Kefir milk Smoothie

A kefir smoothie makes for an ideal breakfast! Fast, easy, fun and packed with nutrition, this concoction is sure to start your morning off right!

Kefir is a fermented drink that can be made from different types of milk. (cow, goat or sheep) People who avoid dairy can enjoy coconut kefir, rice kefir and soy kefir.

This fermented food has many health benefiting properties such as good probiotic bacteria’s that aids digestion and helps to maintain healthy micro-flora in the gut.

Kefir is made from little whitish/yellowish particles called grains that look like clumps of cauliflower and range from the size of a grain of wheat to that of a hazelnut.

When these kefir grains are introduced to milk (or coconut, rice or soy milk) it starts to ferment it. The fermentation creates a characteristically soured flavor, and can turn the liquid acidic and slightly alcoholic in some cases.

(If you are pregnant or nursing check with your doctor before consuming kefir)

Normally, plain kefir is not sweet, that’s where the smoothie comes in! The tanginess of kefir can be easily hidden with different fruits (or veggies) such as: mangoes, bananas etc... You can hid the taste yet still receive the health benefits it has to offer!

Eating a few fermented foods every now and then help aid in the digestion process. For example, some people who cannot tolerate milk can eat yogurt, (since yogurt is slightly fermented) because the lactose (which is the part most people can’t digest) in the milk is already broken down by the good bacteria.

Fermented foods are rich in enzymes, this is necessary because the body needs a certain amount of enzymes to proply digestion and extract the nutrients from the foods we eat. As the body ages the supply of enzymes decrease significantly, so sending enzyme reinforcements down into the gut is very beneficial.

Remember (as with anything) moderation is the key, do not overdo it – take the serving size recommended for you!

Probiotic Content – is very high. The complete proteins in kefir are already partially digested and are therefore more easily utilized by the body.

Mineral Content – is very important to the body. Kefir contains an abundance of both magnesium and calcium both of which are crucial to a healthy nervous system.

Vitamin Content – is fantastic. Kefir is an excellent source of the B vitamins, this in important because the B vitamins are necessary for healthy liver and kidney function as well as helping to maintain excellent brain function!

For kefir we have used the

This is a great way to get started making your own homemade kefir - it’s easy and inexpensive and the end result is deliciously cultured milk!

Directions on how to whip this up will be on the back of the box along with the nutrition facts.

Enjoy this kefir in your smoothie for an added boost in the probiotic department!

Strawberry Kefir and Banana Smoothie

1 large banana, broken into 4 chunks

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup kefir

Directions

Place your banana, strawberries and kefir into your blenderBlend for a couple of minutes or until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy

*If you need to sweeten your smoothie you can use stevia or honey.

The Kefir "Classic" Smoothie