What is European Kefir?

Ladies, how about starting your day with champagne?!

Can you believe it could be a healthy and wise choice for your morning routine?

Champagne we are writing about today is a unique and nutritious dairy drink called KEFIR.

Kefir (pronounced ke-feer) is a fizzy and refreshing milk smoothie, rich in active probiotic bacteria, proteins, calcium and vitamin D.

Kefir has been known in Middle and Eastern Europe for hundreds years and has been derived from cow, goat or sheep milk in natural fermentation process. This is why some call it “ the champagne of dairy” nowadays.

In your kitchen, kefir may be used as a smoothie base to be blended with different fruit or as a plain drink paired with grissini sticks.  There are many flavors and types of kefir in the market, but we strongly advise to choose plain/ traditional/ original.
It is always best to opt for food without sugar and artificial flavors!





Kefir has many health benefits such as:

             Probiotic properties  Antibacterial properties
Source of healthy nutrient
 Lowers risk of osteoporosis
 Helps solve digestive problems
 Boosts immune health.

Kefir is rich in live active probiotic cultures that support digestive health. Lifeway original kefir contains 12 live, active probiotic cultures such as Lb. acidophilus, Lb. casei, Lb. rhamnosus, Lb. plantarum.

The good news about kefir as a dairy product is that it is nearly 99% lactose free and may be drunk by people with lactose intolerance.

Another kefir worth recommending is Siggi’s  plain Swedish style filmjӧlk. It consists of two ingredients only- pasteurized skim milk and live active cultures. I appreciate Siggi’s for using only simple ingredients and minimalizing sugar in their dairy products. Similarly to Lifeway kefir, Siggi’s filmjӧlk tastes wonderfully with fruit, granola, oats or grissini sticks.

If you are willing to introduce kefir or filmjӧlk (which is very similar) to your diet, start with one cup a day for a week and for best results combine it with breakfast or lunch in the beginning. Than you may drink up to two cups daily- it is a reasonable amount for a healthy person. Avoid drinking kefir day by day for a long periods of time. Remember, that you diet should be balanced and it is wise to eat a large variety of healthy foods.

          We will share some easy kefir recipes popular in Middle/ Northern/ Eastern Europe soon!                        
                                                                             A&A

Papaya, Banana & Ginger Smoothie

Perfect drink for early fall mornings!
The autumn is coming and summer laziness turned into busy working days. Prepare yourself to face everyday challenges by drinking this invigorating smoothie.

Health effects:

PAPAYA

•  Anti-aging effect - Vitamin C, Vit. E and antioxidants, including beta-carotene, can neutralize free radicals, which are responsible for cell damages.
• May prevent cancer – papaya is rich in lycopene (red carotene), which is believed to reduce risk of cancer.
• Remedy for constipation – papaya’s enzyme – papain – helps improve digestion.
• Prevents infections – papaya is highly rich in Vitamin C.
• It is believed that papaya prevents hearth diseases -  fiber in papaya decrease high cholesterol level.

BANANA

• May protect against high blood pressure – bananas are rich in potassium and low in sodium.
• Gives energy – banana’s fructose (natural sugar) is processing into glucose – fuel, which body can use for energy.
• Helps produce hemoglobin – Vitamin B6 in bananas is important in hemoglobin production – a protein responsible for carrying oxygen in blood.
• Helps to feeling full – due to content of dietary fiber, starch and pectin.

GINGER – ginger processing decrease its health benefits, but still grounded ginger has gingerol – one of the ginger’s oils, that is responsible for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Another compound is shogaol (higher level in grounded than in fresh ginger) which has strong anti-cough effect. Both gingerol and shogaol help reduce blood pressure.

 

Preparing time: 10min

Servings: 2 smoothies

Ingredients:

·        1/3 medium-sized papaya fruit

·        1 banana

·        2 pinches of grounded ginger

·        1 cup kefir (Lifeway plain kefir or Siggi’s plain filmjölk kefir)

Preparing smoothie:

Combine all ingredients in body of a blender and blend until smooth.  Or…

To obtain two fruit-layers of smoothie: blend banana and kefir separately from papaya and ginger.  

                       

                                                          

  A&A