Kefir Lovers/ Is Storebought Okay?

[oceangirl]

Hi all!

I'm thinking of trying some kefir. Is it necessary to make your own? I found some that says "gluten-free". I'm SO nervous to try anything new but I'm thinking I might be ready to try some dairy. Any suggestions or info is greatly appreciated. I've been gluten, soy, dairy, corn, legume and nightshade-lite for about 10 months. I am thinking of becoming a plant and getting nutrients from the sun... and I'm losing it.....

Thank you!

lisa

[oceangirl]

Hi all!

I'm thinking of trying some kefir. Is it necessary to make your own? I found some that says "gluten-free". I'm SO nervous to try anything new but I'm thinking I might be ready to try some dairy. Any suggestions or info is greatly appreciated. I've been gluten, soy, dairy, corn, legume and nightshade-lite for about 10 months. I am thinking of becoming a plant and getting nutrients from the sun... and I'm losing it.....

Thank you!

lisa

To clarify: Gluten, soy, corn, legume and dairy FREE and nightshade-lite. In case that wasn't clear.

lisa

[Lisa]

I am new to this kefir, and interested in your responses.

[Nancym]

Well there's dairy in kefir unless you make your own from coconut milk, like I do. I've heard the store bought kefir is inferior because they use a culture that doesn't include the same kinds or huge number of bacteria. But I suppose it is better than nothing.

I usually alternate between goat milk kefir and coconut milk kefir, hoping that my grains (it's what they call the culture, there isn't any actual grain in it) stay true.

[Helena]

Kefir is probably my favourite food! Tastes great with fruit/maple syrup. I've only seen kefir made with cow's (as opposed to goat's) milk in stores.

I buy this kind: Open Original Shared Link . . . I like the kefir made from non-homogenized whole milk. Seriously, it is way better than ice cream.

When the health food store is out of pinehedge kefir, I buy:

Open Original Shared Link

There is a lot of info. about kefir on this site.

[oceangirl]

Kefir is probably my favourite food! Tastes great with fruit/maple syrup. I've only seen kefir made with cow's (as opposed to goat's) milk in stores.

I buy this kind: Open Original Shared Link . . . I like the kefir made from non-homogenized whole milk. Seriously, it is way better than ice cream.

When the health food store is out of pinehedge kefir, I buy:

Open Original Shared Link

There is a lot of info. about kefir on this site.

Thank you all very much! I will try to find a coconut milk recipe and try Helena's brands. That is, if my body doesn't rebel.

Thanks!

lisa

[TinkerbellSwt]

I just bought Kefir for the first time from Whole Foods, it was like a thick yogurt, but you could drink it. I am not sure if this is what you all are talking about. The one I bought was strawberry flavored and lots of probiotics in it which is what made me try it. Then of course, my dairy issue started, so I havent had anymore than a small taste anyway.. I wasnt crazy about it.. how do you make your own?

[JNBunnie1]

Hi oceangirl, at most health food stores you can find a kefir starter. I would suggest you try it first with RAW goat's milk procured from a local farm. It's expensive, but much less likely to piss off your system. Only do this if you don't have a compromised immune system though, by which I mean AIDs or recent chemotherapy or anything of the sort. Raw dairy produced with modern milking techniques is only safe for healthy adults, not sick ones. Goat's milk is more nutritious as well. I'd ask the farmer if it's grass fed too.

[Felidae]

Kefir is probably my favourite food! Tastes great with fruit/maple syrup. I've only seen kefir made with cow's (as opposed to goat's) milk in stores.

I buy this kind: Open Original Shared Link . . . I like the kefir made from non-homogenized whole milk. Seriously, it is way better than ice cream.

When the health food store is out of pinehedge kefir, I buy:

Open Original Shared Link

There is a lot of info. about kefir on this site.

Thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to try Liberty brand Kefir for a long time. I'm always paranoid about trying new brands because of my gluten fear! LOL

[oceangirl]

Thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to try Liberty brand Kefir for a long time. I'm always paranoid about trying new brands because of my gluten fear! LOL

Thank you for that tip, JNBunnie! I'm on my way to my local health food store now. And, yes, I am PARANOID about "pissing off" my system; it seems to be angry a lot! Thank you everyone!

lisa

[Nancym]

Thank you all very much! I will try to find a coconut milk recipe and try Helena's brands. That is, if my body doesn't rebel.

Thanks!

lisa

I don't think there's any recipes out there. I just made it myself by using coconut milk instead of dairy milk. Seems to work! There's a kefir site out there that has incredible amounts of info about making your own. Just google "Dom's kefir" and you should find it.

[CarlaB]

I buy plain store bought kefir. Flavored kefirs have added sugar ... you can add your own fruit, vanilla, or maple syrup.

Here's an article I found. Open Original Shared Link

Here's another article I saw that says that if your digestive tract is not in good shape it's better to stick with yogurt because of the yeast in kefir. Open Original Shared Link

[oceangirl]

I buy plain store bought kefir. Flavored kefirs have added sugar ... you can add your own fruit, vanilla, or maple syrup.

Here's an article I found. Open Original Shared Link

Here's another article I saw that says that if your digestive tract is not in good shape it's better to stick with yogurt because of the yeast in kefir. Open Original Shared Link

Thank you Nancy and Carla, too. I've had three GREAT days (not eating a lot, but, hey...) so I'm reluctant to stick something new in- but we're on vacation from High school, so this is the week to do it, eh?

Thanks!

lisa