit for your own body.
Kefir diet for 3 days
And here is the toughest (and therefore short-term) option. The diet consists of 1.5 liters of low-fat kefir and two liters of water.
Fasting one-day kefir diet
A fasting day does not always bring the desired results, but at least such a short program is easier to complete than a long-term dietary restriction. Here the menu is similar to the previous option.
Winter kefir diet for 3 days
The winter diet is more varied and nutritious than the summer diet. Kefir is used as a snack, for an afternoon snack and before bed: one glass each. The permitted products are the following:
- chicken eggs;
- cabbage;
- potato;
- carrot casserole;
- chicken fillet;
- honey;
- fruits;
- fish.
You can eat any product from this list only once during the entire diet (three days). It’s hard to call this option strict, would you agree? You can lose up to 1 kilogram per day. But will this result be long-term? Alas, of course not. After all, it’s excess fluid that goes away, not subcutaneous fat. And it will instantly fill “its capacity” again when the restrictions are lifted.
Kefir diet for 5 days
The program is similar to the three-day version. The difference lies in the addition of one kilogram of fruits or vegetables per day, as well as the ability to eat lean meat.
Harm of kefir to health.
In order for a fermented milk drink to bring maximum health benefits, you need to know about some contraindications to its use.
When does kefir harm our body?
- If you have gastritis and stomach ulcers with high acidity, you can only drink a fresh drink, otherwise heartburn will occur, which will worsen your condition.
- You should not go on a kefir diet when trying to lose weight. This can negatively affect the immune system, since not all vitamins and minerals along with other beneficial substances are present in this drink.
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not consume kefir. Even small doses of ethyl alcohol present in the drink are undesirable for the developing fetus and small child.
- Don't forget to look at the expiration date of the drink when you buy it at the supermarket. It should be no more than 7-14 days. If kefir has a longer shelf life, it means it contains preservatives.
- A single dose of kefir should not exceed 200-250 ml. Large amounts of it can cause increased gas formation.
Everyone really likes kefir and the benefits it brings to us. It is easy to avoid harm if it is used incorrectly. You just need to know the features of this drink. Kefir fruit cocktails greatly improve its taste and bring even greater benefits than pure kefir.
By including kefir in your diet, you will provide an invaluable service to your own body, improve performance and good mood for many years. Be healthy and cheerful!
Well, friends! I believe that kefir should definitely be included in the diet of any person who cares about their health. Since it goes well with berries and fruits, try to drink just such tasty and healthy kefir cocktails.
What are the benefits of kefir after meals?
Kefir 30 minutes after eating a fatty meal will help the body cope with the digestion of food. After each meal and at night, drink a little kefir for preventive purposes to maintain microflora. In the evening, kefir will populate your intestines with beneficial flora, which can help your gastrointestinal tract during sleep. A glass of kefir after a meal will help you lose weight, but at the same time, the food portions themselves should become smaller. Add cinnamon, ginger and honey to the drink, the result will be more pronounced and the taste will be pleasant.
