Calling all you Yogurt Lovers, yes you!!!

Eating yogurt is good for you, or at least that's what you were told growing up....

Depending on ingredients that are added to the yogurt, it can be good or bad for you... Most yogurts have fructose corn syrup added to it as well as other additives. A few years ago i started eating Goat's yogurt. Yes, i know that sounds gross, but it's actually very delicious if you add granola to it, or fresh fruit. Goat's yogurt, as well as milk and cheese digest easier than cows milk, yogurt and cheese. Last year i stumbled upon a product called "Kefir" I didnt know much about it exept it has 10 live cultures opposed to 3-5 that yogurt has....I bought one bottle not expecting to like it very much. After my first sip i was hooked. It's a little bit thicker than yogurt but very delicious. The health benefits are amazing!!!

Here's some of the information i found:

Kefir has many reputed health benefits. It has antibiotic and antifungal properties. It's been used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including metabolic disorders, atherosclerosis, and allergies, tuberculosis, cancer, poor digestion, candidiasis, osteoporosis, hypertension, HIV and heart disease. You might find it odd that that a drink containing yeasts would be good for treating candidiasis but it has been helpful to many people, both by restoring a better balance to the gut flora and because some elements of the microflora will kill off Candida Albicans. Not all yeasts are harmful.

In addition to beneficial bacteria and yeast, kefir contains many vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, B2 and B12, vitamin K, vitamin A and vitamin D. Tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids abundant in kefir, is well known for its relaxing effect on the nervous system. Because kefir also has an abundance of calcium and magnesium, also important minerals for a healthy nervous system, kefir in the diet can have a particularly calming effect on the nerves

Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.

Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.

It also contains beneficial yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.

Kefir's active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy.

Because the curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, invalids and the elderly, as well as a remedy for digestive disorders.

For more information click here:

http://www.kefir.net/benefits.htm

http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/fermenting/kefir.shtml

http://www.lifeway.net/

http://images.google.com/imgres?

imgurl=http://www.moralhaber.net/resimler/kefir1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://allaboutkefir.blogspot.com/&usg=__ncvXjFe_JOoiPlRh2IRY_vlh9kI=&h=370&w=450&sz=39&hl=en&start=14&tbnid=jtSA4lCk6ga1lM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkefir%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG