Water Kefir Grains - What Are They?
There are some kinds of bacteria that can live in harmony with yeast, so that the yeast and bacteria help each other to survive! To do this, the bacteria build a kind of crystal out of sugar particles for the yeast to live in.
The two different types of microbes live in harmony together inside the crystal, which floats in some kind of liquid - usually milk or water.
These crystals join together to form groups called Kefir grains, and it was discovered hundreds of years ago that people could get some great health benefits by drinking the liquid that the kefir grains had been floating in! Originally, Kefir grains were kept in milk, to stop the milk from going bad when there was no refrigeration available.
These types of kefir grains are now called Milk Kefir, as there is also a well-known variety of Kefir that can be grown in water! Water Kefir grains are much the same, but they look a little different.
While Milk grains look like pieces of cauliflower, Water grains look like small crystals.
For this reason, they are sometimes known as Japanese water crystals.
The reason that Kefir grains can be so beneficial to our health is that the bacteria that live in the grains are incredibly good for our digestive system.
By drinking the milk or water, we are also drinking some of the bacteria, which find their way into our intestines and help to protect us against other, more harmful bacteria.
Types of food that give us these "good bacteria" to help defend us against illness and aid digestion are called Probiotics, and there is a great deal of medical research to suggest that these are a good idea! Probiotics are often recommended for people who suffer from digestive difficulties, but may also have other health benefits.
There is much research to suggest that they improve the good/bad cholesterol ratio in the body and help prevent a number of future illnesses (such as colonic cancer, and even respiratory tract infections!).
Probiotics are usually made from dairy products (such as yogurts, milk, etc.
), so those people who have trouble digesting dairy foods sometimes feel they have to give them a wide berth.
This is not the case! Many people who cannot include dairy products in their diet like to grow water kefir grains as a way of including beneficial bacteria in their diet.
The grains can be eaten, used to brew drinks, or simply used to make more grains to share with their family and friends.
Water kefir grains can be made into great tasting probiotic foods and drinks for the whole family! You might even like to start growing your own.
It's really easy to do.
The two different types of microbes live in harmony together inside the crystal, which floats in some kind of liquid - usually milk or water.
These crystals join together to form groups called Kefir grains, and it was discovered hundreds of years ago that people could get some great health benefits by drinking the liquid that the kefir grains had been floating in! Originally, Kefir grains were kept in milk, to stop the milk from going bad when there was no refrigeration available.
These types of kefir grains are now called Milk Kefir, as there is also a well-known variety of Kefir that can be grown in water! Water Kefir grains are much the same, but they look a little different.
While Milk grains look like pieces of cauliflower, Water grains look like small crystals.
For this reason, they are sometimes known as Japanese water crystals.
The reason that Kefir grains can be so beneficial to our health is that the bacteria that live in the grains are incredibly good for our digestive system.
By drinking the milk or water, we are also drinking some of the bacteria, which find their way into our intestines and help to protect us against other, more harmful bacteria.
Types of food that give us these "good bacteria" to help defend us against illness and aid digestion are called Probiotics, and there is a great deal of medical research to suggest that these are a good idea! Probiotics are often recommended for people who suffer from digestive difficulties, but may also have other health benefits.
There is much research to suggest that they improve the good/bad cholesterol ratio in the body and help prevent a number of future illnesses (such as colonic cancer, and even respiratory tract infections!).
Probiotics are usually made from dairy products (such as yogurts, milk, etc.
), so those people who have trouble digesting dairy foods sometimes feel they have to give them a wide berth.
This is not the case! Many people who cannot include dairy products in their diet like to grow water kefir grains as a way of including beneficial bacteria in their diet.
The grains can be eaten, used to brew drinks, or simply used to make more grains to share with their family and friends.
Water kefir grains can be made into great tasting probiotic foods and drinks for the whole family! You might even like to start growing your own.
It's really easy to do.
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