The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Joy (Falls Church, Va) on 05/06/2013
Hi, I have been drinking milk kefir every morning for more than a week and I noticed that it makes me acidic. I have lots of saliva and betwen 3-5 am, I have to wake up because of acid reflux. I am vegan and do not do dairy, except kefir since I want to try it out. Has anyone experienced this? This morning I change the milk to soy instead of regular dairy.
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Pam (Springdale, Ar 72762 Usa) on 05/24/2013
Joy from falls, you need to drink water kefir not soy it is made with water and is wonderful contact me and I will tell you how pjaco (at) cox (dot) net.
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Sam (Miami, FL) on 12/22/2014
Water kefir? Are you talking about kombucha? Kefir is made from milk, cow or goat. Goat kefir is available even at some Walmarts.
Stay away from any form of soy unless it is fermented.
Take everything you read with a grain of salt. GOOD, reputable sites to educate yourself, based on the LATEST research are
The Daily Lipid and Mercola.com. If some scientist or doctor makes sense, Dr. Mercola woould interview him. Period.
General Feedback
Posted by Lardiver (Abbotsford, Bc Canada) on 04/19/2012
I have been using kefir for a few years but in the food matters one of the Dr. said milk kefir reacts with the fat and is not good, has anyone else heard of this? Lardiver
General Feedback
Posted by Lardiver (Abbotsford Bc Canada) on 01/11/2014
I have since found that this was not what the Dr in Food Matters was saying. I am still drinking my kefir and eating the grains. Not too many people like my milk kefir so I have a lot of grains, I keep them in the fridge and change them around now and then. I tried making water kefir but just couldn't get it to work, it did not taste good. some time I will try again.
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa Usa) on 10/21/2010
Hi Deidre - That is really interesting. I was just cruising the internet looking at the Kefir thing and Lisa's posting on it last night. I know a few people who would pay money for those side effects on a Saturday night. Lol (just kidding I think). ;-) I am really wondering what it tastes like. Is it like drinking liquid yoghurt ? Do you think it may have been the infamous "herxheimer" effect? Everything Lisa and the web says about it just sounds so darned good. I am still considering it.
Thanks for the feedback and your experience with it! Carly :)
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Roger (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on 05/12/2011
Deirdre from Atlanta, Georgia, you might try water kefir. I doubt if the water kefir microbes make tryptophan.
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Julie (Atlanta, Ga) on 12/28/2011
Deirdre, The brain fog you experienced from kefir is what Donna Gates, author of the Body Ecology Diet, states comes from an over growth of yeast (candidiasis). Check out her website at www.bodyecology.com - her diet has changed my quality of life by giving me good health back & now I drink kefir without the brain fog symptoms.
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Susan (Salt Lake City, Utah) on 05/23/2012
I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome a few years ago and I was taking medication for it and they said I was going to have to be on the medication for the rest of my life but when I started drinking the kefir I dont have any side effects from it and I have been drinking it for months. In fact, it totally lowered my blood pressure and it is even getting rid of my pcos and my cysts.
Kefir Side Effects
Posted by Joe (BC, Canada) on 07/22/2024
It could be tryptophan or it could be alcohol or both. Kefir can contain quite a percentage of alcohol. Usually, it' about 1-3%, but if it's second-fermented the alcohol could by up to 5%, like in beer.
Digestion, Candida
Posted by Carolyn (Hobbs, Nm) on 08/24/2010
★★★★★
If anyone is battling candida or any digestive problems for that matter, research KEFIR. I drink it daily and it has helped me tremendeously. It is good for lots of ailments and there is a ton of information on the internet. Just google Kefir Benefits. Oh yes, you can buy kefir grains to make your own kefir on ebay. Get the Caucasus grains. I like them better. Carolyn
Candida
Posted by David (Terry, MS) on 12/22/2007
★★★★★
I managed to give myself a yeast infection with an overzealous attempt at home-brewed root beer. I don't know how serious this sort of infection is, but I finished it off by drinking lots of water and lots of a cultured yogurt product called kefir. The idea was to flush the yeast, dead or alive, out of the gastrointestinal system and replace/combat it with the bacteria in the cultured kefir drink.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Emilia (Vancouver, Canada) on 02/13/2007
★★★★★
I am using kefir (fermented drink) for a long time. I am making it by myself. From the country where I am coming (Macedonia) it is very a popular drink and considered very healthy. But also you can find it in the healthy stores. It helps with constipation, regenerates intestinal flora. It is very good for the skin. When you apply on the face before going to bed, after few days you will notice the results. Clean and more firm skin. Looking very youthful.
Yogurt
Posted by Lardiver (Abbotsford, Bc) on 11/06/2014
I have an idea that I want to try and wonder if anyone else has tried this. My plan is to make my milk kefir and while it is still room temperature make yogurt and add the kefir to the mix before putting it into the yogurt maker. This if it works will give the yogurt all the bacteria of kefir, 20 some strains of bacteria instead of just the 3 strains of bacteria of yogurt. For those who don't know about bacteria, the probiotic pills you buy have 15 - 50 billion cultures of bacteria, yogurt has 100 times more and kefir has 400 times more. A lot of people don't like kefir so if growing it in yogurt makes it taste better then this will make it easyer for them to get the benefits.
Yogurt
Posted by Gert (Tenn) on 04/07/2017
★★★★★
I like the thought of using kefir milk to make yogurt. My homemade kefir, even after a second ferment, is just not a taste I like. Also, my dh doesn't like the 'mess' it makes with it fermenting, straining, etc. I like homemade yogurt and, if this is really a good idea, then I'll make a batch of kefir milk, use it to make yogurt and then just keep using my yogurt to keep it going. I don't know if there is any science showing that the kefir bacteria/yeast/etc can grow in the yogurt process thereby making the yogurt more healthy. I like kefir because it can repopulate the gut and yogurt cannot. Can anyone give me a reason not to do this? If you have done it, can you tell any difference between regular yogurt and kefir yogurt? I use yogurt like sour cream on my oatmeal in the morning, wierd but a taste I like.
How to Make Ginger Ale Kefir
Posted by Wendy (Sun City West, AZ) on 06/16/2024
Please tell me know many kefir grains you use to make the gingerale????
Thanks,
Wendy
Kefir Tips
Posted by Planky (New York, United States) on 11/09/2013 7 posts
I bought water Kefir grain on ebay and instructions were not clear. Put it in sugared water and waited 36 hours and still looks like colored water. What should I do?
MRSA
Posted by Carolyn (Hollywood, Florida) on 12/04/2008
★★★★★
At the end of 2006, I contracted MRSA. I still have scars from that early time before I learned about kefir. I only bought one batch of kefir grains in early 2007, and I am still fermenting using grains created from that first batch. I never took any antibiotics. After I started sipping homemade kefir all day and night, I have never had any more outbreaks, except one time in 2008, I stupidly cut back on the amount of kefir I was drinking and got paid back with an outbreak on my chest. I am sipping my kefir as I write this. My primary said my MRSA looks "dormant". Yes, it is "sleeping" but if I stopped kefir, it would rage up again.
I sprinkle some turmeric in a couple times a day. Mike will teach you all about how to make your own fresh kefir at home. Or write to me. BTW, I do not eat any kind of meat or fish, because they contain HEME iron which causes MRSA bacteria to rage up. I am 66, I garden, shop, do my web work, and live normally just as I did before I contracted this hideous MRSA. If I can do this, so can you! Anyone can email me anytime. I care about people with MRSA.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Posted by Jim (St. Louis, MO) on 04/01/2007
★★★★★
Kefir for Seborrheic Dermatitis
I have had a worsening case of suborrheic dermatitis for several years. It started around my upper lip and chin and ended up in my ears. Prescriptions mildly controlled it, but not well, are expensive, and frankly I don't trust them very much. I tried several reccomended natural and "home" remedies, none of which worked very well. And then I started drinking kefir, a cultured milk beverage. I started drinking it because it's really tasty and I can digest it (I'm lactose intolerant), but found that when I drink it regularly my suborrheic dermatitis goes away. When I don't drink kefir for several days it starts to come back. Typically I've found myself drinking a 32 oz. bottle every two to three days. I've tried a couple of brands, but the Helios brand seems far superior to the other brand I tried (which I had trouble digesting). So I really reccomend it. At the very least, you'll be drinking something that tastes great and is good for you (live foods rock). And if it works for your skin ailements too, all the better. Good luck!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Dawn (Holland, NY) on 03/23/2007
★★★★★
Kefir is great for lots of things. I've been using it to help my daughter's LGS. It helps you lose weight, detoxes your liver, restore intestinal flora, allergies, and so much more. It coats your intestines and helps your body break down foods. I drink 2 C a day. If you are just trying it out you might want to start with 2 oz a day and slowly increase it. I wouldn't recommend the store bought kind in the US. It only has 4 different bacteria in it. If you make your own Kefir it was over 30 things that are great for you. Plus if you are lactose intolerant, you can handle Kefir.
