Many people confuse kefir and yogurt, but they are actually two different foods that provide different benefits.
Kefir is a thin, slightly fizzy and tangy fermented beverage and there are three main kinds: milk kefir, coconut kefir, and water kefir. It is much richer in fat than yogurt and contains more protein and more probiotics. Although they both offer a variety of benefits for your gut, yogurt only stays in your gut for one to two days, while kefir may remain indefinitely, offering a longer period of support.
How is kefir good for your gut?
- Improved digestion
The level of good and bad bacteria in the gut can be tricky to balance but kefir makes it a little easier. Kefir helps fight off gastrointestinal diseases and counteracts the negative effects of antibiotics.
- Allergy relief
Recent scientific studies have linked certain allergies to the absence of good bacteria in the gut. They suggest that consuming kefir reduced the presence of inflammatory cells that are responsible for disrupting lung function, blocking air passages, and causing mucus buildup.
- Improved skin health
Eczema, acne, rashes, and psoriasis are several skin problems that may be a result of unbalanced bacteria. Even the balance of healthy skin cells is disturbed when the gut is not functioning properly. Kefir helps produce good bacteria in the gut, which in turn helps restore skin to a healthy glow. Kefir may also help burns and rashes heal more quickly.
- Relief of lactose intolerance symptoms
Many people get the healthy bacteria their guts need from dairy products, but those who are lactose intolerant are unable to break down the milk sugar that is activated during digestion. Kefir may help make the lactic acid produced by lactose easier to digest for those with lactose intolerance
