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.

KEFIR AND ANTI AGING

The Anti Aging Elixir 

By Dr. Perricone • December 11, 2008

With the first day of winter rapidly approaching as well as the onset of flu season, it is heartening to know that there are natural ways to boost our immune system, protect our health and increase the health and beauty of our skin.

One of my favorite ways to do all three is with a glass of unsweetened whole milk kefir and add to it two tablespoons of super berry powder with acai, POM Wonderful (pure pomegranate extract) and/or fresh fruit. I stir it up and it looks and tastes like a rich and beautiful berry smoothie. It is the perfect way to start the day–it tastes great and is loaded with vitamins like c ester!

Kefir (kee-fer) is a fermented, probiotic milk drink from the Caucasus Mountains in the former Soviet Union. The name kefir loosely translated means “pleasure” or “good feeling.” Due to its health-promoting properties, kefir was once considered a gift from the gods. Fortunately it is being rediscovered and recognized for its many health and beauty benefits.

Kefir can best be described as a sort of liquid, sparkling yogurt, with its own distinct and deliciously mild, naturally sweet, yet tangy flavor—with a refreshing hint of natural carbonation. Its unique taste and almost mystical reputation as a longevity elixir explains why people all over Europe are making kefir (along with similar fermented drinks) their beverage of choice.

Kefir is important for many reasons, including its content of active probiotics. Probiotics, which are also found in yogurt, are live, naturally-occurring microorganisms that function internally to promote healthy digestion, boost the immune system, and contribute to overall health and well being. 

Probiotics have many benefits, not the least of which is this: because they are a key part of the digestive tract, the healthy bacteria of probiotics aids in the digestions of food and absorption of nutrients and minerals—all of which benefit skin health and beauty.

Probiotics also provide protection from allergens, which can be a cause of skin problems such as eczema, while also protecting the body from negative forms of bacteria, environmental toxins such as pollutants, and inflammation-inducing free radicals.

Probiotics keeps down the production of pro-inflammatory chemicals by the intestinal cells. Since this is a huge surface area, inflammation produced in the gut would flood the body with pro-inflammatory chemicals; therefore a healthy gut will is anti-inflammatory and translate immediately into healthy and glowing skin, elimination of digestive problems and overall better health.

Wishing you a peaceful and prosperous holiday season.

Nicholas Perricone, MD          

http://www.dailyperricone.com

Kefir and Its Anti-Aging Magic

Written by ceenagiselle on Feb-9-11 7:00am

You may have heard of the health benefits of kefir that come quite handy for the winter and flu season. It provides a natural way of boosting our immune system, protecting our health and enhancing the health of our skin. A great way to start your day loaded with nutrients and vitamins is with a glass of unsweetened whole milk kefir with added fresh fruit or berries if you prefer.

Kefir is a fermented probiotic milk drink. Its name is usually translated to “pleasure” or “good feeling” which corresponds to its health-promoting properties. But it is not only recognized for its health benefits as it has beauty benefits as well.

Kefir is a sort of liquid sparkling yogurt with its own naturally sweet, mild and yet tangy flavor. Its distinct taste and magical reputation as an elixir to long life explains why people have made kefir and other fermented drinks as their choice of beverage. But the goodness of this dairy is now incorporated into beauty and skin care products.

Its active probiotic content is just one of the many reasons why kefir is in good rep. These probiotics which are also found in yogurt are live naturally-occurring microorganisms functioning internally in our body. It functions to promote healthy digestion, boost immunity, and contribute to our total health and wellbeing.

Probiotics in kefir are healthy bacteria. They play a key role in the digestive tract by aiding digestion of food and absorption of nutrients and minerals. Because of that, both health and beauty of our skin benefit from it.

Probiotics provide such protection from allergens which can cause skin problems. It wards off pollutants and inflammation-inducing free radicals. It keeps down the production of pro-inflammatory chemicals by the intestinal cells making our gut healthy.

So, this healthy anti-inflammatory gut is actually translated into a healthy glowing skin. Imagine putting kefir on your face. Imagine all the goodness of this dairy product being absorbed directly into your skin.

Kefir beauty products

Beauty products containing kefir have anti-inflammatory properties that delay premature aging caused by free radicals. It also promotes collagen synthesis, strengthens the skin’s defense and helps in skin repair. With antioxidants added to its composition, the better these beauty products are.

Kefir in beauty products is clear and calming. It protects the skin from environmental toxins that can lead to build up of dead skin cells and blemish-causing bacteria. The result is a healthier skin without irritations.

As soon as the first signs of wrinkles show up, we all turn to anti-aging beauty products and these ones with kefir are just as effective. With continued use, it will be as good as the health benefits you would be getting if you have it by drinking. The result is a healthy, properly hydrated, supple and young skin. ( yourkefirsource.com )

KEFIR AND YOUR BEAUTY

Beauty Secrets

The latest discovery in the skin care industry is Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). These fruit acids are found as a citric acid in citrus fruit, tartaric acid in grapes, malic acid in apples, and –you guessed it- in kefir, alpha hydroxy acid is in the form of lactic acid.

Fruit acids naturally harmonize with the slight acidity of our skin and hair. Lactaid acid creams, by dissolving the lipids that hold old skin cells together, help to remove dead skin particles so that the new skin can emerge into new radiance. 

This is particularly true if such a cream is used on a regular basis. Other miracles of alpha hydroxy can reportedly perform include reducing the appearance of wrinkles and scar tissue, and fading aging spots and freckles (pigmentations from sun exposure).

Given all these great skin care effects, it’s hardly surprising that AHA’s are so very expensive. Just visit the cosmetics counter of any large department store and you will see what I mean. But now you have AHA as close as your fridge! 

Kefir contains all the good AHA without all the negative artificial colorants; dyes, synthetic perfumes, detergents or other strange ingredients that cause people to have allergic reactions to commercial skin care products. If you have particularly sensitive skin, you may wish to carry out a skin patch test with kefir cream.

Put on a dab on an area of skin and leave on for twelve hours. If no reaction occurs, it is safe for you to use.  Here are the basic recipes for making kefir skin care products:

1. Cleanser- Place 2 tsp. of dried elder flower, or 1 elder flower tea bag, in a cup of boiling water and steep for five minutes. Strain. Add 2 ½ tbsp. of liquid honey and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Add kefir to the cooled mixture and whip for several minutes until a smooth cream forms. To use, apply generously over face and neck and clean off with damp cotton swab. Suits all skin types.
2. Facial Scrub- Mix 3 tbsp ground almonds with 1/3 cup of kefir. Apply and leave on for ¼ hour. Gently wash off with warm water. This is excellent for exfoliating face and body. Suitable for sensitive skin.
3. Facial Mask- Take ½ cup uncooked oatmeal, ¾ cup of kefir and 2tbsp. Warm liquid honey. Mix kefrir and oatmeal and refrigerate for ten hours. Strain, keeping the liquid and discarding the oatmeal. Add the honey and mix well. Apply the mask and leave on for twenty minutes. Rinse well and apply a moisturizer to the face. This is a great mask for oily skin.
4. Moisturizer- Add three flower heads of marigold to one cup of boiling water. Allow cooling, then removing flower heads. Combine marigold liquid with 2 tsp. Kefir, 2 tsp. apricot oil, ½ tsp. almond oil and 2 tbsp. thick cream and mix well. Rub into skin and until well absorbed. This makes a great day or night lotion for balancing the skin’s acid mantle.
5. Hand cream- Mix 1 tbsp. almond oil and 1 cup of kefir and massage into hands at bedtime. Wear cotton gloves to protect linen. Wash off in the morning. This is a great once a week treat.
6. Kefir Bath- Mix 2 tbsp. melted butter with 2 tbsp. olive oil and let sit for hour. Mix in 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp. witch hazel, juice from 3 apricots (use blender) and ½ cup of kefir. Stir Well. Add 2 beaten eggs and 2/3 cups of milk. This is enough for 6 baths as only a cupful is needed for each bath. You can keep this mix in a sealed bottle in the fridge.
7. Kefir Hair Conditioner- Beat 1 egg yolk. Add ½ cup of kefir. Mix in 2 tsp. grated lemon rind and ½ tsp. kelp powder. Massage this mixture into the hair and scalp and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse and shampoo normally, but add a little bit of lemon juice to the rinse water.  (50-52)

Kefir Rediscovered! The Nutritional benefits of an Ancient Healing Food
Klaus Kaufmann  

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Kefir Rediscovered! The Nutritional benefits of an Ancient Healing Food

Klaus Kaufmann

Kefir & Beauty

It's quite interesting to look back in history and to read that the beautiful queen of Egypt bathed in fermented milk and that her skin was so beautiful that we still talk about it. We learn from history for the present and the future. If rich people can afford something that others cannot then it's not much help for someone who has only a little pocket money.

With fermented milk every one can afford a beauty treatment for the skin which is much, much cheaper than a commercial skin product, where advertising and packaging is the highest part of the price you pay. The product itself costs, in most cases, only a very small percentage of the retail price. 

Kefir puts the best skin care in everyone's hands.

The following selection of recipes give a guidance how to make your own skin care products with Kefir. These recipes will be updated once a week.

Bath Treat

Kefir relaxing and moisturising bath lotion.
1 cup Kefir.
1 tablespoon epsom salts.
2 tablespoons wheat germ oil.
5 drops lavender essential oils.
Mix all ingredients. Add to bath and relax for fifteen minutes

Honeyed cleansing cream

16 Tablespoons Kefir
2 1/2 tablespoons elderflower infusion.
2 1/2 tablespoons honey; melted.

Place 2 teaspoons of dried elderflower (or one elderflower tea bag) in one cup of boiling water; allow to brew for 5 minutes. Strain to remove the flowers as necessary.

Add honey and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. Add the Kefir and beat for several minutes. Do not add the Kefir to the hot infusion or the mixture will curdle. Store refrigerated.

To use apply generously over the face and neck and clean off with damp cotton. This cleanser suits all types of skin.

Kefir make-up remover.

Suitable for all types of skin.
2 tablespoons Kefir.
1 teaspoon almond oil.

Mix ingredients together shake vigorously.
Dip cotton pads into lotion and cleanse the skin.

Kefir & Banana Facial.
For dry skin.

30 ml (2 tablespoons) Kefir.
15 ml (1 tablespoon) honey.
5 ml (1 teaspoon) peach oil.
1 ripe banana.
1 egg yolk.

Place ingredients into a blender. Mix until smooth and creamy

Harald W. Tietze

Copyright 1997 by Klaus Kaufmann http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/

Kefir for pleasure, beauty and well-being.

Why Eat Kefir?

Harald W. Tietze

If you think that the only thing that can heal is a drug then you may see Kefir as a powerful drug. Considering the therapeutic value of Kefir some may think it's a drug but it definitely is not, it is simple living food.

A drug is something that people take to help for a certain period of time in a disease, like a pain killer against pain. Healthy living food is something to preserve our health and life - to maintain our healthy body.

Attempts to see if something is a drug or a food does not need millions of dollars of expense. One can make a test very simply and easily. If you take something, and you can live in good health without negative side effects, then it is a food. The term drug is used for something that you take only in very small dosages, and where you can't live in good health if the drug is your only intake.

Drugs are based on sickness, not on healthiness.

For maintaining health or to regain health, only living matter can help in the longer term. When I studied Agriculture over 30 years ago, one of our teachers warned that by over-use of antibiotics we will develop resistant strains against those antibiotics that they are not effective anymore. It was a monk who was not educated in veterinary medicine.

On the other side our professional teacher for veterinary medicine had scientific evidence about different antibiotics. He explained, backing it up with scientific proof, that antibiotics don't harm, not even in the long term. We hear similar stories of developing resistance from chemical industries producing sprays against all sorts of plants and insects. 

The chemical industry produces new products every few years, stronger and more effective, and now,when we look back to the old monk we must confess that he was right, not only with antibiotics but with all of modern agriculture.

How many resistant strains of unfriendly bacteria and viruses do we have now? Think only about TB, the nearly forgotten illness. According to reports in the last 12 months, 3,000,000 people worldwide die from TB. The antibiotic treatments which worked very efficiently years ago are now useless with these new resistant strains.

If you think agriculture and drugs of modern medicine have nothing to do with Kefir you should think again.

A well balanced intestinal flora is a key for successful treatment of illness. Antibiotics are not very selective as to which bacteria they eliminate. They kill and destroy the balance. When taking antibiotics, a brief improvement may be noticed because the antibiotics kill the unfriendly bacteria that make us ill which is the reason they are taken. 

But they kill the friendly bacteria as well and disturb the balance. With a disturbed intestinal flora the body's immune system suffers and we are more open to develop new illnesses. Antibiotics are taken again, and again, and ...... it's an endless downwards spiral.

Coming back to the old monk, he saw the discovery of penicillin as gods blessing when it's used in cases where penicillin is the only answer in a life or death situation. He recommended that in these cases after antibiotic treatment, sour cream, butter milk, yoghurt (natural only of course) should be taken to rebuild the intestinal flora.

When I wrote my first Kombucha book I warned against too much euphoric beliefs in regard to miracle healing. So I was surprised by the thousands of testimonials I got, proving, that lactic acid fermented living food can really work miracles. This is why lactic acid fermented food does not cure one specific illness but the lot from A to Z and on top of it makes people feel younger with grey hair disappearing and hair regrowth.

Women in menopause, even if they had not been menstruating for many years, suddenly start to menstruate again. Women become pregnant at an advanced age. An illness people have suffered from and treated with drugs for 20 years or more, suddenly disappear within only a few weeks or days. All this is something many can't understand. It's the simplest thing in the world, the friendly bacteria in the intestines.

The reason why Kefir and the other lactic acid ferments work like a wide spectrum miracle drug is only because of the friendly bacteria in it. The miraculous healing effects are only possible due to the other dead food we eat, like processed, chemicalised, irradiated, over cooked, microwaved and so on. These foods are dead and cause our modern health problems of Western Society.

Please note; 12 hour Kefir is a mild laxative, 36-48 hour Kefir causes constipation. Based on today's knowledge we have enumerated those illness' and disorders on which Kefir has a beneficial effect.:

Kefir Douche

A women asked me to publish following helpful use of Kefir to help many others with this simple application:

Use Kefir as a douche for instant relief from the maddening irritation of thrush.

Harald W. Tietze

Dermatologist’s Recommendations for Natural Skin Health: Kefir the best probiotic for healthy skin

by Cynthia Bailey MD on October 22, 2009 in

Diet, Nutrition, & Natural Health

 

Surprisingly, you need  beneficial probiotic bacteria and yeast  to have healthy,naturally beautiful skin!

Your skin is the biggest organ in your body, but the surface area of your intestines would cover a tennis court if it was stretched out flat.  Every bit of your intestinal surface is covered in important probiotic bacteria and yeast that keep you healthy.

Your body depends on its huge intestinal surface to get good things in (like nutrients) while keeping bad things out (like mercury). The beneficial germs that live in your gut play a key role here and that’s why probiotics are essential for the health and beauty of your skin.

As unsavory as it is to think about beneficial germs living in your intestines, the little guys are a really big deal.  You have about 5 pounds of intestinal microorganisms in your gut and you really want them to be the good guys not the bad guys.  They do critical work for you: they make important vitamins (B vitamins, biotin, vitamin K to name a few), they produce germ killing substances that keep you from getting infections, and they’re your ‘hazmat’ team removing food born toxins like mercury.

Modern life has rocked our little intestinal microbes like never before. We start acquiring our microbe population immediately after birth from the things we eat and drink.  Up until modern times a lot of these probiotic microbes came from the bacteria and yeast cultures used to preserve food by a process called fermentation. 

With the advent of modern food science we now rely on preservatives, refrigeration, pasteurizing, and canning (sterilizing food with high heat).   Our diet no longer contains a constant supply of beneficial probiotics. Add to that the use of lifesaving antibiotics, which wipe out what probiotic population we do have, and you can see that for our intestines, it’s a brave new world.

That’s why I recommend foods with probiotics, especially after antibiotics, but frankly we all need them.  I think that our deficient intestinal microbial environment may play a role in many health conditions, including skin diseases like psoriasis, rosacea, eczema and acne.  In my opinion, the best probiotic to replace our lost intestinal microbes is home brewed kefir made from live kefir grains (kefir grains is the name for kefir colonies). 

These are the same microbes that our ancestors used to ferment their food.  Human bodies live symbiotically with these microbes, meaning that both we and the germs benefit from the arrangement.

Brewed kefir from kefir grains contain more of the beneficial microbes than other probiotic sources like yogurt and probiotic capsuels. When home brewed  as I describe in my next post, the organisms are alive and ready to repopulate your intestines immediately. 

Kefir brewing is easy and inexpensive. Kefir milk tastes like buttermilk and if you don’t like the flavor, you can add fruit or honey and make a smoothie.  It’s best drunk at night before bed.  Ideally, this should become a ritual that you continue throughout your lifetime.


An evening glass of kefir
Commercially prepared kefir products available in the supermarkets lack the full benefits of home brewed kefir.  I’d rather you use them than no kefir at all, but they’re typically made from commercially prepared starter powder, not the kefir grains (cultures) and so they don’t contain the full range of organisms and health benefits of brewed kefir.  Some commercial producers may use live, perpetuated kefir grain cultures to make their kefir, but without calling the company and asking, you just don’t know.

There are other probiotic containing cultured foods that are also worth eating from time to time, but none are as easy as kefir.  These include barrel fermented sauerkraut and pickles (not canned/sterilized), miso soup, kombucha, and cultured cheeses.  As with all live probiotic foods, you have to remember not to cook them because high heat kills the beneficial organisms making them useless for repopulating your intestinal microbe population.

In my next post, I’ll outline how to start brewing your own kefir.  You’ll have all the information you need to start reaping the health benefits of this probiotic powerhouse food.

http://www.drbaileyskincare.com/