Kefir (1 Viewer)

[MandP]

Good morning,

I am recovering from surgery and have had a lot of different medications and what seemed like umpteen doses of antibiotics via a drip.This has resulted in my gut flora taking a big hit!

I am fairly sure I read on one of the forums that someone drinks this daily and in fact makes it?

I am not sure how much I should drink and when, so would be grateful for any advice.

Many thanks

 

[Fontie]

Someone where I used to work swore by it she made her own and brought some in for me OMG it tasted revolting proper horrible, she said keep drinking it you will get used to the taste ewwww I didn't just made me want to puke. I think its like Marmite you either love or hate it. Loads of info on the net on making your own.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

I make it fresh everyday . We drink a glass before breakfast and a glass before bed and have done for several years now .
If it tastes horrible it’s not right .
It’s just like a tart, drinking yoghurt .
If you want to you can flavour it by blending fruit in it . But we just have it how it comes .
Just google kefir loads comes up about it and it’s health benefits .
Obviously fresh home made is best . Shop bought isn’t as good . But better than nothing .
This , I’ve just come across whilst taking a look , tells you a bit about it and it’s benefits.
https://selfhacked.com/blog/kefir/
Btw it’s best to start with a little bit . Drinking a glass full would be too much to start off . As I said there’s lots of very interesting stuff on the net about it .

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[Madcaravanner]

Actually no need for it your gut will get back to "normal" (for you) naturally
a lot of these probiotics are rubbish as very little of the "flora" in them reaches any further than the stomach where the natural Hydrochloric Acid kills 99% of germs

 

[canopus]

It’s just like a tart drinking yoghurt .

You don't see that many tarts drinking yoghurt.

 

[JeanLuc]

A broader answer than just to the question you asked, but I recommend you get a copy of ‘The Clever Guts Diet’ by Dr Michael Mosley. Very instructive with plenty of advice on gut health. Most importantly, he researches his work and often tests things on himself (as seen on his TV programmes).

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[gus-lopez]

It has made a differnce to my stomach having started taking it a few weeks ago.

It’s just like a tart, drinking yoghurt .

You'll have to explain that one

 

[TheBig1]

It’s just like a tart drinking yoghurt .

You don't see that many tarts drinking yoghurt.

from memory. most preferred to spit it out

 

[JeanLuc]

It has made a differnce to my stomach having started taking it a few weeks ago.


You'll have to explain that one

Ah, the importance of punctuation!
Reminds me of ‘Eats, shoots and leaves’

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[MandP]

I make it fresh everyday . We drink a glass before breakfast and a glass before bed and have done for several years now .
If it tastes horrible it’s not right .
It’s just like a tart, drinking yoghurt .
If you want to you can flavour it by blending fruit in it . But we just have it how it comes .
Just google kefir loads comes up about it and it’s health benefits .
Obviously fresh home made is best . Shop bought isn’t as good . But better than nothing .
This , I’ve just come across whilst taking a look , tells you a bit about it and it’s benefits.
https://selfhacked.com/blog/kefir/
Btw it’s best to start with a little bit . Drinking a glass full would be too much to start off . As I said there’s lots of very interesting stuff on the net about it .

Hi Bev, how would I go about making it please?

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Hi Florencee
Once you have the Kefir grains , it’s easy .
Broken Link Removed
I got mine several years ago. They are still multiplying and growing strong . I put them into hibernation in the fridge if we are going away and don’t want to carry on brewing it,
If you were going on a rally or meet that we were going to, I could bring you some .

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

The top pic are my actual kefir grains freshly drained , just now .
The bottom picture is the grains swimming in full fat milk .
Tomorrow I’ll strain them again ( to get the kefir ) and put them back in the jar add fresh milk and leave to ferment. That’s it . Done .

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

It has made a differnce to my stomach having started taking it a few weeks ago.

I’m glad it’s working for you
It’s so full of goodness for your gut .

 

[MandP]

Thanks to everyone who kindly replied, much appreciated.

 

[MandP]

View attachment 284523 View attachment 284524
The top pic are my actual kefir grains freshly drained , just now .
The bottom picture is the grains swimming in full fat milk .
Tomorrow I’ll strain them again ( to get the kefir ) and put them back in the jar add fresh milk and leave to ferment. That’s it . Done .

Thank you very much for these instructions.Going to have a look now online and buy some grains.
Best wishes

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[Grianan]

Interesting .... I’ve had a lot of antibiotics recently and the nurse recommended a probiotic drink. I did look at shop-bought kefir and noticed berry and honey flavours in Tesco. I hope making it is easier than cultivating a sour-dough starter ... mine would not stay confined to a kilner jar, even in the fridge.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Look after them and they’ll last you indefinitely. They just keep multiplying. When they do we eat a spoonful of them ( it’s like chewy tart cottage cheese ) and even give the grains to the dog too.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Interesting .... I’ve had a lot of antibiotics recently and the nurse recommended a probiotic drink. I did look at shop-bought kefir and noticed berry and honey flavours in Tesco. I hope making it is easier than cultivating a sour-dough starter ... mine would not stay confined to a kilner jar, even in the fridge.

It’s very easy to brew. Then we just store it in a big 6 pint plastic milk bottle in the fridge. Adding the fresh batch to what ever is left of the day before. The longer it ferments , the more good bugs are in there.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir

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[AndrewL]

Thank you very much for these instructions.Going to have a look now online and buy some grains.
Best wishes

If you are on Facebook join the UK Kefir Group - members share grains without charge. I got my grains this way, and have given some to others when they've grown enough.

 

[MandP]

Thank you.
Best Wishes

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Good morning,

I am recovering from surgery and have had a lot of different medications and what seemed like umpteen doses of antibiotics via a drip.This has resulted in my gut flora taking a big hit!

I am fairly sure I read on one of the forums that someone drinks this daily and in fact makes it?

I am not sure how much I should drink and when, so would be grateful for any advice.

Many thanks

I think my gut bacteria was killed off following a course of antibiotics. I felt terrible nauseous and bloated. I've been living on a regime of natural Greek yogurt, kefir, oats broccoli and a variety of beans. All meant to restore healthy gut bacteria. It has taken about 3 weeks but I'm starting to feel better. Sauerkraut is supposed to be good too but I just hate it. Good luck. it's worth a try.

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[Dorset Diver]

My gut flora was damaged by medication. I self medicated with Kefir, it made things much worse. I was prescribed VSL#3 which helped, but in the end stopping the drugs and time worked best.

 

[SmithsInFrance]

We get a sachet of powder from the organic shop and mix it with milk, just leave on the side until it goes thick and then pop in the fridge. Then to propogate, we pour some milk out of a bottle, top up with some of the kefir and again leave to thicken. It's delicious, like a drinking yoghurt.

My sister gave me some of the grains and it was HORRIBLE. Tasted like sick to be honest and grew so quickly we would put it in the fridge to slow it down, but it got to the stage where we were frightened to go in the fridge! I called it Puppy as it seemed such a lot of constant hard work . So then we went back to the powdered form.

However, I think the 'grains' like yours are supposed to be much better. Were we just unlucky and need to have another go? Or is the taste really quite strong?

 

[wardj2010]

Hmmm, not sure about all this 'hocus pocus' - I have really bad gut reaction following three severe bouts of food poising inside six months, Doc thought I had developed IBF - did some research onto probiotics and discovered pre-biotics. Sourced a supply from Peak Practice and taking a teaspoon full in warm water all resolved in 2/3 months. There is an important difference between the two types and how they work and are affected by your natural defence mechanism. Worked for me???

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

We get a sachet of powder from the organic shop and mix it with milk, just leave on the side until it goes thick and then pop in the fridge. Then to propogate, we pour some milk out of a bottle, top up with some of the kefir and again leave to thicken. It's delicious, like a drinking yoghurt.

My sister gave me some of the grains and it was HORRIBLE. Tasted like sick to be honest and grew so quickly we would put it in the fridge to slow it down, but it got to the stage where we were frightened to go in the fridge! I called it Puppy as it seemed such a lot of constant hard work . So then we went back to the powdered form.

However, I think the 'grains' like yours are supposed to be much better. Were we just unlucky and need to have another go? Or is the taste really quite strong?

It shouldn’t taste like sick . Or look like it !
It’s not sweet though , like I said previously it’s like an unsweetened rather tart yogurt. Some Days it’s thicker than others , but I think that’s due to the temperature of the kitchen when it’s brewing, more than anything. If it’s fizzing or hissing out of the kilner jar it’s too warm . Or you’ve too many grains in there for the amount of milk you’ve got in the jar .
It’s literally a 2/3 min job to strain and top up with milk again on a morning. Worth it for all that goodness vitamins and probiotics in our opinion. Give it another go .

 

[SmithsInFrance]

It shouldn’t taste like sick . Or look like it !

Then we were going wrong somewhere.... Will give it another try, thanks . If you spot me competing at the next Olympics you will know it's worked lol

 

[Hollyberry]

It's easy enough to make but if you prefer a yoghourt texture to a drink, get a pot of Kefir in Sainsburys or Morrisons. It tastes amazing ( especially the coconut one). Think it's £1.75 for a large tub. Sorted me out after mega antibiotics for diverticulitis at Christmas.

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