10 Reasons to Drink Kefir Water (2024)

Our guts (yes, yours and mine) are responsible for looking after our immune system. Did you know that 75% of the immune system is found in the stomach?

By consuming probiotics such as water kefir, you support the tens of trillions of ‘good bacteria’ that help keep you healthy and as you will find out, happy.

Ready? Let's get into the details.

1. Improves mood & reduces anxiety

Kefir contains tryptophan – an amino acid that helps raise the levels of serotonin – the happy hormone in the brain that improves your mood and mental well-being. (1)

2. Contains essential nutrients

Water Kefir is loaded with nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and digestive enzymes.

During fermentation, water kefir produces anti-oxidants and in some studies, water kefir is shown to be anti-inflammatory. (2) (3)

3. Water Kefir is packed with beneficial bacteria

A glass of Agua de Madre water kefir contains billions of beneficial bacteria

4. Water Kefir is a natural antibiotic

Lactobacillus kefiri, a unique probiotic found in kefir, has been shown to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as salmonella, h-pylori and e-coli – helping to restore the balance of good bacteria, reduce inflammation, the symptoms of leaky gut and auto-immune diseases. (5)

5. It is good for the skin

The probiotic bacteria in Water Kefir help to control undesirable bacteria and pathogens that cause inflammation and infection in the body.

Skin conditions including acne, psoriasis, rosacea and eczema have been shown to be ameliorated by the probiotic bacteria in water kefir. (6)

Water Kefir also contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid a common ingredient in skin products to promote a healthy youthful complexion.

6. Kefir reduces cholesterol

Kefir helps lower blood lipid levels and harmful fatty acids affecting cholesterol. Water Kefir contains phytosterol and stanol that have been shown to lower levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. (7)

7. Kefir helps restore a damaged gut

Drinking water kefir daily helps increase the proportion of healthy bacteria in your gut – and as a result, improves your overall gut health.

Drinking water kefir together with a sustained healthy diet high in fibre has been found to improve digestion, and reduce inflammation and symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcers. (8)

In addition Water Kefir:

• Helps to balance the intestinal flora (9)

• Helps regulate the digestive cycle (9)

• Helps fight pathogenic microorganisms, such as Candida albicans, Salmonella typhi, E. coli, and C. difficile (9)

• Aids digestion and absorption of nutrients (9)

8. Detox The Liver

Water kefir can help detox your liver. Your liver can become clogged when your diet is high in sugar and carbs. Water kefir contains a good amount of probiotics, which is one of the reasons it is capable of detoxing the liver.

It is important to do what you can to maintain liver health. An unhealthy liver can lead to a whole host of problems. You can stop drinking unhealthy drinks, and switch to consuming water kefir if you want to keep your liver healthy. (10)

9.Water Kefir Is Suitable For Many Types of Diets

Water kefir is a drink made of basic and unprocessed ingredients. It is suitable for all kinds of diets!

Unlike milk kefir, water kefir contains no dairy products. It is a probiotic drink suitable for people who are lactose intolerant, vegan, or vegetarian.

In addition, unlike kombucha or commercial sodas, water kefir contains no caffeine or theine. It is therefore perfect for people who are sensitive to caffeine, or for those who wish to reduce their consumption.

10.Kefir Is a Natural Low-Sugar Fizzy Drink

Water kefir contains far less sugar than commercial soft drinks.

To make water kefir, you mix water and sugar with water kefir grains. The microorganisms in the grains transform the sugar water into a fizzy, tangy drink.

In less than 48 hours, 66 to 80% of the sugar is consumed by yeast and bacteria. (11)

References

  1. https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-020-00846-5

  2. https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=SK2013100155

  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12526861/

  4. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1355/8174/files/Agua_de_Madre_Research_summary_2020.pdf?v=1628698785

  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4052788/

  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8622502/

  7. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04247139

  8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007996007913188

  9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33153292/

  10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24335764/

  11. https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijfs.13312

10 Reasons to Drink Kefir Water (2024)

FAQs

What does kefir water do for you? ›

Kefir is an excellent source of probiotics like Lactobacillus and Lactococcus. Adding these good bacteria to your diet may alleviate digestive problems like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Imbalances in gut microbiota can give you a “leaky gut” that causes inflammation-related digestive diseases.

What happens to your body when you start drinking kefir? ›

Kefir contains millions of probiotics, which are bacteria with potential health benefits. It's also low in lactose and packed with vitamins and minerals that are good for your body. Scientists have found a range of possible health benefits of kefir, including improved cholesterol, blood sugar control, and gut health.

How long does it take for kefir to heal the gut? ›

Nutritionists and healthcare professionals suggest that regularly drinking kefir may improve health in 2-4 weeks. The several health benefits of kefir include improving heart, gut, kidney, liver, and skin health. Kefir also has anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects.

How much kefir water should I drink a day? ›

Drinking 1–3 cups (237–710 mL) of kefir daily can be a great way to boost your intake of probiotics. Certain people may need to limit their intake, including people with diabetes or autoimmune disorders and those following a low carb or ketogenic diet.

How do you know if water kefir is working? ›

Always test aroma and flavour to make sure the water kefir grains are working properly. The finished water kefir should smell pleasant and maybe a bit sour, and it will be less sweet than the sugar water or juice you started with.

Does kefir reduce belly fat? ›

Several studies now also suggest that kefir can help reduce visceral fat levels in the body. Probiotics can alter the make-up of your gut microbiome. Some of them even play a role in weight regulation. Bacteria from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus family are found to help lose belly fat.

What should you not mix with kefir? ›

We do not recommend mixing maple syrup, agave, or honey with your kefir. Maple syrup and agave have a high GI rating, which disrupts your microbiome. Honey is a natural antibiotic, which interferes with the good probiotics in the kefir.

Is it better to drink kefir in the morning or at night? ›

According to research in the morning, we get the most of the Lactobacillus and in the evening we get the most of the Bifidobacterium. Hence, both morning and evening have their benefits and if you really want to get the most out of it – drink both morning and evening!

When should you not drink kefir? ›

When Should You Avoid Kefir? You don't necessarily have to drink kefir in the morning, but you should avoid drinking it before you go to bed at night. Since kefir has an impact on your digestive system, it can keep you from getting a peaceful night of sleep.

Does kefir affect bowel movements? ›

Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that contains probiotics, a form of healthy gut bacteria that may help relieve constipation and promote regularity. Probiotics have been shown to help increase stool frequency, improve stool consistency, and reduce intestinal transit time to speed bowel movements.

Does kefir detox the liver? ›

Pathophysiologically, free radicals, inflammatory mediators, and the gut microbiome play an important role during liver damage development. According to the researches, water kefir showed a promising potency as a hepatoprotective agent due to its strong antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and probiotic properties.

Is supermarket kefir any good? ›

While both are still healthy choices, you are not getting the full spectrum at the full potency (some brands advertise 10 strains, genuine kefir has upwards of 40-60 strains) that home-made kefir with kefir grains will give. You may notice that most store-bought kefir is not carbonated.

What is the best hour to drink kefir? ›

The ideal time to drink fermented drinks such as Kombucha and Water Kefir is on an empty stomach in the morning, in order to ensure that the bacteria remain alive at the end of the entire digestive process. But the truth is that at any time it is a contribution of good things to our organism. After a heavier meal.

How long does water kefir last in the fridge? ›

Water kefir does not need to be refrigerated unless you want it chilled. It's best to consume within 10 days after opening a bottle. Unused grains can be fed and stored, covered, in sugar water (1/4 cup sugar to 1 quart water), and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Is kefir water high in sugar? ›

On average, fermented water kefir contains the same amount of sugar as in one green apple, just 3 grams. If you add fruit juice to your fermentation, the sugar content can go up to 5 grams. Not bad compared to 72 grams of sugar in a root beer.

Is water kefir a laxative? ›

So even though kefir may act as a mild laxative, it did not cause diarrhea or softer stools for people who have normal bowel movements.

Does kefir cleanse your gut? ›

Some people find that regular consumption of kefir supports their digestion, potentially due to its diverse microbial content. These beneficial bacteria may help restore balance in the gut and improve the health and function of the digestive tract.

Which is better for you, kombucha or water kefir? ›

Both drinks are very healthy, but they support the body in different ways. While kombucha is rich in antioxidants, which fight free radicals, kefir water contains over 30 different strains of beneficial bacterias and yeast; these probiotics survive gastrointestinal conditions and improve gut health.

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