Meta-Description: Adding kefir to your diet gives you a healthier gastrointestinal tract and these other five health benefits.

As far as healthy gut food goes, kefir seems to be all the rage for some health junkies but somehow unheard of to many aiming for a healthier and more fit body. For starters, kefir is a fermented milk drink originating from the mountain ranges between Europe and Asia. It is similar to yogurt but has a thinner and watery consistency. It tastes sour and has a slight “sparkly” texture due to the carbon dioxide resulting from its fermentation process.

Kefir comes in four different types: cow’s milk kefir, goat’s milk kefir, water kefir, and coconut water kefir. Regardless of its variation, adding kefir to your diet may give you these five health benefits.

Aids in Digestion

As mentioned, kefir is similar to yogurt in being sour, fermented dairy products. Both are rich in probiotics; however, a 2016 study shows that kefir is a more potent source of live bacteria. The researchers found that kefir grains contain up to 61 strains of yeast and bacteria, making them helpful in your digestion. Regular consumption of kefir may improve your overall gastrointestinal health. Plus, coconut and water kefir are low in lactose, making them safe for those who are lactose intolerant.

May Help Improve Allergies

Because kefir helps balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut, it may help suppress inflammatory responses related to allergies and asthma. Sometimes, allergic reactions may be due to an unhealthy gut. Drinking kefir may help fix this imbalance and restore your gastrointestinal tract’s function to break down food properly and eliminate toxins in your body. People living in colder climates, such as the residents of Metro Manila Hills in Rodriguez, Rizal, may take kefir daily to lower their risks of triggering their allergic rhinitis or itchy skin hives.

Helps Improve Skin Problems

Drinking kefir isn’t just good for your gut. Because it helps cleanse toxins and free radicals from your body, regular kefir consumption can help repair damaged and stressed skin. The fermented milk’s probiotics boost your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals essential for restoring damaged cells and parts. Hence, your skin finds it easier to absorb the necessary nutrients to glow, become more supple, and look more youthful.

Strengthens Bones

Besides probiotics, kefir is also rich in calcium and vitamin K2. These two essential nutrients promote bone health and delay osteoporosis progression. A 2006 study also showed that drinking full-fat kefir boosts your bones’ calcium absorption. It also showed that the vitamin K2 in kefir helps reduce your risks of bone fractures by as much as 81%.

Helps Prevent Cancers

The probiotics in kefir are also found to boost your immune system. According to a study published in 2016, probiotics may reduce the growth of tumors that may lead to cancer. Another study in 2007 found that kefir extracts reduced the number of breast cancer cells by 56%, a rate significantly higher than that of yogurt extracts, which only yielded a 14-percent decrease.

The bottom line with kefir is that it is a healthy drink rich in probiotics and other nutrients essential for your well-being. Choose which kefir type is suitable for your needs and start your journey towards a healthier gut and body.