Superfood of the Week: Health Benefits of Kefir

I am starting something new: Each week one of my blogs will be devoted to one particular “Superfood.”  While no food is the healthiest thing on the planet nor will any one food cure cancer, there are definite advantages to eating certain foods.  My goal is to highlight certain foods for their health benefits.  Hopefully you will learn some new fun facts and try some new foods!                                         

Looking for a nutritious food that tastes great and offers multiple health benefits? Look no further than kefir, my very first super food of the week!

Kefir (pronounced Kee-Fur) is a yogurt-like product that contains seven to 10 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) of 10 different strains of good bacteria! Although yogurt is healthy, Kefir is even more beneficial because of its ability to provide healthful bacteria to support our immune systems. Kefir contains probiotics, clinically proven to balance your body’s internal flora to improve digestion, boost your immunity, help fight off side effects from antibiotics, and much more. Below is a list of health issues that this refreshing product may help with:

• chronic fatigue syndrome
• IBS
• AIDS
• sleep disorders                                      
• depression                                                 
• ADHD
• celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• colitis
• high cholesterol
• immune deficiency
• osteoporosis
• yeast infections

The list of benefits goes on, making this a delicious and beneficial super food! Not only do the healthy bacteria help benefit the body, but Kefir is loaded with essential nutrients as well. Kefir is high in protein, calcium, phosphorous and Vitamin K as well as antioxidants.

Kefir is safe for those with celiac disease and lactose intolerance, and also comes in non-fat, low-fat, and organic versions.

For a nutritional boost to your every day, try the delicious array of kefir flavors. Each is made with ingredients you can trust that will benefit you in many ways.  I love Lifeway’s Raspberry Kefir, but check out the many different flavors and varieties (even some for kids) out there.  Enjoy it plain or flavored, or use it as a base in your smoothies.  Cheers!