Re: How long does it take for kefir bacteria to colonize the intestines?

January 31, 2012

,

That is a very good question. I have " read " that kefir bacteria is stable

longer in your gut than yogurt, but I'm not an expert, nor have I read any

real research on that. Also, fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi

are eaten everyday in their cultures of origin. That suggests to me that

it needs to be reintroduced or supplied on some sort of continual basis.

Your observations are very interesting.

Leo

On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 11:26 AM, dawntreader122 <whichjennifer@...>wrote:

> **

>

> The subject line is the short and to the point question; this is the

> background of why I'm asking.

>

> My husband, seven kids and I have been drinking kefir almost every day in

> smoothies or shots since we got grains in September. Kefir has been amazing

> for our family. One son who had horrible canker sores all over his mouth to

> the point of talking funny is now canker-free. My husband teaches 8 yr

> olds, and in years past he would bring home a couple of bugs that would put

> our whole family under for a week or so. Not this year. This has also been

> our absolute healthiest fall and winter ever, with only an occasional

> sniffle or belly ache, and I'm convinced it is because of all the kefir via

> smoothies we have been drinking.

>

> But here's the catch. Anytime get busy, we're not hungry, or we're away

> from home and we don't drink a smoothie for two or three days, that's when

> the beginnings of sickness or canker sores will appear. Jump back on the

> kefir wagon and all is well.

>

> I thought kefir bacteria would colonize our stomachs and intestines,

> making drinking kefir every. single. day. unnecessary.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Kefir drinker and mom to seven little kefir drinkers

>

January 31, 2012

Hi, ! I think it has to do w/everything else we eat, drink, & breathe

that kill the bacteria. If you drink tap water, chlorine & fluoride kill good

bacteria... any drinks, canned goods, food, etc. w/water in them most likely

contain chlorine, fluoride, etc. too, which are hostile to good intestinal

flora. Also, since our skin is the largest organ of the body & everything that

goes onto our skin goes into our blood, bathing in city tap/city well water in

the shower, bath, etc. will throw things out of balance too by topical

absorption & inhalation.

It is wonderful to read of of the healing & health in your family!! Maybe

drinking more kefir, adding more (or some) fermented foods, etc. will help keep

things on an even field longer??

Also, do you take any D3?? D3 is super helpful in keeping sickness away & it

works really great w/healthy gut flora. Just an thought! IMO, it seems that

there is something you are all doing/or something else you are all being exposed

to, if symptoms start to kick in for you all w/in a few days.

My DH & DC have all had been sick off & on since last Aug (coughs, runny noses,

colds, etc.) & I have not gotten hit at all. I take D3 more regularly, which is

the only difference between us in our family... the kids take it too, but we

tend to forget more w/them than me. DH doesn't usually take it, but he works in

the sun a lot, so he gets natural D3, which is the best source, of course. I

have tried to keep on top of the kids' D3 levels, & there has been no sickness,

now that I think about it.

Hang in there... I'm sure you'll get some good advice here,

a

>

> The subject line is the short and to the point question; this is the

background of why I'm asking.

>

> My husband, seven kids and I have been drinking kefir almost every day in

smoothies or shots since we got grains in September. Kefir has been amazing for

our family. One son who had horrible canker sores all over his mouth to the

point of talking funny is now canker-free. My husband teaches 8 yr olds, and in

years past he would bring home a couple of bugs that would put our whole family

under for a week or so. Not this year. This has also been our absolute

healthiest fall and winter ever, with only an occasional sniffle or belly ache,

and I'm convinced it is because of all the kefir via smoothies we have been

drinking.

>

> But here's the catch. Anytime get busy, we're not hungry, or we're away from

home and we don't drink a smoothie for two or three days, that's when the

beginnings of sickness or canker sores will appear. Jump back on the kefir

wagon and all is well.

>

> I thought kefir bacteria would colonize our stomachs and intestines, making

drinking kefir every. single. day. unnecessary.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Kefir drinker and mom to seven little kefir drinkers

>

January 31, 2012

I'm going to second (and third) and Leo's observation. Not only

with firsthand observation, but with research and speaking with scientists:

it's very difficult to maintain good gut health without daily

supplementation of some kind, whether it is through live fermented food

(kefir, kimchi) or supplementation (enteric encapsulation of probiotics) It

seems that our immune systems--90% of which is in the " gut " are under daily

assault by all sorts of nasty microbes, and these nasties are kept in check

by our continual intake of live probiotics.

When I was in the Amazon and suffering a terrible case of dysentry I met

two microbiologists/MDs from New Zealand who told me that they begin a

rigorous increase in their probiotics PRIOR to leaving home, and then they

continued their daily probiotics (enteric capsules and powdered Florastor

on an empty stomach) throughout their travels and for several weeks after

their return home. It was not a one-shot deal: it was continual

maintenance.

I think it's the same for all of us: to maintain good intestinal health we

must continually supplement, in one way or another.

..

BTW, would it be practical to air-dry water kefir grains and travel with

them, to later reconstitute on a daily basis?

Kim

January 31, 2012

Hi ,

It's possible it's something else about the kefir in addition to the bacteria

that's keeping canker sores/infections away. Milk/kefir is high in nutrients and

protein which might also contribute to warding off infection. Especially if you

are eating less healthy foods when you are away or stressed out, it might have a

negative effect on your health. Just a thought!

~