The Kefir Project

So, 2008 saw major changes in the way our family ate and I plan to continue the trend in 2009. My first project of 2009 is adding kefir to our diet. Something that I did not know existed until a couple months ago. Something that makes me feel a bit hippie, granola, health nut-ish. Maybe a little science geek-ish, too. I am so multi-faceted. A regular Renaissance woman, I tell ya.

Kefir is a fermented milk drink. Yes, as in bacteria and yeast - think probiotics. It is similar to yogurt, but not as thick. It has a somewhat tangy taste. Some people like it straight, but I prefer it in smoothies. But then again, I am a closet smoothie addict. Pray for me.

I also think it's good when it sits in juice overnight. The only other way I've used it is in a soaked oatmeal recipe, but there are lots of ways to consume it. And it is quite easy to make. Okay, ridiculously easy. Not to mention that is really cheap to make compared to buying it. (Thanks for sharing the kefir grains, Mom!)

As odd as kefir may sound, it has numerous health benefits that I just can't ignore. I feel like my body can tell when I haven't consumed any within 2 days. One thing I have noticed is that Abigail does not spit up when I drink it regularly. She had symptoms of acid reflux around 1 month of age. When we switched to drinking raw milk her symptoms improved and now when I include kefir in my diet the symptoms appear to be non-existent. I thank God for bringing these resources into our path.

So many people have put together information on kefir that instead of reinventing the wheel, I'm just going to include some links if you would like to read more about it. (Yes, you may call it unmotivated or underachieving, but I'm going to call it resourceful.) And if you live close by, I will be more than happy to make you a smoothie to try...really, twist my arm. Please.

• I first heard about kefir at Passionate Homemaking here.
• A site dedicated to kefir.
• Some articles on its benefits can be found here, here, and here.