Is milk kefir good for weight loss?

Milk kefir is a fermented beverage rich in proteins. It’s low in calories but at the same time it makes us feel satiated for a longer time. This makes it an ideal food when trying to lose those extra pounds. Continue reading for more facts on kefir and weight loss.

Milk kefir for weight loss

This fact also depends on the milk used to make kefir. If you use milk with more fat, kefir will also have higher calories. Kefir is also rich in protein, so the drink satiates us for a longer time. Calcium and vitamin K2 in milk kefir accelerate the breakdown of fats and reduce their storage.

Kefir is an excellent source of conjugated linoleic acid, known by the acronym CLA. It is a fatty acid that promotes the use of fat as a source of energy in the body and thus can help to lose extra pounds.

In addition to CLA, kefir is also a rich source of magnesium, phosphorus and vitamins B and B12. Magnesium regulates blood sugar as it helps improve cell response to insulin. This prevents blood sugar from fluctuating and thus the feeling of constant hunger. Phosphorus is involved in energy metabolism, and B-complex vitamins promote the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

It is important to drink kefir regularly

Drinking kefir regularly is supposed to help lower bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels and improve the insulin response. All this contributes to an accelerated metabolism, which prevents the storage of fat.

Establishing balance in the body

An imbalance in the intestinal flora is often to blame for being overweight. The intestinal microbiota rich in prebiotics and probiotics has a positive effect on proper digestion and metabolism. Beneficial microorganisms displace pathogens and thus contribute to the proper functioning of the intestinal and metabolic systems. Excess of pathogenic microorganisms in the body also affects the hormones that promote hunger (ghrelin ..).

Calories in milk kefir

Which milk to choose for the lowest possible calories of milk kefir?
Choose milk with 0.5% milk fat. However, we must keep in mind that such milk is also low in vitamins A, D, E and K. These are fat-soluble and are therefore found in milk fat, which is taken away from skimmed milk. It would therefore be most advisable to combine whole and skimmed milk. We drink kefir with skim milk for one week and then with whole milk for one week to get the necessary vitamins and minerals into the body.

Kefir made from low-fat milk (1.5%) contains only about 40 kcal per 100 ml.

If you prepare kefir with vegetable milk, choose unsweetened almond or cashew milk.

However, drinking kefir requires moderation. Nevertheless, it is necessary to adhere to the recommended daily intake of calories. A glass of kefir can be an independent meal in itself. It is also advisable to gradually increase the amount of kefir consumed to get the body accustomed to live cultures. It only makes sense to start with 50-100 ml per day, otherwise you may experience side effects such as bloating, nausea and indigestion.

A healthy lifestyle and a varied diet are certainly the right path to health as well as weight loss. Fermented food is always a good choice!

Feature photo by Mateja Zvirotić Andrijanić