Community Forum

Reply posted for UCGeezer.

Hi! I've actually never heard of kefir before, and I'm super interested in learning more. Did you used the water-based or milk-based version? Also, is the flavor bearable when it's used in a smoothie? After doing some research, it doesn't look very appetizing... But I'm willing to try things that work!

Reply posted for ronrmave95.

Can I use Kefir if I'm lactose intolerant? If so, where do I buy it? Does it taste bad? Yogurt makes me sick. Maria.

Reply posted for Becsta.

Hi Becsta
I have been off all meds for 18 months and doing great. I still make and drink fruit kefir smoothies. I have missed a day or two from time to time with no problems.  I had a colonoscopy last fall and all was good. 
I started out drinking Lifeway kefir from the store 5 years ago. After about a month I tapered the Imuran 25mg for 4 months. I continued tapering 25mg every 4 months. After a year I started making my own kefir and was at 75mg of Imuran and ready to reduce to 50mg, which was well below what my doctor called therapeutic levels for my weight.  I continued a second year of tapering with my homemade kefir and never had any problems.
Looking back probably the best thing I did was drink the store-bought kefir while I was taking the higher dose Imuran.  Commercial kefir has a lot fewer probiotic strains as homemade and strength (CFU’s) is also less. Once off Imuran I tapered Apriso with the same schedule and no problems. The fact that I was in remission many years before starting helped I am sure too. I tried to be very cautious as I had pancolitis years ago and needed TPN nutrition.
Imuran can cause Lymphoma and skin cancer especially after 10 years.  A number of skin cancers made me try kefir. I know I am very fortunate. I have to remind myself that I still have UC. 
Researchers have made great strides in recent years as far as the gut.  IBD patients, when in a flare up, have shown to have too many bad bacteria in our gut in relation to good bacteria that we need (dysbiosis of the gut microbiome). Along with that we are deficient in production of short chain fatty acids. SCFAs fuel the cells of the intestines and your body needs undigested fiber in order to make them. Your gut has to have a balanced microbiome for SCFA’s to be produced. Kefir helps keep the good bugs in check with the bad.
Here is a few more related articles; hope this helps you.
Webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-to-know-short-chain-fatty-acids
Pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30915065
 

Reply posted for UCGeezer.

Hi,

im so happy to hear this! I've been searching everywhere in the internet to see if it's safe to take kefir whilst on Imuran. 

Some sites were saying you should be cautious taking kefir because the live bacteria could affect those on immunosuppressants (such as Imuran). Also weaning off prednisone and mesalasine. Even the doctors say to take nothing except the neghcation. 

I was getting really confused because I hear so much great things about kefir in smoothies! 

Could you please confirm again, if it's safe to take and did you purchase ready made store bought kefir? 

Thanks so much for your help! I'm so glad it worked out for you! I really need your confirmation right now as I'm so confused! 

Reply posted for UCGeezer.

Hello
I can remember growing up as a kid no one ever ate yogurt. You didn't see it in the store, now it seems everyone eats it or has at least tried it.  When you read about the benefits of fermented foods, it is the first food mentioned. 
Kefir is fermented milk also but it is far more beneficial especially for us with IBD.
It maintains the balance of the gut microbiome. It has replaced yogurt as the probiotic food in our family. If you haven't tried it pick some up next to the yogurt in your grocery. I first read about it in the book Restoring Your Digestive Health by Jordan Rubin. He recommended it with bone broth and a few other things. He healed his severe Crohns and has been medication free for 20 years. 
Kefir is easy to make yourself all it takes is a few grains and little milk. Here are a few more articles worth reading along with the others I have already listed.
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/why-is-kefir-good-for-me
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318353

Reply posted for UCGeezer.

Hello
I am still benefiting a great deal from kefir, fermented sauerkraut and prebiotics.

Here are a few more helpful articles.

www.oshihealth.com/fermented-foods-for-ibd/

www.chriskresser.com/kefir-the-not-quite-paleo-superfood/comment-page-11/#comment-593623

Reply posted for ejarvis.

Hi
Good to hear you are looking into kefir.  I make milk kefir everyday and have also made water kefir.  Both have shown to colonize the digestive tract.  I drank the store bought milk kefir for some time before I started making it.
I've found milk kefir easier to make, less time consuming and actually very good.  I agree it doesn't look appetizing after 24 hours, but once it is strained and the grains removed, it looks like heavy cream.  I add a cup of frozen fruit (prebiotic) and 1 packet of stevia sweetnener to a cup of kefir and blend.  The first week drink half of that to let your system adjust.
If you get to where you have too much or you are going out of town, keep the milk and grains in the fridge to slow the fermentation. I am hooked on the smoothies but experiment and see what you like.
Bottling the water kefir takes more time. I liked it but was too much for me along with the milk kefir.  Hope this helps.
Here is an article I just came across.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3qzlNrQZtTqYzvwh3d40/can-i-alter-my-gut-bacteria-and-improve-my-health