If you like plain yogurt, then you are probably a fan of kefir too. The probiotic dairy product is extremely healthy - but it carries a risk.
- Like natural yogurt, kefir has many healthy effects on humans.
- The milk drink can have an extremely beneficial effect on the intestinal flora .
- Too many probiotic foods in the diet can cause problems in the brain *.
Just like yogurt, kefir is a fermented milk product that people in different parts of the world have enjoyed for centuries. As the health benefits of fermented foods began to make headlines in the early 2000s, kefir began to hit store shelves. The milk drink, which is very similar to natural yogurt, is generally considered to be very healthy. But most of them only know the positive effects of probiotic nutrition on the intestines. There is one dangerous catch , however .
What is the dairy product kefir made of?
The basic ingredient of kefir is cow or goat milk. When kefir is made, kefir mushrooms or so-called kefir nodules are added to this milk. These let the milk sugar ferment. In addition, they break down the hard-to-digest substance casein and cause the formation of carbonic and lactic acid as well as small amounts of alcohol .
The kefir ripening process takes about 24 hours. Then the kefir balls are removed. They can be reused. Traditionally, kefir production comes from the Caucasus. From there, it spread around the world in the late 19th century. The name is derived from Turkish. The word "keyif" means "wellbeing" there. The drink looks similar to milk and tastes a little more sour than yogurt. It has a thick, slightly bubbly consistency .
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Why does kefir contribute to a healthy diet?
The fermented milk drink contains plenty of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, as well as numerous vitamins such as B12, B2 and vitamin D . Depending on which milk is used to make kefir, the nutritional content of the yogurt-like dairy product changes. Kefir also contains several bioactive substances . As Eatsmarter describes, these amplify its health benefits.
So-called fermentation is a chemical process that converts organic substances into acids, gases or alcohol. Thanks to him, kefir contains microorganisms that are generally beneficial to health. These are called probiotics . As Mashed explains, these are natural bacteria and yeast that live in the human body. In the case of kefir, it is mainly lactic acid bacteria . The bacteria influence the intestinal flora. Ideally, they ensure their balance, which is so important for an intact immune system and good digestion .
In this way, probiotics can not only prevent diarrhea - but also protect against gastrointestinal diseases such as stomach ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome. Some of the probiotics in kefir also protect against infections , for example lactobacillus. They prevent pathogens such as salmonella or E. coli bacteria from growing and thus damaging the organism. With between 30 and 50 strains of bacteria , kefir contains the most probiotics of any naturally fermented food.
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This detail can make kefir a health hazard
But that is precisely where a possible danger lurks. Because again and again there is an unsightly phenomenon due to probiotics. The bacteria can really mess up the intestinal flora. This leads to confusion, difficulty concentrating, gas and stomach pain . As Spektrum writes, investigations unearthed terrifying facts: those affected who regularly consumed foods containing probiotics had huge Lactobacillus colonies formed in the small intestine. These produce large amounts of D-lactic acid , which attacks the neurons in the brain. This damages the memory , the sense of time and also basic thought processes.
In the small intestine, the typical microbiome there normally produces only small amounts of D-lactic acid. These in turn do not pose a problem for the organism. Lactobacillus from probiotics, on the other hand, convert the sugar contained in the food and generate D-lactic acid: The acid passes through the intestinal wall into the blood and finally into the brain . Because of this, foods that are high in probiotics should be viewed more as a medicine than as a safe dietary supplement. It is therefore better to consume kefir in moderation . (cs) * Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editorial network.
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