When it comes to gut health, probiotics should be a top priority in your diet. These healthy bacteria help maintain balance and order in your digestive system and may even play an important role in your immune system and in fighting inflammation in your body. While there are many good sources of probiotics, kefir is one of the most convenient and delicious ways to get your daily dose of these gut-friendly microorganisms.
Kefir is “full” of probiotics
This thick, creamy drink is packed with protein, probiotics and flavor. Something between milk and yogurt, kefir can be the basis for the most delicious smoothies.
Plain yogurt and kefir are both fermented dairy products and actually have a similar nutritional profile. However, while calories, protein and calcium remain similar, kefir contains more probiotics than yogurt.
Some studies even show that kefir, which has an average of 61 different strains of probiotic bacteria, contains three times more probiotics than regular yogurt.
When considering how yogurt can support a healthy gut, probiotics are the most important ingredient to look at. This fact makes kefir the best dietary choice for maintaining a healthy gut. However, if you’re not satisfied, the next best option would be plain yogurt, as it has the next highest amount of probiotics.
If you want to eat plain yogurt for your gut health, make sure you choose one with low added sugar, meaning less than 10 grams per cup.
Did you know that…
Kefir is especially recommended for children and pregnant women promotes the proper functioning of the intestines it helps them, breastfeeding women because of its calcium content, as well as the elderly, because it helps them to deal with the unwanted intestinal discomfort they often experience.
Healthy smoothie with kefir
Due to its similar composition to yogurt, kefir can be substituted in a one-to-one ratio (yogurt to kefir). But kefir is thicker than water, milk and plant milk. Thus, it will give your smoothie a thicker and creamier texture.
For inspiration, you can try the following recipe:
Materials
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
- 1 glass of natural lemonade
- 1/2 cup cherries, pitted
- 2 cups of kefir of your choice
Add all the ingredients to a blender and mix well until smooth. Once ready, add ice cubes to the smoothie and you can decorate it with any pieces of fruit you like.