Cleansing the body with kefir

Without a doubt, such a fermented milk product as kefir, obtained by fermenting pasteurized milk, is very useful, and some believe that it is even possible to cleanse the body with kefir.

Benefits

Both the kefir starter and the final product of the milk fermentation process with Lactobacillus sp., Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum, Lactococcus lactis bacteria contain several dozen strains of probiotic microorganisms: bacteria and yeast fungi (Saccharomyces and Dipodascaceae families), which provide nutrition for the obligate intestinal microflora. This is the main benefit of kefir for the human body. [ 1 ]

First of all, experts note the value of the homofermentative lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens subsp., which is the #1 probiotic in kefir. This lactobacillus, in addition to carbon dioxide, ethylene and lactic acid, secretes the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) kefiran and menaquinone (vitamin K2). Our body needs lactic acid for cellular and general metabolism: with its help, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is synthesized – an essential cofactor that can restore normal metabolism and increase the activity of regulatory cellular proteins (sirtuins). [ 2 ]

Kefiran, which is a heteropolysaccharide, improves digestive function, helps relieve inflammation, has an antispasmodic effect and even reduces high blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Vitamin K2 (which is found in the highest amounts in high-fat kefir) provides antioxidant protection for the cells of the intestinal mucosa, normalizes its function, and restores the balance of beneficial bacteria. This is why kefir is so beneficial for intestinal function. [ 3 ]

In addition, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that Lb. kefiranofaciens neutralizes pathogenic intestinal flora and can inhibit the growth of various pathogenic microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Helicobacter pylori, Micrococcus luteus, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium difficile, Streptococcus faecalis, Fusarium graminearum. Therefore, gastroenterologists' indications for regular consumption of kefir (one glass in the evening) include many digestive problems: diarrhea, constipation, dysbacteriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, enterocolitis, spastic colitis, etc.

As reported in the World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology, over the past decade and a half, researchers have discovered the ability of lactobacilli-probiotics in kefir to reduce the level of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood serum, activate immunocompetent cells of the abdominal cavity (peritoneal macrophages) and increase the synthesis of immunoglobulins (IgA). This increases the protection of the intestinal epithelium from toxins, in particular, the beta-hemolytic bacterium Bacillus cereus - the causative agent of food poisoning, as well as aflatoxins produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus. So, in principle, cleansing the body of waste and toxins by drinking kefir is possible. [ 4 ]

Read also – Cleansing the body of waste and toxins

Flax with kefir for body cleansing

Nutritionists consider flaxseed to be the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids and rightly consider it unique in its content of lignans – polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. In addition, flaxseed contains dietary fiber (almost 40% of the total mass) necessary for normal bowel function.

This product is recommended - 25-30 g of ground flaxseed per day - for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, with reduced insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Daily consumption of one teaspoon of whole seed, poured with boiling water for an hour and a half, activates intestinal peristalsis and helps treat chronic constipation.

But you shouldn't mix and use flax with kefir at the same time to cleanse the body, since kefir will significantly reduce the laxative and cleansing effect of the seed fibers in the gastrointestinal tract: they should be consumed separately. Flaxseed flour and kefir are consumed separately in the same way: crushed seeds (a teaspoon) are washed down with a glass of warm water, and after emptying the intestines, instead of eating, you can drink 200-250 ml of kefir.

Castor oil with kefir

If you came across a recipe for cleansing the body, which suggests mixing castor oil with kefir (in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:5) and taking this mixture before bed for three days in a row, then we would like to remind you that castor oil is a laxative used for constipation.

The active ingredient of castor oil – ricinoleic acid – is released in the intestines and helps the process of digestion and cleansing, stimulating defecation. Therefore, castor oil is washed down only with water, possibly with the addition of lemon juice. And the idea of mixing kefir with castor oil, according to doctors, is more like an inappropriate joke.

Serious recommendations in the article - Colon Cleansing

Beetroot with kefir for cleansing the body

Also, don't be tempted by the cheapness of the method, which includes boiled beets with kefir for cleansing the body. Think for yourself, what will happen to the intestines if (as indicated in the "recipe") you eat a kilogram of boiled beets and drink 5-6 glasses of kefir per day? Don't you want to try?

Although, taken separately, these two products do not raise any questions. For example, beetroot is included in the list of products for liver cleansing, and its hepatoprotective properties – due to the presence of betaine and oleanolic acid – have been proven in practice.

So, eat beets, especially if you have atherosclerosis, fatty hepatosis or steatosis of the liver, arterial hypertension and general obesity. And, of course, instead of dinner - a glass of kefir...

Doctors give the same advice if the patient intends to cleanse the intestines with kefir and apples.

Hercules with kefir for body cleansing

Oatmeal or rolled oats with kefir can be used to cleanse the body without any reservations, because the flakes contain almost no gluten, which slows down the work of the gastrointestinal tract and is not tolerated by people with celiac disease.

However, rolled oats also contain much less fiber than whole oat grains, and to cleanse the intestines, you should cook and eat low-calorie porridge (26 g of carbohydrates per 100 g), regular consumption of which, according to reviews from nutritionists and the results of examinations of their patients, stabilizes blood glucose levels and helps reduce the level of low-density lipoproteins in it.

In addition, oatmeal contains water-soluble protein globulins (avenalins), which absorb fluids in the stomach and normalize the digestive process in the small intestine, as well as steroid saponins (avenacosides) and polysaccharides (β-glucans), which regulate the entry of glucose into the blood.

And this should convince all those who suffer from diabetes and obesity to eat oatmeal for breakfast. And instead of dinner, of course, a glass of kefir...

Cleansing the body with garlic and kefir

At first glance, cleansing the body with garlic and kefir, as a method of naturopathic healing, is suitable for everyone, because garlic contains a lot of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which supports our immunity and the healthy state of the liver, which neutralizes and removes toxins.

And, again, there is no need to mix crushed garlic with kefir: the effects of both products are neutralized, and “garlic kefir” can provoke epigastric pain.

In case of diarrhea, garlic (half a teaspoon of grated garlic mixed with a teaspoon of vegetable oil or 25-30 drops of alcohol tincture per tablespoon of milk) will help cleanse the intestines even from pathogens causing dysentery – thanks to the presence of the sulfur-containing bactericidal substance allicin, which acts no worse than antibiotics.

Allicin is capable of treating not only microbes, but also parasitic invasions, see – Traditional treatment of giardiasis.

To ensure a detoxifying effect, it is enough to consume two small cloves of garlic per day. But you should keep in mind possible complications: bloating, upset stomach, unpleasant body odor and increased sweating, as well as a decrease in the rate of blood clotting.

Green buckwheat with kefir for body cleansing

There is no confirmation of the cleansing effect of eating green buckwheat with kefir for a week, and it is recommended not to cook the cereal, but to soak it in cold kefir overnight.

Another version of this folk recipe involves pre-soaking buckwheat for 3-5 minutes in boiling water. After that, drain the boiling water, and then combine the buckwheat with kefir and leave for several hours.

We have described above how kefir affects the gastrointestinal tract, but only the “authors” of this method can know about the principle of its action in combination with unroasted buckwheat. Obviously, a buckwheat-kefir breakfast or dinner should facilitate bowel movements in case of constipation. See – Products for the treatment of constipation

Colon cleansing with kefir and bran

Most often, it is recommended to take one teaspoon or dessert spoon of wheat, rye or oat bran twice a day (mixed with water so that it can be swallowed) and immediately drink 150-200 ml of low-fat fresh kefir.

Bran – the seed coats of grain crops – is pure plant fiber; they do not dissolve in water, are not digested in the gastrointestinal tract, but enhance intestinal motility and promote its emptying and cleansing. [ 5 ]

Contraindications for this method include all inflammatory gastroenterological diseases, anemia and pregnancy.

For more information on how to cleanse your intestines with bran and other natural products, see the publication – The Role of Dietary Fiber in the Digestion Process

Cleansing with activated charcoal and kefir

And finally, how to properly cleanse with activated charcoal and kefir.

Everyone knows that activated carbon has adsorption properties due to the presence of microscopic pores, which increase the surface area that absorbs toxic substances in the gastrointestinal tract hundreds of times. How to use it correctly, in detail in the article - Activated carbon

Please note that it should be washed down with plenty of plain water, not juice, milk or kefir. Therefore, after a few days of using the charcoal, simply start drinking fresh kefir daily.

Kefir helps our immune system by keeping healthy bacteria in our gut.