Kefir and fermented baked milk are dietary and healthy products for the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases. They have a beneficial effect on the microflora of the mucous membranes and have a positive effect on the body as a whole. Therefore, lactic acid products are useful for pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and stomach.
Lactic acid products have a beneficial effect on the body and are easily digestible.
The benefits of kefir for the intestines and stomach
Kefir, unlike fermented baked milk, is endowed with a large number of advantages. It is rich in lactic acid bacteria, which:
- restore the microflora of the organ;
- improve metabolic processes;
- stabilize digestion;
- stop the pathogenic process and the development of microbes;
- remove toxins;
- prevent the development of tuberculosis;
- reduce the risk of tumor formation;
- restore immunity;
- accelerate postoperative rehabilitation;
- fight inflammation and tissue swelling;
- promote protein breakdown, absorption of calcium, iron, vitamin D;
- have a beneficial effect on the vascular system, which helps improve the nutrition of stomach tissue.
If the body does not tolerate lactose, kefir or fermented baked milk is an excellent substitute for dairy products with the same nutritional properties. The drink is easily digestible and disinfects affected mucosal tissues. Fasting days with its use every 2 hours are useful for cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and removing toxins from the intestines.
Other properties of kefir
In addition to the obvious benefits for the stomach and intestines, this fermented milk drink:
- easily and completely absorbed by the body, including children, elderly and sick people;
- increases the level of immune protection;
- normalizes metabolism in obesity and other metabolic diseases;
- has a moderate diuretic effect;
- improves blood composition (increases hemoglobin levels);
- reduces cholesterol in the blood;
- regulates the level of female sex hormones;
- reduces the risk of developing tuberculosis;
- reduces the likelihood of tumor formation in various organs;
- shortens the postoperative rehabilitation period;
- relieves swelling and inflammation of tissues.
In addition, kefir has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, liver and kidneys, nerve fibers, and saves from chronic fatigue, mental stress, depression and insomnia. It also serves as an excellent anti-hangover remedy, which quickly relieves the unpleasant symptoms of poisoning and cleanses the body of toxic substances formed during the breakdown of alcohol.
Kinds
Kefir can change properties over time, so the following types are distinguished:
- Freshly prepared (one-day old) product. Promotes: cleansing and removing toxins; eliminates constipation.
- A two-day aged drink. Recommended for pathologies such as: diabetes mellitus; colitis; gastritis; obesity; anemia; imbalance in the cardiovascular system (hypertension, heart attack, stroke); hepatic, pulmonary, renal dysfunction.
- Three-day (strong) product. It has a fastening effect, therefore it is indicated for diarrhea. The product is heavy, therefore it is contraindicated for kidney disease and ulcers.
Usually the lactic acid product is drunk during breakfast and lunch. To normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, intestines and stomach in elderly people with bloating and constipation, it should be drunk during dinner. For preventive purposes, the product is consumed daily for 30 days. For serious illnesses, consult a doctor.
Varieties of kefir
This fermented milk product is produced by fermenting fresh milk with cultures of special kefir grains and yeast.
Depending on the exposure time there are different:
One-day kefir . It has a laxative effect, so it should be used for constipation, to cleanse the intestinal walls and remove toxins from it.
Two-day kefir . It is recommended for the following disorders of the digestive tract: gastritis and colitis.
Three-day kefir . It has a strengthening effect and is indicated to eliminate diarrhea.
All types of kefir differ only in the percentage of alcohol and carbon dioxide, but have a low calorie content, so they can be consumed even by people with increased body weight.
Low fat option
There is debate about the benefits of a low-fat drink. The basis of the product is skimmed milk, which contains little protein; therefore, to add thickness, homogenization is needed with the addition of starch, agar, etc. A fresh, high-quality low-fat product is similar in appearance to whey. But its benefits are also high, since the composition has not been changed - whey, lactocultures and protein. The only difference is less nutritional value due to the low fat content. If you prefer low-fat kefir, you also need to eat red meat, butter and vegetable oil, cottage cheese, nuts, cheeses, and eggs.
It is recommended to use the low-fat product as a dressing for porridges, cereals and for preparing cold soups from fresh vegetables.
Rules of use
Consuming kefir is very beneficial. If there is a risk of developing gastritis, then this fermented milk product can serve as an excellent preventive measure. But if the disease still exists, then you need to consume kefir taking into account certain rules:
- Only a natural product made from milk with the addition of kefir grains will benefit the body. Cheap analogues that are sold in stores under the name “kefir drink” should not be purchased.
- The fresher the product, the less lactic acid and more beneficial bacteria it contains. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to pay attention to the release date, and even better, prepare a fermented milk drink at home using starter cultures that can be bought in pharmacies.
- It is recommended to include kefir with a fat content of 2-3% in the diet for gastritis. This product has an enveloping effect, which increases the level of protection of the digestive organ from the effects of adverse factors.
- You can take the drink at any time of the day, both before and after meals. It is very useful to drink fermented milk drinks as an additional dinner about 1-1.5 before bedtime. You should not drink the drink immediately before bed, as this product has a diuretic effect.
- You should drink the drink only at room temperature; cold water has an irritating effect on the stomach.
When to drink?
For medicinal purposes, kefir is drunk on an empty stomach.
For medicinal purposes, kefir is useful when the stomach is as empty as possible. The drink must be “empty”, that is, without additives. The best time is breakfast and lunch. The dosage is agreed with the attending physician. For preventive purposes, time, quantity and recipe do not matter. You can drink it with honey.
For the night
In some cases, a fermented milk drink is recommended at night. It relieves obsessive hunger, calms the nervous system and helps fight insomnia. Moreover, calcium is better absorbed at night. If, due to stomach pathology, the patient loses his appetite, drinking the product at night stimulates morning hunger, which forces him to eat.
How to use kefir
Usually kefir is drunk in the morning or at lunch, half an hour before meals, and to eliminate bloating, flatulence and constipation, take 1 glass at night before bed. For gastritis with low acidity, this healing drink should be drunk constantly, half a glass before each meal, to reduce the concentration of acid in the gastric juice.
As a preventive measure for gastrointestinal diseases, each person should take it in a volume of 200 to 500 ml per day. This should be done on an empty stomach, in the evening before going to bed for at least 1 month.
You can arrange kefir fasting days and drink the drink in small portions every 2 hours to speed up digestion, cleanse and tone the body. The medicinal drink should be stored on the lower shelves of the refrigerator and kept there for no more than 2 weeks.
Kefir fasting
The diet promotes:
- eliminating inflammation and swelling of the gastric mucosa;
- normalization of acidity;
- facilitating digestion.
You should fast for 3-5 days. The amount you drink per day is 1-5 liters. Sample menu for the day:
- 5 crackers, 250 ml kefir;
- cereal pudding, 250 ml kefir;
- 3 crackers, 2 biscuits, 250 ml kefir.
Between breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you are allowed to drink 250 ml of kefir or fermented baked milk additionally. The drink must be made from whole milk and not contain additives or fruits.
The drink is a dietary product
Is kefir good for gastritis?
So, what happens when the drink enters the stomach:
- The absorption of nutrients improves.
- Prevents putrefactive processes.
- Normalizes the disturbed balance of intestinal microflora.
- Increases immune strength.
- Gently cleanses the intestines of toxins.
- Restores functional and pathological disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
- It has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antibacterial, immunomodulatory properties.
- Supports normal intestinal activity.
- Promotes the growth and reproduction of beneficial microorganisms.
- Eliminates symptoms of gastritis (nausea, heaviness, heartburn).
Safety
For most pathologies of the stomach, kefir whey is included in the diet. But it is better to use a fresh homemade product, not heavy (aged for less than two days), made from whole milk. Rules of use to prevent possible negative effects on the body:
- An acute form of stomach pathology is treated with low-fat kefir.
- Normal acidity is maintained, and low acidity is stabilized with a one-day product.
- Increased acidity is regulated with medication, and kefir is not recommended for consumption. This is explained by the fermentation that causes the product in the stomach cavity, which leads to irritation of the walls and pain due to fluctuations in the acidity of the digestive juice.
- Instead of kefir, you can eat cheesecakes, cottage cheese, casseroles, and lazy dumplings.
- It is better to flavor with honey, but not with sugar.
Who shouldn't drink kefir?
Despite the unconditional benefits of kefir, there are diseases in which it is necessary to limit its use as much as possible. It is not recommended to drink the drink for people suffering from ulcerative pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Increased acidity and gastritis are also contraindications to taking kefir. However, in this case, only a gastroenterologist can prohibit or recommend drinking kefir.
With the so-called “weak intestines,” kefir is also contraindicated. Because it often causes diarrhea, and too much of it provokes flatulence and excessive gas formation. The calming effect of kefir can be considered both negative and, on the other hand, positive. If you drink a glass of drink before bed, you will be able to fall asleep much faster. But at the same time, you should not drink kefir before an important meeting, since your attention will definitely decrease for some time.
Harm
Kefir whey and fermented baked milk are safe products for health. They cannot harm an organism weakened by stomach pathology. The most severe consequence of treatment with the drink is an upset stomach, accompanied by pain, due to the appearance in the organ cavity of microflora different from the internal one. A low-quality, expired product is dangerous from poisoning, therefore it is prohibited:
- leave the open package in a warm place for 2 hours or more;
- heat on the battery;
- drink a product that is known to be expired.
Composition of kefir
This is a truly noble and unique foamy drink with a rich and varied composition.
It includes a whole range of substances that are beneficial for the body of healthy people and those suffering from various diseases.:
- complete proteins consisting of essential amino acids, including tryptophan;
- easily digestible fats;
- simple carbohydrates;
- organic acids;
- vitamins (ascorbic and nicotinic acids, group B);
- macro- and microelements (phosphorus, chlorine, iodine, potassium, calcium, copper, iron).
In addition, due to the peculiarities of its preparation, kefir contains 22 types of different bacteria, the most useful of which include lactic acid streptococci, acetic acid bacteria and yeast.
Nutrition rules
To normalize the intestinal microflora, you should follow certain nutritional rules:
- Every day it is necessary to consume fermented milk products containing prebiotics, beneficial bacteria. It’s good to eat cottage cheese, homemade yoghurts, kefir, fermented baked milk. Store-bought yoghurts with various additions should be excluded.
- More vegetables, fruits, berries. For example, citrus fruits, apples, and pineapples contain a large amount of pectin. Such food products will show an effective result on the intestines.
- You should drink only purified or non-carbonated mineral water. It is forbidden to consume from the tap.
- The diet should be dominated by fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
- You shouldn't get carried away with meat. This is a difficult to digest product, it causes increased gas formation and rotting of products.
- Artichoke, chicory, Jerusalem artichoke are sources of inulin, which is a natural probiotic. Also found in garlic, onions, asparagus, bananas, and dandelions.
- You should eat little by little at intervals of 4 hours.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
It is important to adhere to proper nutrition for dysbiosis and drinking regime. If you consume kefir daily, a person will feel relief and the symptoms of the disease will noticeably decrease. But it is worth remembering that any means must be prescribed by a specialist in order to avoid negative consequences.
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Contraindications
Fermented milk products are contraindicated in the following cases:
- allergic reaction to milk protein;
- individual intolerance;
- digestive system disorders;
- discomfort in the intestinal area;
- ulcer in the acute stage with increased acidity.
In other cases, the possibility of drinking a fermented milk drink must be considered individually and carefully monitor your condition.
