Kefir Is Easy To Make At Home
If you are unsure about the quality of store-bought kefir, you can easily make it at home.
Combined with fresh fruit, kefir makes for a healthy and scrumptious dessert.
Kefir grains are available in some health food stores and supermarkets, as well as online.
You can also find many blog posts and videos that teach kefir production, but the process is very simple:
- Put 12 tablespoons of kefir grains into a small jar. The more you use, the faster it will culture.
- Add around 2 cups of milk, preferably organic or even raw. Milk from grass-fed cows is healthiest. Leave 1 inch of room at the top of the jar.
- You can add some full-fat cream if you desire thicker kefir.
- Put the lid on and leave it for 1236 hours at room temperature. Thats it.
Once it starts to look clumpy, its ready. After you gently strain out the liquid, the original kefir grains are left behind.
You can now put the grains in a new jar with some milk, and the process starts all over again.
Its delicious, nutritious and highly sustainable.
Shop for kefir grains here.
Summary
Probiotics And Kidney Health
The application of probiotics to kidney health is an emerging area of medicine that has only recently come into the public eye in America. Experts have debated how to define probiotics. One widely used definition, developed by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is that probiotics are live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.
A normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of probiotic bacteria that control and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system. Probiotic organisms makeup 95% of the total number of cells in the human body. Some good bacteria are absolutely necessary for overall health and not just bowel health. In normal good health, some bad bacteria that cause disease are crowded out by good bacteria. Intestinal bacteria can benefit health by breaking down toxins, synthesizing vitamins, and defending against infection. They may also play a role in preventing such diseases as peptic ulcers, colorectal cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Increase An Important Vitamin
Vitamin C provides vital support to your immune system, which will allow it to fight infections naturally. Vitamin C also raises the acid level in your kidneys, making it difficult for bacteria to live and grow inside them. Eat plenty of vitamin C-rich foods daily including kiwi fruit, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits. Find out how to make your own vitamin C supplements.
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Kidney Stone Pain Can Be Excruciating As Our Contributor Knows From Experience How To Avoid This Little
It shouldn’t come as a surprise: A kidney stone diet will mean a reduction in salta habit that’ll help your health in multiple ways.
Phanuwatn | Dreamstime
According to the National Kidney Foundation, its estimated that 1 in 10 people will have a kidney stone at some pointthe prevalence has more than doubled since the late 1970s, and its nearly double in men compared to women. A few years ago, I had kidney stone surgery to remove three large calcium oxalate stones that were causing me terrible agony. If youve ever had a kidney stonehopefully you havent and never willthen you can understand what Im referring to. Pain and discomfort are often but not always present. The condition is not entirely understood however, current research shows that when it comes to prevention, diet mattersa lot. What you eat, avoid eating, and drink might be your best defense. In short, a kidney stone diet can help you manage the condition.
A kidney stone is made from chemicals in your urine. Crystals form when you have too much waste and not enough liquid. The crystals become larger when theyre not passed out through your kidney. Though not fully understood, the causes of kidney stones can be found at this National Kidney Foundation page.
On my journey to becoming stone-free, I learned a lot about foods that are safe and unsafe on a kidney stone diet. The following information is key to a kidney stone diet.
Ditch The Pain Relievers
You might think that taking pain relievers might be the answer to your pain, but actually over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin even acetaminophen are very, very hard on the kidneys. Studies show that heavy use of pain relievers greatly increases your risk of developing kidney cancer. Keep reading: We have a few methods that can help to ease the pain while your kidneys are healing.
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Are Blueberries Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease
Are Blueberries Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease? Do you know the answer to this question? Help us to provide better answers by becoming a contributor.
What summer fruit salad is complete without them? Not only are blueberries tasty, but they are also the ultimate superfood containing many health benefits for both you and your dog. Blueberries provide so many health benefits for dogs that many dog food manufacturers have added them into their dog food formulas. Yes, whether you feed them fresh, frozen, dried, or mashed, blueberries are a safe treat for your dog. Dogs can gorge on the sweet berries, so keeping them separated from your dog is a smart idea. Fresh blueberries are most often given to dogs in their raw form. Frozen blueberries are safe, but can present a choking hazard, especially in small breed dogs. Blueberries are very versatile, and dogs eagerly accept them.
How many blueberries can a dog eat per day? 10 blueberries
Can dogs eat blueberries everyday? Feeding Your Dog Blueberries You can feed your dog both fresh and frozen blueberries. As with all treats, make sure to only feed your dog this fruit in moderation. Blueberries are small, which means you dont need to cut them up. All treats should make up no more than 10 percent of your dogs daily diet.
Probiotics May Benefit Patients With Ckd
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Certain studies have indicated that consumption of probiotics may improve gastrointestinal function and slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.
According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Medicare spends approximately 25% of its money on treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease,Kristin Nelson, BS, and Joseph Wysocki, BS, of Michigan State University, wrote in their study. This disease impacts nearly 30 million American adults, with many more at risk of developing the disease. Treatment for these patients includes diet modification, lifestyle changes, renal replacement therapy and kidney transplantation.
For this investigation, researchers focused on diet modification, reviewing evidence on the effects of probiotic supplementation on CKD.
One of the many complications patients with CKD experience, according to the researchers, is constipation . Constipation caused by low fiber intake, low fluid consumption, lack of activity and other comorbidities can lead to alterations in the gut microbiota and bacterial overgrowth in the stool. The bacteria produce uremic toxins and are associated with the progression of CKD.
These studies show that the regular consumption of probiotics has the potential to improve the quality of life in patients with CKD, the authors wrote.
- yogurt
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Kefir And Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications In Human Health
- 1Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
- 2Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, Center for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- 3Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición , Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- 4Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- 5Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies , Food Institute, Madrid, Spain
Dangers Of Kefir No One Tells You
Like many things in this world, what works for one person isnt right for another person, and this includes the delicious kefir.
For some people, adding kefir to their diet can be downright dangerous. Read on about the 7 dangers of kefir no one ever mentions.
If you are allergic to milk, you should not drink kefir made from dairy milk as it can cause a serious, life- threatening allergic reaction.
Kefir is also made from substitute milks, such as rice milk. Those products should be safe for your consumption. Always read the labels to avoid an allergic reaction.
While some studies have found that kefir is a good drink for diabetics since it lowers blood sugar levels, some brands of kefir, especially those that are fruit flavored, can contain a great deal of added sugar, something diabetics need to avoid.
Diabetic should always read the label to determine sugar levels and not be influenced by words on the package. For example, an 8-ounce serving of low-fat strawberry kefir has 20 grams of sugar, so if you think that the natural honey flavored kefir is a better choice, think again. Eight ounces of honey flavored kefir has an astounding 38 grams of sugar.
The fermentation process naturally produces alcohol. While the amount of alcohol in kefir is normally less than 1%, those who are sensitive to alcohol or those who are in recovery and want to avoid alcohol entirely, should be aware of this.
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The Best Calcium Sources For Kidney Stones
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No doubt about it, eating enough calcium is a critical part of a healthy diet for people who have calcium kidney stones. But, what is the best way to eat enough calcium?
*Please note that this post contains clearly identified affiliate links. If you click on these link and choose to make a purchase, I may receive a commission .
Does Kefir Cause High Blood Pressure Nausea And Kidney Stones
There are a lot of different drinks that you can take advantage of today, and some can help you with overall good health. One of those options it that of kefir, which is a fermented product that is usually made of slightly sour dairy products that have an additional element of probiotics to help with digestion. Now, it is possible to make this drink without dairy, but its often a dairy based solution. The best way to understand what this is can be found with the solute of drinkable yogurt. This is a lot similar to drinkable yogurt and it can help with creating a good balance of nutrition for the body, including healthy digestion, metabolic rate increase, and in some people, weight loss overall.
What Exactly Is Kefir?
The first thing that you should know is simple, kefir is a drinkable dairy beverage that can be purchased as a stand alone solution, or you could make it at home with a kit, or even a probiotic pill and some dairy or non-dairy elements. The main goal here is simple, giving the body a great deal of positive probiotics that can help with creating relatively good health benefits.
Can Kefir Cause Problems?
In fact, youre not going to get any of these things from drinking kefir on a regular basis. Now, there are some individuals that cannot digest dairy, and if thats the case, youll want to focus on changing things up, because you will want to avoid dairy based items.
Can Kefir Be Made Without Dairy?
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Reasons To Enjoy Kefir
Here are 12 reasons why kefir may be right for you:
- 1. So Many Benefits A large variety of potential benefits from probiotics have been revealed through science, including improvement in intestinal tract health, enhancing the immune system, decreasing the prevalence of allergy in those who are susceptible, reducing risk of certain cancers, treating colitis, lowering serum cholesterol concentrations, reducing blood pressure in hypertensives, and improving female urogenital infections.
- 2. Better than Probiotics Kefir is better than probiotic supplements because one capsule of man-made probiotics usually contains about 15 million beneficial bacteria. In comparison, one small glass of fresh kefir contains about 1.5 trillion beneficial bacteria. In probiotics, its all about the numbers!
- 4. Goes Beyond Yogurt Kefir contains certain beneficial bacteria that are not available in yogurt, including Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, Streptococcus species, Saccharomyces kefir, and Torula kefir.
- 6. Kefir is a potent detoxifier, producing substances that inhibit or eradicate harmful bacteria like salmonella and H. Pylori, the bacteria that powers most gastric ulcers.
- 7. Helps Defeat Some Cancers Recent research showed that kefir was able to kill colon cancer cells and stop their spread. This research was done with cell lines.
- 11. Kefir can be consumed by the lactose intolerant, because the fermentation process produces the enzyme lactase.
Lupus: Probiotics Could Help To Reduce Kidney Inflammation
A friendly bacteria found in yogurt, kefir, and many other dairy products could help to reduce kidney inflammation in women with lupus, a new study suggests.
Researchers have found that adding Lactobacillus to the diets of mice with lupus-induced kidney inflammation also known as lupus nephritis led to improvements in kidney function and increased their survival, but only in female mice.
Lactobacillus are a type of good bacteria that reside in the digestive, urinary, and genital systems. These bacteria are also present in yogurt, kefir, and other fermented foods, as well as dietary supplements.
While further studies are needed to confirm the possible benefits of Lactobacillus, the researchers believe that their findings indicate that women with lupus and kidney inflammation may benefit from taking probiotics.
Study co-author Xin Luo, from the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, and colleagues recently reported their
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Four Myths About Kidney Stones
If you’ve ever had a run-in with kidney stones, then you’ve also had a run-in with a relative/neighbor/obnoxious over-sharer who has the home remedy that fixed them right up.
And while unsolicited after-dinner medical advice may sometimes sound reasonable, there’s a lot you need to know about your own kidney stones before you start adjusting your diet based on Aunt Alice’s latest stone story.
“You don’t want calcium because that’s what stones are made of, so ditch the milk.””Oxalates are bad, so stop eating foods like chocolate, beer, soy, nuts, spinach and coffee.””And if you feel a stone coming on, start drinking lots of cranberry juice to get rid of it.”
You’ve probably gathered lots of advice and home remedies in your battle against kidney stones . But many of grandma’s homemade fixes may actually do more harm than good when it comes to the specific composition of your kidney stones and the reasons why you are forming them.
What are kidney stones? They’re crystal-like formations of the excess minerals in your urine. This simple answer leads to simplified and problematic responses. The logic: Identify what you’re consuming, and reduce whatever the stone is made of.
Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones
All that said, there are some always-good-for-you options that can also help prevent stones.
Here’s a short list of recommendations to consider.
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Fluids of all types are safe, because they increase urine output and that’s a big goal. Dilute urine is your best friend in preventing stones, so drink up.
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There are benefits to balance, so eat more fruits and vegetables. “I can’t think of a reason why they wouldn’t be safe for anybody,” said Penniston. “A variety of fruits and vegetables can provide stone prevention benefits for most people. There are some foods like fruits and vegetables that, if we eat more of them, can reduce some of the major risk factors of most types of stones.”
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Bacteria can be a good thing. The gut microbiome is the hottest new topic when it comes to nutrition. And it turns out that the bacteria that live in our GI tract probably do have a lot more to do with our overall health than we think.”Some of the therapy that we do is aimed at optimizing the gut microbiome, and to do that you have to eat foods that will sustain a healthy colonization of bacteria, like fiber and fruits and vegetables,” said Penniston. “Cultured foods like yogurt, and kefir or fermented foods aid the microbiome directly by introducing more bacteria into the digestive tract.”
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The Health Benefits Of Kefir
Milk kefir has a number of confirmed health benefits. However, there is very little research on the health benefits of water kefir, which is a different type of beverage because its fermented by another microbial culture.
The health benefits of kefir are not just for digestion, they actually influence other parts of your body, including your immune system, heart, and inflammation. The effects of kefir are not always immediate, and drinking one glass of kefir will not solve your problems.
Studies show that kefir can improve health when people drink it regularly . However, many online claims that remain unfounded. For example, theres no proof that kefir benefits skin health, or that it has exceptional weight-loss powers. As for the question, is kefir fattening? There is equally no evidence that drinking kefir causes weight gain.
Signs And Symptoms Of Kidney Issues
What is renal failure , and what are some symptoms that someone might be experiencing it? Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys stop working well enough to keep someone alive. This condition is characterized as sudden loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, conserve electrolytes and maintain fluid balance.
Acute kidney injury is the term commonly used to describe patients whose kidneys suddenly stop functioning as they normally should. Chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, describes the gradual loss of normal/healthy kidney function.
Some patients with kidney issues or even kidney disease wont experience any obvious symptoms. However, if sudden failure of the kidneys occurs, this quickly becomes an emergency situation as symptoms tend to progress quickly.
Kidney disease symptoms tend to worsen with time and can begin with:
- Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite
- Fatigue and weakness
- High blood pressure
Kidney failure symptoms normally include:
What increases someones risk for kidney issues? Risk factors for experiencing kidney disease/kidney failure include:
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