Has anyone been taking kefir long term?

[CustardD123]

If so, please let me know how long for, what dose, homemade/store-bought (brand), and what benefits and/or side effects you're getting.

Thanks :)

I buy mine from sainsbury. It's a Polish brand and not expensive. It's stocked in my local grocery store too, another Polish brand. I don't think it's pasteurised as it's got a short date on it.

Has anyone had any improvement with eczema?

I'd like my 7 yo son to give it a go in the hope that his eczema will get a bit better, but I'm not sure how I'd get it in him....he's a picky eater.

Re: pasteurisation... the milk will have been pasteurised in the first place (there's tight rules around selling raw milk, ie only at the farm gate/farmers' markets etc), but it won't have been treated after the kefir making process. A bit like buying bio/live natural yoghurt.

Well the Polish kefir was much better than the British IMO as it was more like the kefir I'd made at home.

As for the dose, I just drink it when I fancy, like any food, and I use it instead of milk if I want cereal.

I haven't seen any miraculous difference, but I aim for good gut health.

I really tried to tolerate kefir, but gave up after much gagging. Am now a very happy sauerkraut eater.

Big believer in the importance of gut health.

Marking my place

I like the sour taste of kefir. At first I had it lots in smoothies, but now I just drink it - or have it on cereal.

I had to stop eating 95% of my regular diet to control my IBS with low FODMAP. Now I take kefir I can pretty much eat anything I want, though I remain slightly wary of plums.

I always do a second ferment by adding some fruit to the strained kefir and leaving it in a sealed jar for 12-24 hours. Citrus fruits work really well. This makes it taste less tarte and increases the good bacteria.