Kefir Yogurt for Weight Loss?

vanillabear12
vanillabear12 Posts: 5 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've read different articles claiming that 3 servings of Kefir yogurt a day can help you lose weight and a lot of belly fat. I was wondering if anyone has tried it and has had any success? :)

Replies

  • msarro
    msarro Posts: 2,748 Member
    Well, first its important to note that Kefir is not yogurt. Yogurt is milk that has a bacterial culture growing in it. so it thickens up. Kefir is fermented, and they do that using yeast as well as bacteria (similar to yogurt, but the yeast also can cause carbonation in kefir - and it also adds folate and some other good stuff that you get from yeast).

    Now will 3 servings a day help you? If you're working out a lot maybe, 3 servings of most brands I've seen would eat up around 5-600 calories of your food budget. I'm sure you could lower that if you made it yourself though. Probiotics are a good thing always, but I don't know if you'd see much benefit beyond one serving of yogurt a day. The best source I could find is here: http://www.livestrong.com/article/367869-recommended-dosage-for-probiotics/
  • bodyrocks365
    bodyrocks365 Posts: 81
    I.Love.Kefir. That is all.
  • katbean12
    katbean12 Posts: 45 Member
    i haven't researched this topic much, and i forget where I heard about Kefir from, but i've been eating it most mornings on the regular, and my goodness, and i am feeling lighter in general after consumption.
    I do feel like it is helping in my weightloss efforts.
    i found a brand called elwest, (unlike Liberte) that carries a variety of kefirs, some of them like the bio kefir is only 52 cals for 1 cup.
    another one - kefir, tallinnsky (not sure what it refers to) by elwest is only 56cals for 100 ml.
    tell me more about this if food/item if anyone knows.
  • fastforlife1
    fastforlife1 Posts: 459 Member
    I drink raw (unpasturized - not commercial) sourkrout water. It is filled with natural probiotics; it has practically no calories; however, it is salty.
  • dixiech1ck
    dixiech1ck Posts: 769 Member
    I went to a seminar this weekend hosted by Runners World magazine featuring Liz Applegate, phD. She said that Kefir is highly effective and good for you, digestion and consumption of this is better than any other yogurt products out there. I was wondering what it tasted like .. do you mix things in with it? She suggested making smoothies with it.

    Thanks!
  • Lora_
    Lora_ Posts: 54 Member
    Kefir smoothies are great (although I've switched to mostly acidophilus milk)
  • elisabeisme
    elisabeisme Posts: 308 Member
    I saw some on sale at my grocery store and tried it. It was fruit flavored. It tasted yummy but was full fat and very in calories from being over sweetened. Something like 200 cals for a cup. If I was going to try it again, I'd look for a non-fat plain brand so I could blend in my own fruit like I do with greek yogurt.
  • elisabeisme
    elisabeisme Posts: 308 Member
    I found a low-fat strawberry flavor at whole foods. This one is only 160 calories a cup so a bit more manageable. 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat. Brand is Helios. Tastes just as good as the full fat one.
  • reddingaz
    reddingaz Posts: 39 Member
    Lifeway does a low carb version using splenda instead of sugar to sweeten it - I wish they'd use stevia instead but it seems to be a pretty good fit into my diet for now - I usually drink 1/2 to 1 serving a day with breakfast

    http://www.lifeway.net/Products/LowCarbKefir/Slim6LowCarbLowFatKefir/Slim6MixedBerry.aspx
  • mirasolabeille
    mirasolabeille Posts: 19
    Like anything else, processed commercial kefir isn't as good for you as the stuff you make yourself. I have a countertop lab going - you can buy fresh kefir grains once for less than $10 and then keep manufacturing your own kefir indefinitely by pouring milk over them, allowing it to ferment at room temperature for 24-48 hours, draining the resulting kefir, and adding fresh milk to repeat the process. I use a quart-size mason jar fitted with a plastic mesh lid. Very low-tech, and way cheaper than buying it bottled; plus I have control over sweeteners and add-ins. :)

    The grains can be put on hold by storing in the refrigerator if you go out of town or need to take a break. Otherwise they will happily pump out kefir every day of your life, and will also grow and reproduce themselves, allowing you to either make a larger amount of kefir each day, freeze the extra grains for backup, or indoctrinate someone else into the kefir obsession.

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