Kefir Opinions

[petlady]

I've seen several threads here about eliminating dairy from the diet. The whole "milk from another species" argument against it makes sense. I've read a lot of positive information about kefir from other sources though.

What are your opinions on drinking kefir as part of a raw diet? Even though it's made using cow milk (or goat milk), it seemed to help my digestion when I drank it about a year ago. I'm considering going back on it instead of commercial yogurt.

[Revvell]

It's not much different than commercial yogurt. If you feel it helps then drink it. I've had it and recommended it when I've had problems with food poisoning or some such yet, if you are looking to be on a raw, vegan diet, this is not the food to be inbibing as it's not raw and definitely not vegan.

What is it you are looking to gain from drinking it?

Revvell

[Pailani]

Carol Alt uses raw kefir. Raw, but still not vegan. I'm not sure where you'd get it, I don't know if most stores will take the risk of selling unpasteurized dairy products. She writes that she gets hers directly from a dairy farm.

BTW, this isn't an opinion, just passing along information. I've read a lot about the bad things about dairy, but I'm not sure it all applies to organic dairy, or raw dairy. I'm personally dairy-free, but I haven't formed a real opinion about whether raw organic dairy is okay for other people. I guess I think there are worse things a person could eat. I guess that's an opinion, isn't it? :p

[petlady]

Kefir grains are pretty easy to get online. When I was taking it (and otherwise eating a very unhealthy diet), I just generally felt better and seemed to have a faster metabolic/digestive rate. Maybe that was just in my imagination though. I've been getting a craving for it lately.

I used to culture it in regular commercial milk from the grocery store. Raw milk just isn't conveniently available in this area.

[podol]

I have been drinking kefir since I was a child. All fermented milk products are not milk per say. The bacterias already eaten up lactose and broke protein in aminoacid. That is why kefir and good yogurt so easy to digest. It is better to make kefir on your own since two commercial brands adding non-fat milk powder and/or starch for making it creamy. The real kefir is not creamy, sour, zesty and has small of spoiled milk. You can find on Internet how to make kefir and history.
You do not need to buy kefir grains. Just buy kefir or buttermilk in the store and use for starter.
Kefir - is a "national" drink in Russia. Second to vodka ,-))))).
In my opinion it does not matter how you will classify yourself: vegan or raw food or whatever. The bottom line you eat what is healthy and good for your individual body. Vegan-shmegan, if it helps you to go bathroom and to have a good dump, do it.

[PixieGreen]

Has anyone else tried to make almond milk kefir? I was too impatient to really get it right, but according to the recipe I read online [and can't find with a quick search] one should be able to make non-dairy kefir. They specifically had a recipe for soymilk kefir so why not raw almond milk?

Christa

[Emadikina]

I meet a guy once who makes his keifer out of coconut milk. I havent seen him in a while and would like to know how he does it. If and when I do see him again I will ask him about it and post it.

[petlady]

I skimmed through the information about coconut milk kefir but it mentions heating. I would be very interested to know why heating is necessary... unless the author simply thought that would speed the growth of the bacteria. Personally, I never had a problem with kefir growing too slowly... usually the opposite! :eek:

My one concern about any type of fruit-based non-dairy kefir would be the actual fermentation. I've read reports suggesting that kefir will turn fruit sugars into an alcohol-like substance, although I've never tried this. Might be interesting for a party though! ;)

[VeganVixen]

you might try kombucha (aka kvass ,i think) ...anyways it IS cultured , easy to digest and offers the same (and possibly many more) health benefits than kefir (which in my opinion is probably the best way to drink dairy ,but why would you do that when you have no-mucus-kombucha :) )


I ~*LOVE* ~ Kombucha! yep , I could marry it!!!! :eek: ---> :p

[petlady]

Hmmm.... kombucha sounds interesting. I see that it's made with black tea though. Does it taste like black tea? I've never really been into tea.

[VeganVixen]

It can be made with black tea ,or green , unless its had ginger juice in it -it *can* be a bit "not-for-the-taste" if you know what I mean , but it taste REALLY good with a bit of ginger juice , it taste sorta like a bitter /sweet spritzer (if that makes sense) ,its VERY helpful ,like liquid energy -I swear( and I'm not a swearin' type a' girl ;) )!!!


You can either brew the tea and ferment it (not herbal tea though),it needs WHITE sugar -the bacteria eats it up and turns it into something else ,so it ends up with very little sugar,calories ect..-NO honey ,its antibacterial ;) ,or you can buy it at a h.f.s. !

[luvnraw]

In the Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine book there are recipes to make kefir out of sesame and I think sunflower seed milk.....I want to do it but am leary about it since I am allergic to dairy and kefir is done in dairy, I wonder if I would have a reaction if I did a few batches without the dairy and then had some? Right now my body is not up for any more reactions but I might try it when I am physically better.....I will have to look up that kombucha and see what it is derived from.....I want to do it to be healthier but yes I want to stay raw and dairy is not an option for me....

[VeganVixen]

In the Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine book there are recipes to make kefir out of sesame and I think sunflower seed milk.....I want to do it but am leary about it since I am allergic to dairy and kefir is done in dairy, I wonder if I would have a reaction if I did a few batches without the dairy and then had some? Right now my body is not up for any more reactions but I might try it when I am physically better.....I will have to look up that kombucha and see what it is derived from.....I want to do it to be healthier but yes I want to stay raw and dairy is not an option for me....



Kombucha is JUST fermented tea ,it has culture ,tea and sugar -thats USUALLY it ,unless natural juice is added :)

[luvnraw]

Kombucha is JUST fermented tea ,it has culture ,tea and sugar -thats USUALLY it ,unless natural juice is added :)

Can you make it without the sugar? I only use agave or stevia periodically....thanks for the info!!

[VeganVixen]

nope , it REALLY needs to be white sugar so the bacteria can eat it up easily-otherwise it wont be as "living"(then it isnt a good option for the raw/living diet ;) ) , but a WHOLE 16 oz bottle only as 60 calories in it , so dont worry about cals !If your worried about weight loss ,dont be - many people claim thats one of the biggest benefits of kombucha

[petlady]

I see a couple internet sources around. Are those generally reliable? I seriously doubt any of our h.f.s. carry it. They didn't even know what wheatgrass was! :rolleyes:

[VeganVixen]

most of them are , Ive found it in Whole foods (in houston) ,so if your next to one try it ......



here is a good website that sedona son posted http://www.kombuchatea.co.uk/how-do-i-make-kombucha.asp

[podol]

Petlady,
All sources can be considered reliable or not. Making any fermented foods are triel and error effort. Different time of year you may different result with kefir.
It takes a little while to find your own algorithm.
Try it.

[podol]

Kombucha is not exactly a fermented tea per se. It is a by-product of the huge fungus. My grandma use to grow this fungus at home for many years. Fungus does feeds on sugar that is added to tea. Actually just sweet water will do. It is a "gruesome" picture and it has a very specific odor. In actuality kombucha, drink is full of exymes (spelling) with in essence are fungus feces. And that is a good thing (Martha Stuart ,-))

[luvnraw]

nope , it REALLY needs to be white sugar so the bacteria can eat it up easily-otherwise it wont be as "living"(then it isnt a good option for the raw/living diet ;) ) , but a WHOLE 16 oz bottle only as 60 calories in it , so dont worry about cals !If your worried about weight loss ,dont be - many people claim thats one of the biggest benefits of kombucha

Thanks for the info but I will have to pass on it then. Not worried about the calories since weight loss isn't an issue I have to deal with, I am actually under weight and have a hard time keeping it on with raw.....I just do not plan on adding sugar back into my lifestyle for health reasons.....but since you love it so much you could marry it, then drink a cup for me :D

[VeganVixen]

Thanks for the info but I will have to pass on it then. Not worried about the calories since weight loss isn't an issue I have to deal with, I am actually under weight and have a hard time keeping it on with raw.....I just do not plan on adding sugar back into my lifestyle for health reasons.....but since you love it so much you could marry it, then drink a cup for me :D



ok !!!! - but now that I think of it ,you might *try* the agave nectar ,I dont know how easy it is for the bacteria break down?........the stevia WON'T feed the culture though...

[luvnraw]

ok !!!! - but now that I think of it ,you might *try* the agave nectar ,I dont know how easy it is for the bacteria break down?........the stevia WON'T feed the culture though...

I will add this to my list of things to eventually try and when I do, will let you know if the agave worked!! Thanks! :rolleyes:

[rawpriestess]

I have found that cashews make an excellent form of keifer.

The reason keifer and yogurt help with digestion, is because they are made with acidophilus, which is a bacteria that helps your digestion, in the intestines.

You could simply take probiotics, which would include acidophilus, lactabacilus, and bifidus.(not positive of the spelling) but these are essential to good intestinal health.

Although I don't take suppliments, if you need help with your digestion, this is a way to do it, without compromising your "raw vegan" lifestyle be consuming dairy.

[lallen13]

A book I am reading right now stresses the importance of making and eating fermented food like sauerkraut to help aid digestion. I guess I had never heard this before. Is that what keifer is? A fermented food?

[VeganVixen]

A book I am reading right now stresses the importance of making and eating fermented food like sauerkraut to help aid digestion. I guess I had never heard this before. Is that what keifer is? A fermented food?


Im not sure if its fermented ,but its cultured (isnt that the same thing?) either way they both are ALIVE and BURSTING with enzyme action ~~~ and I'll throw in an extra orange glow IF you order now...... :p


lol ,I started sounding like a cleaner ad.....so I ran with it


however Kefir ISN'T VEGAN , but kombucha is :D

[rawfigure]

try Coconut Water Kefir !

[karenisraw]

dairy products and meat cause bone loss. I did have a slight problem with yeast infection since going raw and decided to bombard my system with probiotics to eliminated the infection. I took a Metagenics brand probiotic, Culterelle and Kefir for about 4 days because it had 10 strains of bacteria. I got rid of the infection in about 5 days and then stopped drinking it because I don't want bone loss. It was good though to help get rid of the infection.

k :) :)