How much kefir should a child drink per day

4 Amazing Benefits of Milk Kefir for Children

With so much hype around probiotics these days, many parents wonder: “Does my child need to have probiotics? To know the answer, ask yourself the following questions:

Has my child:

· Been born through Cesaerean section?

· Been bottle fed as a baby?

· Got a tendency to catch infections?

· Been treated with antibiotics recently?

· Got food allergies?

· Got dental problems?

If you answer “Yes” to one or more of these questions, then yes, your child definitely does need to incorporate probiotics in his or her diet! But there are so many in the market. So which one do you choose?

Kefir is a fermented milk drink that has a history of over 2000 years. It originated in the region of Caucasus, EasternEurope and Russia, from where it has spread to many parts of the world. Today, because of its tremendous health benefits, it has become a desirable food to include in the diet in any part of the globe. Kefir can safely be consumed by people of all ages. In Ukraine and Russia it is traditionally given even to very young babies, because it is so easily digestible and so nutritious and helps to build their immune system, especially those babies, who for some reason have not been breast fed by their mothers.

Kefir can be prepared from cow’s, sheep’s, goat’s or any other mammal milk. It is made from a specific starter culture popularly known as “Kefir grains”. These are not grains in the true sense of the word, but a symbiotic combination of bacteria and yeasts (S.C.O.B.Y.), that show up as small, gelatinous masses, somewhat like miniature cauliflower florets. The milk is inoculated with the kefir grains and after about 24 hours they are removed, leaving behind a fermented, sometimes bubbly, tart drink that is kefir. The kefir grains are reused again and again, and as they feed on the lactose in the milk, they grow and multiply.

1. A potent probiotic food

Kefir is a powerful probiotic unlike any other. It contains a large number and variety of different microorganisms, making it a much more potent source of probiotics than other fermented dairy products like yogurt. Whereas yogurt or curd (dahi) have just one or two strains of lactic acid bacteria, Kefir has generally between 30 to 50 (sometimes more) different strains of bacteria and beneficial yeasts! Moreover, the microbes in Kefir are resistant to gastric acid, and so find their way alive into the small and large intestines, where they are needed to do their beneficial work of setting up colonies, helping with digestion, cleaning and maintaining the intestinal wall (to prevent undigested food particles from escaping into the blood stream and creating auto immune reactions and food allergies), fighting the ‘bad’ bacteria and so protecting against infections and carrying out toxins from the body.

2. Helps with digestive problems

Probiotics like Kefir help in restoring the balance of friendly bacteria in the gut that is damaged by excessive use of antibiotics and bad food habits. They alleviate many digestive problems like diarrhoea, bloating and gas. They help to improve various digestive diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), ulcers caused by H.Pylori infection and many other conditions.

3. Builds strong bones and teeth

Kefir is a rich source of calcium, protein and B-vitamins and a wide variety of bioactive compounds such as organic acids and peptides that are very beneficial to healthy growth. In addition to calcium, vitamin D3 and magnesium, Kefir made from whole milk also contains vitamin K2, which aids in the absorption of calcium in bone cells, which is very essential for growing children, as well as it works to strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay.

4. Helps resist infections

Hygiene is sometimes difficult to monitor in children. They touch everything, play in dirt, put things in their mouths without washing their hands and generally ingest more bacteria in the course of the day than careful adults. There are certain microorganisms in Kefir that make it a very potent antibacterial food. The probiotic Lactobacillus Kefiri is unique to Kefir and has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E.coli and Helicobacter Pylori. Kefir contains another antibacterial substance called Kefiran, which is a kind of carbohydrate found only in Kefir. Children who have kefir in their diet regularly tend to build stronger immune systems and fall sick less often.

Kefir has a taste that some people love, but others don’t care for much. And taste is something very important when it comes to getting children to eat anything healthy! If your child likes the taste, that’s great news! But if not, there is a lot you can do to make it palatable, so that they will eat it. Mix it with raw honey and use it as a dressing for a fruit salad. Blend with banana, guava or figs – all high in soluble fibre (prebiotics) that feeds the probiotic microbes – to make a delicious smoothie. Or strain through muslin to drain the whey and mix with natural salt and herbs to make a delicious dip for vegetables like carrots, cucumber, radish, zucchini and bell peppers cut into sticks or cubes. A healthy snack that also contains prebiotics that will feed the probiotics in their gut and keep them thriving! You can even add salt, water and spices to make a refreshing buttermilk to cool them down when they come in hot and sweaty from play. And remember to get them in the habit to drink plenty of water, so that their livers and kidneys can flush out all the toxins that the microbes have collected on their way!

The benefits of Kefir can be enjoyed by all ages of people, from babies 6 months old to grandparents in their late years. People who fall sick rarely, whether young or old, have higher levels of energy, have stronger bodies and tend to enjoy life more, are more cheerful, more creative and more productive. There is no good reason to live a lesser life, is there?

How much kefir should I drink each day?

September 10, 2019

Probably the biggest question asked from people starting out is - how much kefir should I drink each day?

The short answer is to drink as much as it feels right for your body. Easier said then done though right?

As adults, most of us are raised to ignore body cues. The things we crave are usually sugary or fatty things. To make things even more confusing, what about the effects of detoxing? We are told that feeling discomfort is good and needed in order to feel better. Does that apply to kefir?

Or if you are simply looking for a magic starting number then around 1 cup per day (or a little more for water kefir) is a rough average, but more on that later on.

Many people think of kefir as medicine and want to know what the correct dosage is for optimal health.  I've heard back from many people over the years telling me how much kefir has helped them, so even though it has healing properties, its still a food. A natural food with no manufactured ingredients, extra sugar, fake sugars or MSG's that can trick your body. Your body is quite capable of knowing how much is right for you if you listen.

If you like bananas, you know what its like to crave one, but usually no more than one. That 2nd banana just feels too much. Kefir is like that.

You are on the right track if you crave kefir like you would a cup full of yogurt or your favorite natural fruit.

If you look at the jar of kefir and cringe like its some horrible medicine that you have to endure, then something is not right. Either the kefir is not balanced right or you are drinking too much for your body.

For some people, it may come as a shock but kefir should always be pleasant even to people not used to drinking kefir. If it's not pleasant, then its not optimally balanced or its over-fermented. I've seen very picky young kids drink a well-balanced kefir for the first time and they love it. That's how it should be when done right.  Some people want to over ferment in order to squeeze as much health benefits out of it. I believe it should be enjoyable and pleasant first and that will ultimately give you the greatest health benefit overall.

Most people generally do not have any negative symptoms when drinking kefir. But it is fairly common to have minor symptoms when starting out, especially if you have a sensitive digestion. I was in that category when starting out.

The most common symptom of drinking kefir is bloating, gas or some kind of stomach discomfort that's temporary. Kefir typically has a peristalsis effect that causes digestive movement. However, sometimes, especially if you drink too much, the acids can slow down digestive movement. The result can be more bloating or gas starting out until you body adapts. It should be minor discomfort.  If its significant,  stop or cut way back until you feel better and then slowly increase from there if it feels right to you.

If you get a significant reaction from drinking kefir, you may be reacting to the yeasts, lactose, probiotics or acids within the kefir.

Yeast gets a bad name sometimes, but it can be as much a probiotic as the bacteria. Kefir is not just yeast, its a healthy balance between the bacteria and yeast. For some people that balance helps people with yeast issues as we have heard back from people. However, everyone is different and some people have trouble tolerating even small amounts of yeast. We've known people with yeast issues that report back that kefir helps them, but everyone is different.

Kefir does have lactose, but its usually less than yogurt. If you can handle yogurt okay, you should be fine with kefir.

Sometimes the probiotics itself is causing issues. If you have significant gut lining issues or a bad case of leaky gut, then the bacteria and yeast might get through the lining. At that point, it doesn't matter to the body the it's considered good bacteria, the body will still react to any bacteria or yeast that gets through the lining. It's usually more than just bloating or stomach discomfort, its more of a feeling of unwell, sick or inflamed.

If you know or highly suspect leaky gut, then we recommend healing the gut at least to some degree before drinking too much kefir.

Some people with SIBO may have issues as well as there is already an overgrowth of bacteria and adding more can cause more issues.  

Detoxing or 'herxheimer' is when the body is basically cleaning house or healing and getting rid of all sorts of bad bacteria, yeast, fungi, etc. The process can be overwhelming and cause symptoms that make you feel sick. Kefir has many detoxifying properties, but overall it should be a rather gentle process and temporary. Usually much gentler than kombucha. It has more soothing nourishing type qualities.

Some people may feel a little flushed or feverish starting out and that's usually okay, but if it's too intense, you may be reacting to something and its best to take a step back and indulge more slowly.

At some point I'm going to put up a poll and get an official average number, but it seems like the unofficial range is about 1/2 cup to 2 cups per day. This comes from the customer feedback, forum discussion and our own personal observations. The magic number for milk kefir seems to be about 1 cup or a little more. I have heard back from a couple people who drink up to around 4 cups per day, which seems like quite a lot for milk kefir. We don't know of anyone who drinks more than that.

Water kefir and ginger beer plant tend to be more mild (especially water kefir), so drinking a larger quantity is more common. The range seems to be about 1-4 cups with 1-2 cups being the most common. It's also more common to drink up to 4 cups, but probably not much more than that.

Homemade kombucha can be quite potent, especially due to the very low pH. Consuming that much acid content can be difficult for some. The FDA says only 4 ounces per day is safe. Due to its acidity and detoxifying properties, drinking less is recommended. Probably around 1/2 cup (or a little more if you are used to it) each day. 

Store bought kombucha is a bit different. It's a weaker version of the homemade kind, so consuming more of it should not be an issue.

The amount of kefir you should drink ultimately depends on the individual. Kefir is a natural nutritious food, so it's okay to trust yourself to know how much to drink. Just like eating one banana usually sounds great, but that 2nd banana usually does not for most people. Kefir is like that, you will crave it in small quantities, typically around 1 cup per day. The average is around 1/2 cup to 2 cups per day. Water kefir is more mild, so people tend to drink a little more each day.

Kefir is soothing nutritious food and not primarily a detox food. So if you have significant symptoms, it may be something you are sensitive to. It's recommended to cut way back and then slowly increase only if it feels good to you.

How much kefir do you drink each day?

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05/12/2020 37900