Kefir Kommunity

Top Five Healthy Winter Foods

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:20:00 GMT

For a lot of us, the winter months are an excuse to overindulge. Bathing suit season is far enough away to ignore for a little while longer, and all the best produce is out of season, right? Wrong! Eating Well Magazine recently released a list of Five of the Healthiest Winter Foods and we were happy to see some familiar names on the list!

Pomegranates topped the list this year. Heart-healthy, and rich in anti-oxidants, this exotic fruit has become a popular ingredient in lots of healthy foods recently. See how you like the sweet and tangy flavor of pomegranate in our Low-Fat Pomegranate Kefir. Try our Low Fat Pomegranate/Acai for the added yumminess of acai berries, or check out our Tart and Tangy Pomegranate Frozen Kefir for a dessert with a probiotic boost.

Dark leafy greens also made the cut. Rich in vitamins A,C and K, dark leafy greens are also a great source of calcium. No time to mix yourself a salad in the morning? Try kicking off your day with our Organic Green Kefir. Like all Lifeway Kefir, our Green Kefir is packed with 10 powerful probiotic cultures and loaded with vitamins, protein, calcium, and folic acid. With the added power of Phytoboost, our exclusive blend of health-promoting Phytonutrients, a serving of our Green Kefir is equivalent to a full serving of vegetables!

Other winter time super foods included citrus fruits loaded with vitamin C, immune system-boosting potatoes (yes, potatoes!) and low-calorie, high-vitamin butternut squash. Sounds like a feast to us!

What are your favorite healthy winter foods?

Frozen Kefir For Kids' Dental Health?

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:53:00 GMT

By now we hope you already know what makes frozen kefir so great. Need a quick refresher? Well, our frozen kefir is:

home to 10 live & active cultures
high in protein and calcium
made from all natural ingredients
only 90 calories per serving
gluten free
99% lactose free

But did you know eating frozen kefir might also prevent tooth decay? A recent study conducted by The College of Dental Sciences and Research in Mullana suggests that children between the ages of 12-14 who consumed ice cream containing Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis (just two of 10 live and active cultures found in our frozen kefir) showed reduced levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in their saliva than a control group consuming conventional ice cream.

Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, FYI, are the bacteria most commonly associates with tooth decay and plaque.

While we don’t exactly recommend brushing your teeth with Tart & Tangy Strawberry quite yet, it’s just one more reason to give one of our newest good-for-you products a whirl!

Update: More good news! Researchers in Spain are now saying that probiotic milks and yogurts can help to combat gingivitis, bad breath and cavities. Check out the report here.

11.11.11

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:26:00 GMT

For eleven months, the pages on your calendar have flipped by, the stars have slowly been aligning, all to get us to this magical date: 11.11.11. The special date has been linked to everything from the purported 2012 Mayan Apocalypse to Jessica Simpson’s shotgun wedding. (Some might even consider them the same thing.)

Most people deem Nov.11, 2011 an extremely lucky date, numerically speaking – and we agree! We say, why wait until January 1 to start making some changes when 11/11/11 has such a better ring to it? Some ideas on how Lifeway kefir can help you achieve your New Year’s Resolutions:

If your New Year’s Resolution is: To lose weight

Why don’t you: Start drinking a glass of Lifeway kefir a day. Research shows that people who consume a lower-calorie diet that includes low- or non-fat dairy shed nearly twice as many pounds as those who only cut calories.

If your New Year’s Resolution is: Drink Less Alcohol

Why don’t you: Drink more kefir! We’ve even been to parties where the hostess served low fat pomegranate kefir in chilled martini glasses!

If your New Year’s Resolution is: To reduce stress

Why don’t you: Drink more kefir. New research out of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center suggests that probiotics – the good bacteria that make kefir so healthy – might be capable of delivering neuroactive compounds to help improve psychological health. The theory behind this new wave of medicine lies in a potential connection between gut microbes and the nervous system. Kefir also contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the body relax (think of the feeling you get after eating a big Thanksgiving dinner…that fatigue is from the turkey, which is rich in the same amino acid.)

If your New Year’s Resolution is: Feed my child healthier food.

Why don’t you: Pick up some Probugs™. Our line of creamy, organic whole milk kefir with fun characters and flavors appeals to even the most finicky of eaters. With a no-spill spout and easy-to-grip package, Probugs™ are great for tiny hands and even better for growing bodies. High in bone-building calcium and energy-sustaining protein, kefir contains 10 live and active cultures (friendly bacteria) that help little bellies stay calm and developing immune systems healthy. Plus, kids love the funny names and goofy characters, Orange Creamy Crawler and Sublime Slime Lime.

If your New Year’s Resolution is: Start recycling

Why don’t you: Buy from eco-conscious companies, like Lifeway Foods. We buy local, which means less packaging and fewer miles being traveled. And most of our packaging and production materials are either biodegradable or recyclable. We also buy renewable energy credits to offset the electricity used in our production facilities; our credits are equivalent to planting 335 acres of trees. And at our headquarters, even our office furniture is recyclable!

What’s your 11.11.11 resolution?

Got Probiotics?

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:41:00 GMT

Dairy products have long been considered the Holy Grail for bone health. And yet, study after study reveals no decrease in fracture risk with higher consumption of milk and cheese. What’s the deal?

It turns out bones don’t simply soak up dietary calcium like a thirsty sponge. For that, you need a strong population of healthy bacteria in your gut, as well as a host of other nutrients such as Vitamins D, K and magnesium.

A recent Journal of Applied Nutrition study found that when women ages 48 and older took a probiotic supplement for at least eight weeks, their bone density was 36% higher compared to those who didn’t take the supplement.

That means we can now add bone health to the mile-long list of benefits of probiotics (others include enhanced immunity, improved Crohn’s and IBS symptoms, reduced yeast infections and antibiotic-related diarrhea, less severe lactose intolerance and more.)

Some more strong-bone tips:

Build an anti-inflammatory, bone-friendly diet Limit meat, sugar, soda, booze and packaged products, while increasing fruits and vegetables. And cook up some salmon: In a 2011 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study, its omega-3 fatty acids combatted bone loss when consumed three times or more per week.

Step away from the salt shaker Sodium promotes calcium loss in the urine.

Work it out Weight-bearing activity (think jogging, walking, dancing, tennis, basketball, strength-training) is one of the best ways to build bone density.

Don’t forget your D Calcium needs Vitamin D – produced by the body when exposed to sunlight – to function properly.

Osteoporosis risk factors:

Female
Caucasian or asian
Petite
Low weight
Family history (mother, grandmother or daughter)
Late onset of menstruation (after age 15) or early menopause
History of an eating disorder or skipped periods due to low body fat
Smoking
Alcohol use (more than seven glasses of wine or beer or 7 oz pure alcohol per week)

Living green with Lifeway

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:29:00 GMT

Boulder, CO is know for a lot of things – bicycles, dogs, recycling, dreadlocks, maybe a little medical marijuana here and there. But throughout October, residents of this crunchy town, consistently voted one of the nation’s fittest, have had a new cowboy in town: Lifeway kefir.

Kefir: For the bun in your oven

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:27:00 GMT

Between morning sickness, bizarre food cravings and researching every single car seat on the market, pregnant women have plenty to worry about. Now, thanks to probiotics, we might be able to take pre-eclampsia – a dangerous blood pressure condition – off their list of worries.

According to a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, pregnant women who regularly consume milk or yogurt containing probiotics - aka "good" bacteria - may be less likely to suffer the late-pregnancy complication, which affects about 5% of all pregnant women. In the study, moms-to-be who drank probiotic milk or yogurt every day during pregnancy were 20% less likely to develop pre-eclampsia. The theory (which remains to be proven): The good bugs work on the immune system and help reduce system-wide inflammation.

Lifeway Kefir naturally brims with 12 strains of probiotics – more than yogurt and milk combined. While the study’s lead author said his results should not be interpreted as a reason for pregnant women to change their eating habits, this is potentially good news for preggos who already keep a bottle of kefir stashed in their fridge, right next to the pickle jar.

What’s your type?

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:47:00 GMT

Nope, we’re not trying to pick you up. (Though you are looking very cute today.) European researchers are now saying that, just as we all have a specific blood type, we may also have a particular gut type, too.

Manimozhiyan Arumugam, PhD, a research scientist at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, has classified the good bugs that live inside us into three distinct types:

Enterotype One possesses high levels of a genus of bacteria called Bacteroides. These people produce more enzymes for making vitamin B-7 (biotin) and are better at processing carbohydrates.

Enterotype Two contains predominantly Prevotella. Type Twos produced more enzymes for making B-1 (thiamine) and are more successful at metabolizing special proteins found in the GI lining, where they help protect against pathogens.

Enterotype Three is richest in Ruminococcus. These folks excel at processing sugars.

While we can’t picture people listing this kind of info on their online dating profiles (“I’m a Taurus and I love long walks on the beach, steaming hot vanilla lattes and am looking for a tall, kind man, 30-45, bursting with Ruminococcus,”) scientists like Arumugam think physicians will one day be able to use bacterial typing to tailor our health care, basing treatment decisions on our enterotype.

Who’s your dream celeb kefir spokesperson?

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:51:00 GMT

Danny DeVito hawks Limoncello, Rachel Bilson swears she eats Magnum ice cream bars every day and Mr. T pitied the fool who didn’t eat his namesake cereal in 1984.

Now, John Stamos has joined the celebrity food endorsement game, appearing in commercials for Dannon Greek yogurt. Says Uncle Jesse of his creamy new gig: “I am a proud Greek and a proud yogurt eater. And when the call from Dannon came in, and after I tasted Dannon Oikos, I couldn't say no.”

Which got us thinking: Who would be the perfect celeb to endorse Lifeway kefir? A few ideas:

Heidi Klum If you’ve ever watched Project Runway, you know the supermodel is a big fan of immunity, meaning a contestant cannot be kicked off the show. Lifeway kefir is all about immunity – our probiotics keep your immune system supple and strong.

Angelina Jolie The drop-dead gorgeous actress and mother of six recently revealed that her kids like to eat crispy crickets for a snack - a Cambodian tradition. If Pax and Maddox are that into bugs, they’ll love kefir, which is full of “good bugs,” aka probiotics.

Mila Kunis The Russian bombshell should have been chugging our stuff while filming Black Swan – our carbs could fuel her endless hours of dancing, while research shows low-fat dairy can help people stay slim…a prerequisite for psycho ballerinas.

Maxim Chmerkovskiy We can totally envision this Russian Dancing With The Stars personality sashaying across the stage, swiveling his hips, and ripping open his black silk button-down shirt, to reveal a giant Lifeway Pomegranate Kefir chest tattoo.

Kiefer Sutherland For obvious reasons – his first name!

Who are we missing? Tell us your pick and why!

"Dear Lifeway Kefir,  You saved my life..."

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:58:00 GMT

It’s not uncommon to open up in inbox at Lifeway HQ and find fan mail gushing over our product, decorated with pink hearts and multiple explanation points. Some might call us the Justin Bieber of the Midwest. But when a letter begins, “Dear Makers of Kefir,  I am emailing you today to explain how you saved my life…”, well, that’s the kind of introduction that makes you sit up and really take notice. We reached out to the sender, Angela Hansen, 40, from Shakopee, MN, to learn more about her story. Read on to see how Lifeway strawberry kefir turned this yogurt-hating ulcer patient into a convert…and saved her thousands of dollars and hours of intense pain in the process.

Lifeway: Tell us a little about your medical history.

Angela: "On September 19^th, 2010, I was diagnosed with an ulcer - and not a garden variety one. This one sat over the muscle that allows food to pass into the small intestine, so it caused the intestines to swell shut, and the only place for food to go was the way it came in...for 21 days straight. The diagnosis came on the day after my birthday; I was supposed to go skydiving that day but was in so much pain, I could barely make it off the couch. I was told it would take a year to heal this ulcer; at that time I had health insurance and the cost of meds was not an issue."

Lifeway: How did you hear about our product?

Angela: "In December, I no longer had health insurance. When I went to the pharmacy to refill my meds, I was shocked to learn they would cost over $500 dollars a month! Insane, to say the least. Then I heard a story on a local radio station that caught my attention: it was on probiotics and how they help heal your digestive system.”

Lifeway: Had you ever heard of probiotics before?

Angela: “Well, what you need to understand is my severe dislike for yogurt. I have never liked it and honestly get the dry heaves upon trying to eat it! So buying yogurt would probably have done more harm to my system than good. Three months after my diagnosis, I discovered Lifeway strawberry kefir while shopping. I liked how it came in more of a smoothie formula. I figured I would just shoot it like a shot of liquor. I went home, poured a half cup into a small glass, and gave myself a pep talk – remember, I really don’t like yogurt. But I was pleasantly surprised, and within days, my stomach felt better. I couldn't believe how well kefir was healing me…literally! I stopped taking the meds 100% (I couldn't really afford them anyway) and went from paying hundreds to just under $20 dollars a month for my healing, with the bonus of it being organic!”

Lifeway: So we’ve managed to convert you?

Angela: “Absolutely. It’s been almost a year and I still drink a half cup of kefir every morning and will probably do so for the rest of my life. I can't thank you enough for your product. I tell everyone I know about it and how it healed my stomach, which hasn't hurt since December of 2010. My doctor thinks it is great that something so simple, inexpensive and organic could do that, and now he recommends it to his other patients.”

Do you have a story to share? Has Lifeway kefir helped bring relief from your Irritable Bowel Syndrome/lactose intolerance/chronic cough/nosebleed? We want to know! Send us an email at contactlifewayfoods@gmail.com - your success story could be featured in an upcoming blog, making you more famous than the Biebster himself!

Are probiotics the new Prozac?

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:06:00 GMT

Kefir fans drink us for lots of reasons: Taste, effervescence, nutrition, health. As for that last category, we’ve got Crohn’s disease patients, lactose intolerant patients, Celiac sufferers, people with compromised immune systems, and plain old healthy folks who want to keep it that way.

It’s time to add yet another reason to quaff kefir to the list: Psychological well being.

New research conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and published in BioEssays suggests that probiotics – the good bacteria that make kefir so healthy –might be capable of delivering neuroactive compounds to help improve not only gastrointestinal health but psychological health as well…”a new field of microbial endocrinology, where microbiology meets neuroscience."

The theory behind this new wave of medicine lies in a potential connection between gut microbes and the nervous system. For instance, a recent mouse study showed that the presence of serotonin (the “feel good” hormone) in the bloodstream was due to direct uptake from the gut.

While we can’t claim that Lifeway kefir will make all of your problems go away and the sun come out to play, we’re pyched for more research into the gut-mind arena. In the meantime, whether you work out your worries in the gym, with a therapist or by talking with friends, keep a bottle of kefir on hand…and keep smiling :)