The Many Benefits of Coconut Water Kefir
Kefir is an ancient drink that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years.
Originally from the Caucasus Mountains in the former Soviet Union in Central Asia, the word kefir derives from the Turkish word "Keyif," which means "good feeling."
In the initial stages of the Body Ecology Diet, you can make kefir with coconut water instead of milk using the Kefir Starter Culture to avoid irritating milk proteins, like casein.
Coconut water kefir contains the beneficial microbes that are found in traditional kefir. It also offers all the benefits of raw, living coconut water.
Because coconut water kefir is fermented, beneficial bacteria and yeast transform the natural sugars found in coconut water — releasing powerful metabolites that often benefit the human body. The World Health Organization tells us that probiotics are, "Live micro-organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”
Raw coconut water inoculated with Body Ecology’s Kefir Starter Culture is a restorative tonic that supports energy and detoxification.
THE PROBIOTIC POWER AND BENEFITS OF COCONUT WATER KEFIR
From infection to high blood pressure and obesity, the probiotics in kefir prove themselves to be a valuable addition to anyone’s diet.
Kefir often contains seven strains of probiotic bacteria and yeast:
Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis
Lactococcus lactis subsp. Cremoris
Lactococcus lactis subsp. Diacetylactis
Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. Cremoris
Lactobacillus kefyr (thermophilic)
Saccharomyces unisporus
Kluyveromyces marxianus
In 2007, the Turkish Microbial Society cultured all seven strains together. They then tested each individual strain and found that each one could protect against food-borne pathogens, such as Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Listeria. Lactobacillus kefyr alone was found to fight the toxins produced by Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that contributes to chronic and sometimes deadly diarrhea. Because C. difficile is increasingly resistant to antibiotics, C. difficile infection is life threatening.
In 2008, researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland found that the probiotic Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. cremoris can produce chemical messages that fight cancer and boost the immune system’s response.Other research even shows that kefir may reduce the spread of cancerous cells.
The probiotic Saccharomyces unisporus is a yeast that produces healthy fatty acids, such as palmitic acid (found in palm oil) and palmitoleic acid (found in macadamia nuts).
Palmitic acid acts as an antioxidant in the body and is a source of vitamin A. According to research, palmitoleic acid is a signaling molecule that helps fight weight gain. Besides helping to keep off excess weight, S. unisporus produces an anti-tumor agent called farnesol. Farnesol has been shown to control the growth of opportunistic yeast, like Candida.
Kluyveromyces marxianus, another beneficial yeast, profoundly affects blood pressure.
Recent studies show that K. marxianus produces molecules that act like ACE inhibitors in the body. ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor) make up a class of pharmaceutical drugs that open blood vessels. Because ACE inhibitors are used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, scientists are exploring the use of kefir as a “functional food.”
Kefir is an ancient, beneficial cultured beverage. In fact, the word "kefir" comes from the Turkish word for "good feeling."
Coconut water kefir is full of beneficial microbes and powerful metabolites found in coconut water. It can provide a multitude of benefits, like:
Alleviate kidney stones with high potassium levels found in coconut water.
Protect heart health against high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, blood clots, and heart attack.
Guard against food-borne pathogens with seven different strains of probiotic bacteria and yeast.
Control opportunistic yeast growth, like Candida.
May fight cancer and boost immunity with probiotic chemical messages.
May reduce the spread of cancerous cells.
Stops your cravings for sugar.
It aids in the digestion of all food.
It has a tonifying effect on the intestines, even flattening the abdomen! It increases energy and gives you an overall feeling of good health.
It appears to cleanse the liver. In Chinese medicine the liver rules the skin, eyes, and joints.
Coconut water kefir eases aches and joint pains. Many people report having a prettier complexion. They also see any brown liver spots on their skin fading away and skin tags, moles, or warts drying up and disappearing.
It contains high levels of valuable minerals, including potassium, natural sodium, and chloride, which explains why the hair, skin and nails become stronger and have a prettier shine.
It appears to have a beneficial, cleansing effect on the endocrine system (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries). Women find that their periods are cleaner and healthier; some who had experienced early menopause have found this important monthly cleansing returning again.
It increases energy and gives you an overall feeling of good health.
It contains probiotics to help with digestion.
Fermenting coconut water introduces cultures of microbes into the water that create a wide range of probiotics to improve your health in numerous ways.
It contains a “greater” concentration of vitamins and minerals.
Through the fermentation process, vitamins and minerals in the coconut water are made easier for your body to absorb and use, or “bioavailable.” So though that 1 cup of coconut water contains 60 mg of magnesium, your body may actually absorb far more than that, thanks to the fermentation process.
It has reduced sugar levels.
When coconut water is fermenting, the bacteria in the culture (milk or water kefir grains), consume the simple sugars in the coconut water and reduce its sugar content.