What the Crap is Kefir?

Since I have yet to upload the 500 pictures on my phone to the computer, I can't post about anything exciting like our CA trip, or visits from family, or Easter, etc... So I'll opt for a quicky health post. As I've mentioned before, one of the things Scott has done which has drastically helped with his Ulcerative Colitis is regularly drink kefir. For all of you out there who are wondering, what the crap is kefir... well here ya go: 

Disclaimer: I'm definitely not an expert, this is just what I've learned along the way. 

Kefir is a fermented milk drink, with the consistency of watery yogurt, that contains TONS of beneficial yeast and probiotic bacteria. It also has easily digestible proteins, essential minerals, and valuable B vitamins. There are HUGE health benefits to drinking it regularly.

Kefir can help with cancer, herpes, IBS, immune dysfunction, allergies, colitis, leaky gut and many others. It restores the intestinal flora of people who are recovering from a serious illness or being treated with antibiotics. Because kefir can be digested so easily, is a wonderful remedy for digestive troubles. Even though it is made with milk, due to the fermentation process, it's predigested and tolerable to those persons who are lactose intolerant. 

So, enough about why you should drink kefir, now for the how.  

How to Make Kefir:

1. You make kefir at home using kefir grains. The grains look like small white sticky jello balls. The grains ferment the milk, adding all the "good stuff" we talked about earlier. We started with a tablespoon of grains in each jar. With each fermentation, the grains grow a little. You want to ferment the milk with 1 - 3 tablespoons of grains. When there are too many grains the drink becomes really strong. (Really good for your body, but also really had to swallow without throwing up.) After adding grains to the jar, add the raw milk. We use raw milk because the kefir can grow better in it, and provide more health benefits. In super pasteurized milk, the grains cannot grow. You can also make kefir in other liquids, such as water, coconut water, dairy-free milks, etc... 
2. Let the grains ferment 1 - 3 days, with the lids slightly cracked for air to escape. Everywhere you read online will say 18 - 48 hours. However, we've always done 72 hours for Scott. The more it ferments, the more benefits. But, like when you have too many grains, it also makes it more difficult to gulp down because of the taste. Kind of a bitter, sour taste when it ferments for 3 days. I've done one day kefir and mixed it up in smoothies and couldn't taste it at all.
3. After they have fermented, give the bottles a nice shake. Drain into a plastic colander. (The grains aren't supposed to touch metal.) Reserve the juice, jar it, and stick it in the fridge. This is the kefir you will drink. Scott drinks a cup first thing in the morning, and another one right before bed.
4. Rinse the grains in the colander with distilled water. Then begin the process over by dividing them up between the jars. (We always make two, which leaves enough for one person to drink until the next batch is ready.) Add in the raw milk, and voila, you're next batch is ready to ferment!

In addition to the kefir, Scott also takes some natural supplements. He started with all four below, and a strict no gluten, no dairy diet. Did that for two months to cleanse and restore. Now at this point he is only regularly taking the clay and DDS Plus probiotic. He has been able to completely go off prescription meds, go back to a diet that includes dairy and gluten, and is in remission for his colitis. AMAZING.