Talk to me about Kefir!

[PeteWicksSexyPirate]

I’m trying to lose weight and eat better for health reasons so I’ve been making overnight oats for breakfast with Greek yoghurt.
I suffer IBS and get blocked up so I’ve bought some Yeo valley Kefir instead as I’ve heard it helps!
I’m confused about whether you just add it straight to the oats or if you need to add milk to create a “reaction” to get the probiotics going?

I’ve googled and there’s no much information it’s overwhelming!

You just eat it, I think. I'm on day 1. Apparently it's already fully packed and loaded, so to speak.

I quite like the taste.

Oh good. Does it just taste like Greek yoghurt?
I wasn’t sure which one to get because some have added cream.
I read the ingredients on the Yeo valley and it just said “fermented milk” so I assume that’s that

It has a little bit of a sour taste to me, but a nice one, and - because of what I euphemistically refer to as 'my IBS issues' - I'm adding a few raspberries and it's lovely.

Banana tomorrow. Rock and roll lifestyle, eh?

Yeah it has quite a distinctive sour taste. It's a good substitute for buttermilk in pancakes, makes really fluffy ones!

I like the flavoured Yeo valley kefir. I eat it like yoghurt.

Haha 🦇
Thankfully I’m still working from home so if the Kefir does its thing I’ll be in my safe space... 😆
I’ve been adding fruit but may add some money to take the sourness off a bit

Reassuring to know you like it!
Some reviews said it tasted like cheese

Kefir is usually a thick drink, so I'm guessing the yeo Valley has been thickened up into a yogurt type texture.
It's not for weightloss but more for healthy gut bacteria (which in turn can help bloating and ibs symptoms). But you need to go carefully and build up to having it daily otherwise it can have the opposite effect on your gut.
Maybe try a portion every other day and work up to it.
If you're not committed to Kefir I recommend quark (skyr and muller do 'protein yogurts' that are just pots of flavoured quark). Super thick yogurt texture and high in protein it really makes you feel full for ages, it's a mission to finish the portion size tbh.

Never made buttermilk pancakes, am I being too optimistic to ask if they’re healthy?....

If you can get kefir grains (probably in a health food shop)you can make it yourself. Much easier and probably more loaded with probiotics.

Yeah I love it just eat it like normal yogurt. I also buy Kefir shots (very small actimel size bottles), they have thousands of concentrated baccilus. I can only find those in Waitrose though annoyingly.

@smudgemylife

Kefir is usually a thick drink, so I'm guessing the yeo Valley has been thickened up into a yogurt type texture. It's not for weightloss but more for healthy gut bacteria (which in turn can help bloating and ibs symptoms). But you need to go carefully and build up to having it daily otherwise it can have the opposite effect on your gut. Maybe try a portion every other day and work up to it. If you're not committed to Kefir I recommend quark (skyr and muller do 'protein yogurts' that are just pots of flavoured quark). Super thick yogurt texture and high in protein it really makes you feel full for ages, it's a mission to finish the portion size tbh.

I was planning to add the cals in to my diet so hopefully won’t gain weight eating it? Thanks for the advice, I will take it easy then!

I’ve heard of quark before but I thought it was a cream cheese sub for pasta dishes? Clearly I have a lot to learn

The only decent (not too sour) ones are Arla and the brands you get in Polish shops

All the other, even “famous” brands, are poor imitators imo (have had kefir since a child and am 50)

I grew up on Kefir (and kale!) as staple foods, now they are suddenly trendy

Thank you, I will keep an eye out for Arla. I couldn’t find many options in Sainsbury’s despite it being one of the big stores. Maybe Sainsbury’s aren’t trendy yet

Check the Polish corners, even our local Tesco and Sainsbo have Polish corners/shelves selling Gherkins. Kefir, garlic sausage etc

We used to make our own but to be honest I never felt happy with it.
We are lactose free and somehow it just didn’t seem right to be having a milk product.
Maybe I should try water kefir instead.

I’d actually been to the polish section for chorizo then wandered off to find Kefir, darn!

@shewalkslikerihanna

We used to make our own but to be honest I never felt happy with it. We are lactose free and somehow it just didn’t seem right to be having a milk product. Maybe I should try water kefir instead.

Well while I was being bamboozled by the Kefir information overload online I saw you can get almond, coconut etc Kefir instead of dairy, would that be an option?

I make my own and it's pretty easy to do with grains I picked up from Amazon and whole milk.

I would quite like to try some supermarket brands to compare them. Mine tastes slightly sour and fizzy and I enjoy the process of making it.

Is it just fizzy when first made or will it be fizzy when I open the pot?
Might try making my own if I get on with it is it difficult to make?

Whilst there are differences, just use it like yoghurt. It's a cultured milk product, it's sour, like yoghurt is, just enjoy it.

I get it from the Polish chilled shelf and just drink it.

I'm from Eastern Europe and have enjoyed it since I was little, I do find it quite hilarious that it's in one of those fad things people do, even though back home it's a bit of a peasant's drink. We drink it as is or i can suggest making a salad with it (spring onion, kale, etc) and use kefir instead of a dressing.

I make my own and have it as a drink

@Midnight0

I'm from Eastern Europe and have enjoyed it since I was little, I do find it quite hilarious that it's in one of those fad things people do, even though back home it's a bit of a peasant's drink. We drink it as is or i can suggest making a salad with it (spring onion, kale, etc) and use kefir instead of a dressing.

I’m a bit of peasant so if the shoe fits It’s the new avocado “superfood” isn’t it Thanks for the salad idea!

@PeteWicksSexyPirate
Yes I would like to try a coconut one

I love coconut milk on my morning gf oat muesli