Kefir has a very clear history of origin and an interesting product aura. It is not surprising that other qualities mix with the real healing properties in the collective consciousness: for example, rapid and painless weight loss without negative consequences. We think about what kefir is really good, and we review the kefir diet of all parties to find the pros and cons.
History of kefir
Just imagine: in a glass of kefir that you drink today, there is the effect of a drink that was drunk hundreds of years ago.
Kefir is made from cow's milk, which gets "fungus" from streptococcus and stems, acetic acid bacteria and yeast. Most likely, according to researchers, the fungus originated from koumiss, a drink made from horse milk, and got into cow’s milk when the Caucasian tribes changed their nomadic lifestyle to an inactive one and started farming. Scientists have not yet managed to get rid of kefir fungi artificially, new parts of the beginner culture are obtained through the breeding of existing fungi.
Now kefir is drunk everywhere, from Kazakhstan to Australia, but certain bacteria in the base of modern products can be traced to a certain place, the Elbrus region. People living on the northern slopes of the Caucasian ridge consider kefir a gift from God himself, so the drink is surrounded by special rituals and superstitions.
For example, it is forbidden to sell kefir fungi, it is believed that this will eliminate their healing powers. But they can be stolen - with the secret permission of their owners.
Another ritual: the inhabitants of the plateau pour milk with kefir fungus into the skin wine skins and place it in the sun, next to the path to the house. People passing by can show respect to their owners by kicking the skin of the wine - the shaking makes the fermentation process more intense.
The first official message about the benefits of kefir was made by the doctor Tblis Jogin in 1867. But the production of the drink at that time was still a secret of the well -kept high people. Things changed thanks to an employee of a well -known large dairy company. During the assignment, he visited a wealthy Karachai farm and received - for the first time in history - 10 pounds of "grains" of kefir fungus either as a gift or as legal compensation for an unsuccessful courtship. So kefir, finally, began to be produced industrially.
The benefits of kefir
Already in the late 19th century, doctors launched a real large-scale campaign to promote the benefits of kefir, an echo that still affects us. The legendary scientist, a Nobel laureate, studied the benefits of fermented dairy products and probiotic living microorganisms throughout his life.
Further studies confirm his guess. Kefir has a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora and metabolism in general, inhibiting the development of pathogenic flora. It also has a mild immunostimulatory, calming and diuretic effect, that is, it relieves the body of excess fluid.
Kefir surpasses yogurt in the content of vitamins A, D, K, E, contains useful organic and amino acids, enzymes and essential trace elements - iron, iodine, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc - in a person's quantity. needs.
The older the kefir, the more sour it tastes and the more ethyl alcohol is contained in it. In any case, it's not much: by the end of shelf life, a maximum of 1 degree of fortification, it is safe to be behind the wheel after a bottle of kefir. But children still need to be fed kefir a day fresh.
For people with lactose intolerance, kefir helps absorb these carbohydrates normally. Kefir contains few calories and a lot of moisture, so it helps maintain water balance and at the same time brings a feeling of satiety. Not surprisingly, the product has become the basis of an entire diet galaxy.
The essence of the kefir diet
Kefir is nutritious and light, improves the work of the digestive tract and helps to lose weight quickly, dramatically reducing the amount of calories consumed and removing excess fluid. Many consider the kefir diet to be a mono-diet, i. e. a diet made from one product, but this is the most radical option: only allowed to eat kefir without endangering health for a maximum of 24 hours. More often, kefir is combined for 3, 7 or 9 days with other low -calorie foods. Particularly popular are the kefir-buckwheat diet, the kefir-banana diet, the kefir-curd diet and the cucumber-kefir diet.
Kefir, by the way, is glorified by the famous singer’s famous kefir diet: a silent history of whether a truly famous singer used it, at some point in his career he actually lost a lot of weight. The star diet menu includes, of course, kefir, as well as low-fat cottage cheese, chicken breast, fruit and jacket potatoes.
The kefir diet for weight loss is indeed ideal. But it severely restricts the supply of nutrients, based on starvation and puts the body into a state of severe stress. Is the result worth it? Here's how they write about the kefir diet on the internet:
- "Subtract 12 kg in 3 weeks. I lost weight, but I'm not going to repeat it !!! I thought I was going to starve to death. "
- "A kefir diet is effective if you follow it properly. But without physical effort, the effect won't be. You should at least do some exercise. Try drinking only kefir for 1 day. If you're not healthy, it's better to stop. . . "
- "A week without food. Generally. One kefir and water. The consequences have come. Probably the hardest of all the diets I've tried. "
General rules for kefir diet
- Kefir is the main product of the diet. You need to drink about 1. 5 liters per day. The rest are low-calorie carbohydrates and lean proteins: meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and cottage cheese.
- You should eat in small portions, at least five times a day.
- Between main meals, you can drink kefir as a snack.
- Despite the fact that kefir quenches thirst well, you must also drink at least 1. 5 liters of water per day.
- All starchy, fatty, heavy, fried and spicy foods are excluded. Sugar and salt are limited to a minimum (or better yet if they are completely excluded).
- Getting out of the kefir diet should be done carefully and smoothly: going to a party or eating pizza is not the best idea if you want to maintain the results.
How to choose the right kefir
Choose fresh kefir - no more than 2-3 days from the date of production - low fat content. A completely lean diet is not the best option because the body needs fat.
The composition should contain exactly the "sour kefir" from fungi, yeast and fermented milk cultures. Don't buy kefir or fermented milk drinks.
Protein in the right kefir is not less than 3% - it is necessary so that weight loss does not lose too much muscle mass.
Please note: we do not require additives, dyes, sugars, palm oil and milk powder in the composition. The ideal is farm kefir.
The shelf life of natural kefir is 7-10 days from the date of manufacture. If a longer period is indicated on the label, there may be preservatives in the composition. Do not buy kefir that has deteriorated before: it is divided into whey and flakes, becomes yellowish and has a bitter taste and sour aroma. Unscrupulous manufacturers may try to disguise the damage with bottles or opaque packaging.
How can you replace kefir in your diet?
If for some reason kefir is not available to you or does not taste good, you can try alternatives:
- Yogurt without additives.Choose products carefully, for taste and thickness, starch and sugar are often added to it.
- Other fermented dairy products with low fat content- for example, fermented baked milk, tan or ayran.
- Sour milk.It’s easy to make at home: just leave the milk in an enamel bowl at room temperature for a day.
Approved Product Schedule
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Kefir diet for 3 days
If we throw a mono-diet on kefir, the most difficult option for the body, a kefir diet for 3 days will be the strongest in terms of effect on the body. If time is short, it will help you strike weight quickly and surprisingly.
The general principle is one: about 1. 5 liters of kefir per day for 5-6 doses. In addition, other low -calorie foods are acceptable. The most popular options are buckwheat, cottage cheese, apples, vegetables. You can replace kefir with only one product - apples, for example. But it is better to make your food, even in the diet, as varied and interesting as possible.
For example, the kefir diet menu might be as follows:
Day 1
- Breakfast:oats, tea with honey.
- dinner:boiled, vegetable soup.
- dinner:Green salad.
- Snacks:kefir.
Day 2
- Breakfast:boiled eggs, rosehip soup.
- dinner:salads, vegetable soups.
- dinner:vegetable salad, tea.
- Snacks:kefir.
Day 3
- Breakfast:curd casserole, tea.
- dinner:boiled fish, salad.
- dinner:buckwheat porridge, chamomile tea.
- Snacks:kefir.
Kefir diet for 7 days
A kefir diet for a week allows you to achieve impressive results: minus 7-10 kg. Since it is longer in time, it is important to eat with as much variety as possible.
In one of the dietary options, every day it is supposed to combine kefir with only one low-calorie product, for example, apples, but you can only stretch the diet scheme three days a week, eating according to the scheme "porridge. For breakfast, protein and vegetables-vegetables for lunch and dinner, kefir in between ".
Example menu:
- Day 1:Divide into 5 servings of about 200-250 g of lean boiled meat and 1. 5 liters of kefir.
- Day 2:5 large apples and 1. 5 liters of kefir per day.
- Day 3:300 g of cottage cheese 3-5% fat and 1. 5 liters of kefir.
- Day 4:250 g of steamed white fish and 1. 5 l of kefir.
- Day 5:500 g of cucumber and tomato salad and 1. 5 l of kefir.
- Day 6:250 g of chicken fillets and 1. 5 l of kefir.
- Day 7:2 liters of kefir and prunes to taste.
Kefir diet for 9 days
Choice for the most persistent. Eating only meat or cottage cheese every day is boring, but in order not to cook something new every day, take the 3 -day menu as a base and replace it. For example, like this:
Days 1, 4, 7
- Breakfast:oats, eggs, tea with honey.
- dinner:boiled, green salad.
- dinner:vegetables, dried fruits.
- Snacks:kefir, apple.
Days 2, 5, 8
- Breakfast:toast and rosehip soup.
- dinner:boiled fish with vegetables.
- dinner:an apple, a slice of low -fat cheese.
- Snacks:kefir, cottage cheese.
Days 3, 6, 9
- Breakfast:steamed omelet, green tea.
- dinner:chicken soup, salad, a slice of black bread.
- dinner:steamed fish, buckwheat porridge.
- Snacks:kefir.
Recipe: Kefir with Cinnamon and Ginger
Most importantly, as a rule, those who lose weight on kefir do not have enough sugar. A simple recipe will help: add cinnamon and ginger to the kefir. Ginger has the properties of warming and burning fat, while the smell and taste of cinnamon is sweet. The finished mixture can be drunk in the morning, for cheerfulness, at night, to begin the process of debugging the work of the digestive tract, or you can take it with you on the road.
Ingredients:
- kefir 500 ml
- ground ginger 1 tsp
- ground cinnamon 1 tsp
- Other spices: cloves, pepper.
Mix the kefir with the spices using a whisk or blender and pour into a small bottle. Drinks must be drunk on the same day. Be wary of peppers and other brightly colored spices if you have a sensitive stomach or damage to the lining of your intestines.
How to properly end the kefir diet
Nutritionists warn: the kefir diet is suitable for completely healthy people without problems with the gastrointestinal tract and the slightest sign of eating disorders.
In fact they can also experience unpleasant symptoms such as stomach pain and will almost inevitably regain the weight they have lost, as is the case with any effective high-stress diet in the short term.
So that the weight does not return immediately, get out of the diet smoothly. Continue to eat in fractions and limit total calorie intake to 1000-1500 kcal for at least a week. Continue to drink at least 1. 5 liters of water a day, and avoid starchy foods, heavy foods and greasy foods for at least 2 weeks. It is better to make light soups, vegetable salads, cereals and boiled meats as the basis of the diet. Introduce other products gradually, one product every 2-3 days.
Why kefir diet is not good
Any diet that severely restricts dietary diversity may not be beneficial in the long run. Kefir diet for every day is definitely not suitable. There are three categories of people who can do more harm than good.
- People with disorders and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lactose intolerance. Kefir can cause diarrhea and dehydration, stomach pain and bloating. Ethyl alcohol in the composition is also harmful to the intestinal mucosa.
- Children, pregnant and lactating women. A variety of foods are important to them. To get rid of body fats and carbohydrates, even for a few days, means inhibiting development and growth.
- People with eating disorders. Honestly, very few people are passionate about the taste of kefir without additives. You have to force yourself to drink it. If this continues for more than a few days, the likelihood of a breakdown will increase exponentially.
The benefits of kefir diet
Simplicity, efficiency, lots of fluids. Potential benefits of gastrointestinal and microflora. A large amount of calcium has a beneficial effect on the condition of bones, nails and teeth.
The disadvantages of kefir diet
Stress for the body from lack of nutrition, lack of vitamins and taste. Maybe indigestion, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal discomfort. Increased acidity of the product can worsen the condition of gout, rheumatism and high acidity of gastric juice.