How Effective Is Kefir for Your Acne?

Kefir Grains - Improve Your Skin

By Erin Schroeder 

Probiotics such as kefir grains are an excellent way to improve your skin. Instead of spending a lot of money on commercial brands of medicine for treating skin problems, add water kefir to your diet every day in addition to healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and see many skin disorders improve drastically, anything from acne to more serious and persistent disorders. Kefir is exceptionally healthy, and flushes toxins from the bloodstream even as it aids in digestion and helps prevent many other diseases, anything from colonic cancer to heart disease.

Flushing toxins out of your system with the good, "pro-life" bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria, commonly known as "intestinal microflora", help the function of the digestive tract by discouraging the growth of unfriendly, harmful bacteria, and yeasts such as "candida", which can exacerbate skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

Lactobacilli improve nutrient absorption, and bifidobacteria produce B-complex vitamins which are essential to skin health, and inhibit harmful nitrates. The good bacterias found in kefir grains also improve your skin by eating up all the excess sugars which can cause blemishes and acne on the surface of the skin, and can enrich its nutrients and tone.

Kefir has amino acids and proteins, as well as biotin, and probiotics have been shown to modulate the immune system of the gut and protect against infectious and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improve skin. There are many products on the market that make bold claims to clear away acne and improve skin health, however many of them don't do a whole lot except either mask the problem or provide a temporary way to take away the surface symptoms without treating the root cause of them.

There are soaps that dry the skin and strips that remove blackheads, when the root cause may be a poor diet consisting of a lot of processed, sugary foods with little nutritional value that are difficult to digest and result in bad skin, particularly among adolescents. What drinking water kefir does is aids digestion of foods, restoring the balance of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal microflora, cleaning out the root cause of many problems in the body, including skin diseases of many varieties and types.

Drinking plenty of water to hydrate your system and eating a healthy diet, as well as taking vitamins will, of course, contribute to developing healthy skin, and B vitamins are essential to good skin as they eat up other B vitamins and regulate your kidneys, reducing your chances of skin ailments and acne.

Taking kefir water grains can and will improve your skin as it helps digest foods that are difficult to break down, like excess sugars and saturated fats. It improves the digestion of certain foods that can ordinarily cause outbreaks of acne, as well as causing eczema and psoriasis. In addition to so many other benefits of probiotics, the desired result of improved skin suppleness and tone cannot be overlooked by anyone seeking to improve their skin and overall health and well-being.

To your health,

Erin Schroeder

Sarasota, FL

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How Effective Is Kefir for Acne?

Article Details

Written By: Sarah Sullins
Edited By: M. C. Hughes
Last Modified Date: 02 July 2011
Copyright Protected:  2003-2011 Conjecture Corporation

Many individuals consider kefir to be a very effective solution for acne. It is thought to work by controlling cholesterol, adding vitamins in the body, and ridding the body of harmful bacteria. Studies have been conducted to test the effectiveness of kefir for acne, and many have shown that the product works well for facial acne in young adults and teenagers.

Although kefir appears as a milky drink on many supermarket shelves, the substance is actually derived from what are known as kefir grains. The grains come in various sizes, with some resembling cauliflower. These grains are mixed into and are allowed to sit until the milk ferments. Once fermentation occurs, the grains are removed from the milk, which is consumed as a beverage for its health benefits, including as an acne treatment.

Kefir grains contain a vitamin called biotin, as well as vitamins B1, B12, and K. Biotin helps the body correctly absorb B vitamins and works to heal certain organs that control the health of an individual's skin. By treating organs like the kidneys and liver, biotin may play a key role in the success of kefir for acne.

The bacteria and yeast found in kefir grains make this substance a natural antibiotic. The good bacteria is generally able to kill off toxic bacteria in the body. These grains may also be able to reduce individuals' cholesterol levels, which can also help to prevent and control acne.

Many individuals strive to make their lives better by using kefir for acne. Although it can be found at many supermarkets in a ready-made form, some users believe that using home grown kefir drinks is a more nutritious and effective way to kill acne. Some grow their own kefir and use the grains to make their own drinks.

The kefir grains that users place in milk can be strained, rinsed, and placed in another jar of milk without losing any of the qualities that make them so helpful against acne. Kefir for acne may be taken every day, and it is thought to work best when taken at the same time each day. Those who take fiber supplements may want to wait at least half an hour after taking the supplement before drinking kefir, as fiber can absorb the helpful bacteria, yeast, and vitamins present in kefir if the two are taken too close together. http://www.wisegeek.com/

Kefir for Your Face

We have already heard and witnessed the power of oatmeal. It’s a healthy snack that helps you feel energized and it has natural skin-improving properties. That is why it is now used as an exfoliating agent in many skincare products.

But not only oatmeal can give you that smooth and soft skin. Here’s another wonder food that’s not only good for the diet but also great for the skin. Pamper yourself with an organic facial at home with kefir.

Kefir contains alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) which reduces signs of aging such as the dreaded wrinkles. It is a form of lactic acid which harmonizes with our skin and hair’s acidity. This lactic acid in kefir dissolves the lipids that old skin cells hold together and helps remove dead skin cells.

The alpha hydroxyl acid in kefir also reduces the appearance of freckles and scar tissue. So yes, kefir can help improve the overall feel of your skin and bring out a new radiance. But before you head out to a lavish spa, try these formulas you can make at home.

First up is an organic facial cleanser. What you need are kefir, oatmeal and baking soda. All you have to do is mix the oatmeal in kefir and then add a touch of baking soda. Simply scrub the mixture onto your face in circular motions. With the powers of oatmeal and kefir combined, there is no doubt you will be getting its benefits. It will help you achieve a cleaner, clearer and healthier skin.

Another facial treatment you can make is a kefir honey oatmeal mask. For this recipe, you need to measure up ½ cup of uncooked oatmeal, ¾ cup kefir and 2 tablespoons of warm honey. Mix the kefir and oatmeal and put in the fridge for 10 hours. Strain but keep the liquid and discard the oatmeal. Add the honey at this point and mix well. Apply the facial mask, which is great for oily skin, leave on for 20 minutes and rinse well.

Kefir mask

It is such a wonderful facial mask that leaves your skin feeling slightly softer yet tightened. But of course, do not forget to moisturize. You can even apply home-brewed kefir alone for a therapeutic facial mask.

These kefir cleanser and facial mask recipes also give a calming effect on your skin. So, kefir is not only a delicious and healthy food that goes into the digestive system with all its friendly bacteria or probiotic cultures. Kefir offers skincare benefits, too.