Kefir vs Yogurt

Kefir is a fermented milk drink that originated in the Caucasus region. It is prepared by inoculating cow, goat, or sheep's milk with kefir grains. by WG / August 31, 2009

Kefir (or kefīrs, keefir, kephir, kewra, talai, mudu kekiya, milkkefir, bulgaros) is a cultured milk beverage which is popular in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and parts of the Mediterranean and Russia. It is made by inoculating a milk with kefir grains, a mixture of yeasts and bacteria which will sour the milk slightly, creating a drink which is almost like liquid yogurt. Traditional kefir has a tangy, rich flavor which may be altered with the addition of ingredients like pureed fruits and sweeteners, or consumed plain. Some markets and natural food stores stock kefir, and it is also possible to order kefir grains from suppliers to make kefir at home.

The word “kefir” is Russian, and it is probably derived from a Turkish word which means “to froth.” Traditional kefir was made from camel's milk, although milk from other animals can be used as well. People who prefer not to use dairy may also make kefir from plant or nut milks such as soy or almond milk. The beverage is typically made at room temperature, and it takes around 18 hours to mature fully, although in cold climates this may take longer.

When kefir grains are introduced to milk, fermentation begins, changing the chemical structure of the milk. Fermentation creates a characteristically soured flavor, and it can turn the kefir slightly alcoholic in some conditions. As the milk ferments, it thickens, and once the kefir is ready it is consumed or refrigerated. Traditional kefir is not sweet, although many companies package their kefir with sweeteners to make it more appealing.

There are a number of uses for kefir. Some people drink kefir plain because they believe that the cultured milk is good for them, and kefir seems to help with digestion for some people, according to studies on the beverage. Kefir can also be used in smoothies, baked goods, and other foods if a tangy flavor is desired. The beverage generally keeps fairly well under refrigeration for a few days.    ( ………………………………………..??? )

Both kefir and yogurt are cultured milk products but they contain different types of beneficial bacteria. Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there.  But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.

Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.

It also contains beneficial yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.

Kefir's active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy. Because the curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, invalids and the elderly, as well as a remedy for digestive disorders. (From many sources)

So what is the big deal between kefir and yogurt? Is it just that one is more liquid-y than the other?
 
I have known about kefir for some time. I have seen it in the grocery store and I have heard about people who drank it. I knew that kefir wasn’t just drinkable yogurt, but I admit, I wasn’t sure why it wasn’t just drinkable yogurt. So what is the difference between kefir, regular yogurt and Greek yogurt?

For the sake of this post I am just sharing some insight about the PLAIN varieties of all three products. It is true, most of the regular yogurt on the marketplace is sold inclusive of fruit, lots of sugar and in many case high-fructose corn syrup or even worse, aspartame. It (she laughs) wouldn’t be fair of me to compare only lightly pasteurized kefir to ultra pasteurized yogurt with HFCS. And I like fairness. So here are some things to keep in mind. 

Kefir and yogurt are both fermented milk products. That is, milk that has been partially ‘eaten’ by bacteria. These bacteria are both specific strains (not just any airborne bacteria will do) and beneficial to your gut.

1. Yogurt usually contains one or two strains of bacteria like acidophilus and bulgaricus. These strains are common in Eastern Europe and the Caucuses. Something that our Bulgarian babysitter loves to proudly remind us of…often.
2.  Kefir contains up to 13 strains of different bacteria. According to kefir.net, those strains can include “Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.” Also according to kefir.net, “Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.” This was the information I was looking for on the internet….thank you.
3. In case you didn’t read that last one: According to kefir.net, “Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.” That is pretty much the most important point in this post.
4. The beneficial bacterium that is found in kefir and yogurt is found in the whey. Greek yogurt is plain yogurt that has been strained of much of its whey. This is why Greek yogurt is higher in protein (and calories) per ounce than its unstrained sister. Most of what remains are the milk solids. Greek yogurt is also lower in probiotic activity because it has had most of the whey removed. I love Greek yogurt because its taste is rich and thick and fatty. It is less tart and very pleasing. But I am not delusional; the greater probiotic choice is plain yogurt and definitely kefir.

The health claims of kefir beyond what I have mentioned above are long long long. It apparently helps everything from ADD to cancer to fighting Candida. And while I am not disputing that here, I remind everyone that kefir, like every other food and drug on the market, will likely work differently in different bodies.

The taste is pleasing and the digestive benefits have been proven. And I love how filling it is. Whatever other positive benefits you reap are awesome, but conclusive of all 78 items on this list from the link I posted? I am just not sure. I don’t like posting anything here that I claim to be a wonder drug/ food. However that being said, I definitely have better digestion and by that I mean that my husband is less able to poke fun at me after a Mexican dinner 
http://thetableofpromise.blogspot.com/

Kefir and Yogurt are milk products, which are cultured. Many think Kefir and Yogurt to be the same. Though Kefir and yogurt have similar taste and other similar properties, these two milk products are not the same.

One of the differences that can be seen between Kefir and yogurt is in the fermentation process. While Kefir is fermented with yeast and bacteria, Yogurt is fermented only with bacteria. Though both Kefir and yogurt contains bacteria, the former contains more friendly bacteria than the other. Yogurt has transient beneficial bacteria, which helps in keeping the digestive system clean. It also provides food to the other friendly bacteria that are present in the digestive system. On the other hand, Kefir helps to colonize intestinal tract, which Yogurt cannot.

Another difference that can be noticed is that Kefir’s yeast and bacteria combination has more nutritional value than Yogurt. Kefir also helps to keep the colon clean and healthy. Considering the digestion, Kefir is easily digested than Yogurt. As the Kefir curd size is smaller to that of Yogurt, it becomes easier to get digested. This makes it more a favorite dish to the babies and elderly people.

Another difference that can be seen between the two milk products is that Yogurt can be made by ‘inoculating’ fresh milk with another batch of yogurt. On the other hand, this is not possible with Kefir. Though there are certain similarities between Yogurt and Kefir in taste and texture, Kefir comes much thinner and can be drunk easily. Both Kefir and Yogurt have Turkish origin. Kefir means “to froth” and Yogurt in Turkish means “dense” or “thick”.

Summary

1.    Kefir is fermented with yeast and bacteria. Yogurt is fermented only with bacteria.

2.    Kefir has more nutritional values than Yogurt.

3.   Though both Kefir and yogurt contains bacteria, the former contains more friendly bacteria than the other.

4.   Kefir helps to colonize intestinal tract. Yogurt has transient beneficial bacteria, which keeps digestive system clean. It also provides food to the other friendly bacteria that are present in the digestive system.

5.    As the Kefir curd size is smaller to that of Yogurt, it becomes easier to get digested.

 

Yogurt can be made by ‘inoculating’ fresh milk with another batch of yogurt. On the other hand, this is not possible with Kefir. http://www.differencebetween.net

Both kefir and yogurt are cultured milk products…

…but they contain different types of beneficial bacteria. Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt,

Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.

It also contains beneficial yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.

Kefir’s active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy. Because the curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, the elderly and people experiencing chronic fatigue and digestive disorders.

Body Ecology Kefir Starter contains the following beneficial bacteria:

1. Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis
2. Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris
3. Lactococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis
4. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris
5. Lactobacillus kefyr (thermophilic)
6. Klyveromyces marxianus var. marxianus
7. Saccaromyces unisporus
8. Dextrose as a carrier (consumed during fermentation)

Contains 6 packets which can be used an average of 7 times each. 1/4 cup of previous batch will ferment 1 quart of liquid. 1 cup will make one gallon, and so on. For prolonged shelf life, keep refrigerated before using. (http://www.kefir.net/kefiryogurt.htm)

 

Probiotic Supplements VS Kefir VS Yoghurt

There are really huge confusions among people regarding which would be the best source of Probiotics. While worldwide people find yoghurt as the most enriched and easily available source of Probiotics, few people mostly in Europe and Asia find Kefir as the best source of Probiotics and other people mostly Americans go for Probiotics supplement. Every single source among yoghurt, kefir and Probiotic supplement has certain number of Probiotics content and each of them has some other essential nutrients that are very helpful in maintaining a good health.

As you know Probiotics are nothing but beneficial bacteria presented in gastrointestinal tract of human being and help in maintaining good health of your digestive system as well as healthy count of these useful bacteria in your large intestine. Probiotics if eaten in adequate amount can help anyone maintaining good guts.

Many researches and studies have been conducted on various sources of Probiotics like yoghurt, kefir and Probiotic supplement to see which product is more fruitful. And study reveals that one pill of Probiotic supplement has approximately 15 billion beneficial bacteria whereas 500 ml of yoghurt contains approximately 1.5 trillion friendly bacteria. Now what will make you amazed is that 500 ml of kefir contains 5 trillion Probiotics.

As kefir is nothing but a healthy milk drink that provides more than sufficient Probiotics, people of Europe, Asia and other countries consume this product. You can also get kefir grains that last for long time and cost very less. Also many manufacturers of yoghurt has made special flavor of yoghurt containing more Probiotics like Dannon’s Activia where it’s promised that there are more active cultures present in this yoghurt.

But the most enticing part of Probiotics which got revealed in many studies is that these active cultures can improve many health disorders and cure many chronic diseases. Here comes the excellence of Probiotics supplements which are made keeping in mind of those effective measures of Probiotics. Hence besides curing and boosting a person’s chronic bowel disorder these supplements could improve constipation, can enhance body’s immune system, can improve lactose intolerance, and can help in curing diarrhea and reducing rotavirus shedding etc.

Some manufacturers of Probiotics supplements add some additional nutrients to make it more strong and supportive for other serious and troublesome diseases. Like SuperProbiotic which is made along with fiber and calcium to provide good health to your muscles, bones, teeth and gums. This product has already got immense popularity due its spellbinding effects on curing Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel diseases like Ulcerative Colitis as well as Crohn’s Disease. And its fiber, Psyllium is just amazing in helping you maintain your regularity, decreasing blood sugar level, lowering cholesterol level and most strikingly it can reduce the chance of heart disease.

Hence take your decision wisely. Think first what actually you want. Whether you want only Probiotics support or want other supportive supplements to get well toned and balanced body-it’s completely depends on you. http://www.superprobiotic.org/

Read more :

What’s the difference betweenyogurt and kefir?
Why kefir is better than yogurt?