Kefir Kommunity

Fifty Shades of Probiotics

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:28:00 GMT

With E.L. James’ titillating novel sweeping women everywhere off their feet, we thought we’d see what all the fuss was about. Now we are blushing and searching for a glass of ice water to cool down with. But at Lifeway, we always like to be in on the action, so we thought we’d take a stab at this whole “erotic fiction” craze and write a sexy little scenario of our own. Indulge us:

For the third morning in a row, Lola had woken up feeling not quite like herself. As the sunlight streamed in through her gauzy white curtains and fell in wavy streaks across her tanned torso, the 23-year-old dancer stretched lazily, her freshly painted toes peeking out from beneath her crimson silk sheets. Normally she was full of energy when she woke, no matter how wild the previous evening may have been. But lately, a fog had seemed to settle in her head. She’d lost about five pounds without trying, and she’d found some odd bruises on her legs.

Lola reached for her iPhone and took a minute to scroll through the sexy pics she and her boy toy, Aléjandro, had taken the night before. A smile slowly crept across her lips as she remembered the steamy night that had begun with a bottle of Dom Pérignon Cuvée and ended with an icy carton of Lifeway Tart and Tangy Mango Frozen Kefir. How did he manage to convince her to try these wild stunts?

Searching through her Contacts list, Lola dialed her physician, Dr. Amidor, a long and lean Harvard graduate with silky blonde locks and a rock-hard butt. Angelina the receptionist answered and was mercifully able to squeeze Lola in that afternoon at 2pm. That left just enough time for a power yoga class, a steam session and a quick spin around the local farmer’s market for organic strawberries. Normally she liked to indulge in a sweet pastry in the morning, but recently, it seemed that anything with even a hint of wheat in it caused her to double over in pain.

At two o’clock, Lola showed up at Dr. Amidor’s office wearing her favorite DVF wrap dress, the one that clung in all the right places and came off with a simple tug. Angelina brought Lola back to Exam Room Three, handed her a flimsy blue gown and ordered her to get undressed. Lola kept her heels on…just for fun.

Dr. Amidor entered 15 minutes later, her sunshiny curls bouncing above a white lab coat that hinted at a rockin’ bod beneath. “What seems to be the problem, Lola?” she asked. Lola listed her symptoms: Fatigue, mental cloudiness, stomach upset, weight loss, easy bruising. Instantaneously, Dr. Amidor knew what was at play. “I think you might have Celiac disease,” she said, and proceeded to explain more about this painful, debilitating disease that occurs when a person cannot process gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. “But I think I know just what you need.” The doctor opened a small refrigerator and out came a bottle of Lifeway kefir. Pomegranate flavor. Low-fat.

“I want you to drink a glass of this a day,” she instructed, her hazel eyes glittering with anticipation. “It’s cold and silky and creamy-smooth. I just know it will help you feel better.” Lola had read about probiotics before, but they’d never seemed this, well, sexy. “Oh, and I need you to cut out anything with wheat, barley or rye. It will seem tricky at first, but I’ll hold your hand and walk you through it.”

“But before you get dressed,” Dr. Amidor continued, “I’ll need to perform an exam. Just lie back and relax, and I’ll take it from here…”

…Stay tuned for the next installment of Fifty Shades of Probiotics…

A Not-So-Brief History of Lifeway and NATO

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:53:00 GMT

With the NATO summit unfolding in our backyard this week end, we thought we’d try and distract ourselves from the traffic jams and bus delays its causing by looking back at how the history of NATO intertwines with our own history as a company. (Click the image to open a full-size version.)

More Lifeway Kefir Coming to A Store Near You

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Good news kefir lovers – more Lifeway Kefir products will be coming to Target stores this month! Lifeway Kefir is currently available in 170 Target stores across the country and over the next few weeks that number will nearly triple to over 450 stores!

In addition to bringing Lifeway Kefir into stores where it was not previously available, we will be offering a wider variety of Lifeway Kefir flavors in 8oz bottles, including Mango and Madagascar Vanilla! We understand that you're busy, so we're doing our part to make it easier for customers to grab a quick, nutritious meal or snack on the go.

Still can't find Lifeway Kefir in your favorite store? Download a list of our products that you can take to the customer service department: Download PDF

Get a taste of the Mediterranean

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:19:00 GMT

Little Susie Applebaum sat down to eat lunch during fifth period at All American Middle School. She opened her lunchbox and discovered a bologna and cheddar sandwich on white bread with mayo, a few crackers, and a brownie for dessert.

Thousands of miles away, Little Giovanna di Cosimo took a seat at her lunch table at Bella Signora Middle School. Giovanna unwrapped her lunch and found a whole wheat pita spread with hummus and stuffed with roasted vegetables, a small spinach salad drizzled with citrus and olive oil vinaigrette, and a container of grapes.

Guess which lil lady is healthier, and which one is on the road to obesity, heart disease and cancer? (*Cue Debbie Downer music*)

In a typical year, the average American downs a whopping 40 pounds of white bread, 75 pounds of added fats and 32 gallons of soda. True, we’ve gotten better at eating our veggies, but two-thirds of the “vegetables” we consumer are from potatoes (fried or mashed) and iceberg lettuce. As a result, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and millions struggle with heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Compare that with the traditional eating patterns of the Mediterranean (Greece, South of France, Italy, Turkey). Those folks center their meals around whole grains, fruits and vegetables, heart-healthy olive oil, fish and lean meat and plenty of nuts, beans and seeds. They snack on walnuts and enjoy a glass of vino before dinner, whereas we munch on cheese curls and swig sugar-soaked energy drinks. As a result, Mediterraneans enjoy drastically reduced rates of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer and have a much higher life expectancy. One study found that eating Mediterranean as part of an overall healthful lifestyle was associated with a more than 50% lower rate of death from all causes.

May is National Mediterranean Diet Month and Oldways, creator of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid back in 1993,is featuring a host of top-notch Mediterranean-minded dietitians on their website, offering up recipes galore. We had the chance to chat with The Nutrition Twins– Lyssie Lakatos, RD, and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD – who reminisced about growing up with a Thursday “pizza night” tradition. However, unlike most households where such a meal no doubt features artery-choking pepperoni and sausage, the twins’ mom was ahead of her time, whipping up a Mediterranean version featuring juicy plum tomatoes, artichoke hearts and feta cheese with basil and tangy black olives. (Here’s the recipe.)

The twins also treated us to a yummy Mediterranean-minded recipe for Chilled Watermelon Soup, perfect for a summer BBQ:

Chilled Watermelon Soup with Kefir

Makes 4 cups

Ingredients
•    4 cups seeded watermelon cubes
•    1/3 cup apple juice
•    2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
•    1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint
•    1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
•    1 tablespoon honey (optional)
•    1/3 cup plain nonfat kefir

Directions
Process first 5 ingredients and honey, if desired, in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Cover and chill one hour. Serve in individual bowls and top with a generous swirl of kefir.

Join in the Mediterranean Month conversation on Twitter, sharing your recipes and thoughts, by using the hashtag #MedMonth.

Going Green with Lifeway

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:40:00 GMT

With the recent disappointing news that the amount of plastic debris in the north-east Pacific Ocean has increased, not decreased, over the past 40 years it’s more important than ever to consider responsible packaging and disposal. If you’ve never heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch you’re in for a shock – it’s a mass of garbage two times the size of Texas, floating in the Ocean between Hawaii and California, and it’s 90% comprised of plastic waste. Water bottles, plastic bags, you name it – it’s the largest landfill in the world and it’s wreacking havoc on ocean life.

At Lifeway Kefir we’re constantly exploring new ways to make our products and packaging more Earth-friendly, so we thought we’d address some of your more eco-minded frequently asked questions.

Are your kefir bottles recyclable?

Yes! Our BPA-free bottles are made from #2 HDPE plastic, which is one of the most commonly recycled materials in the US. Once the kefir is gone, toss the bottle into the recycling bin and it can be recycled into lawn furniture, office supplies, buckets, car parts and more.

What about packaging in cardboard or glass?

We’ve explored both of these options, but at this point plastic is the only way to safely delivery a quality product to market. The carbonation produced by certain strains of our “good bacteria” could cause glass bottles to burst, which would be dangerous and wasteful.

What about biodegradable plastics?

The labels on our kefir bottles are treated with EcoPure, an additive that allows the label to break down in compost. Additionally, our Starfruit frozen kefir stores use biodegradable utensils and unbleached, 100% recycled napkins.

What else is Lifeway doing to reduce its overall carbon impact?

Lifeway purchases renewable energy credits to offset 100% of the electricity used to produce our products. This landmark helps us to avoid over 2.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution. This has the same impact as planting 335 acres of trees or removing 222 cars from the road.

So don’t forget to recycle your kefir bottles, bring your own bag to the store and ride your bike to work!

Read more about our green initiatives in our Going Green section.

Smart and Tasty Uses for Kefir

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:19:00 GMT

By now you already know that Lifeway Kefir is delicious in smoothies, over fruit and granola and straight out of the bottle –at least we hope you know that! But there are oh-so-many other uses for our Kefir, we had to share them with you.

Recipe Swap

Eastern European folks have been cooking and baking with kefir for years. It adds richness to baked goods, much like buttermilk, and a creamy, tangy quality to dressings, dips and other dishes. We recommend cooking and baking with plain, or Greek-style plain – although we have heard that some of our fruit-flavored kefirs are tasty in pancakes and other sweet dishes.

In raw applications like dips and dressings, all 12 probiotic strains stay live and active – so you’re not only adding flavor, but you’re also supporting your digestive and immune systems. When cooked, some of the less-hearty strains will die off, but you’re still cutting fat and calories from your favorite recipes without sacrificing flavor. Plus, reaching for a bottle of Lifeway Kefir can save you a trip to the store when your recipe calls for sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk or yogurt.

Here are a few tips for cooking and baking with kefir:

Use a 1-to-1 ratio when substituting for buttermilk, sour cream and yogurt in a recipe that will be cooked or baked.
When making dips, substitute ½ the mayonnaise, yogurt or sour cream called for with kefir – we recommend Greek Style Kefir to maintain a thick consistency.
When substituting for sour cream or yogurt in a dressing recipe, place kefir in the freezer for about 30 minutes before measuring it – this will help to thicken it without adding corn starch or other thickeners. Use a 1-to-1 ratio for substitution.
Mix kefir with a little powdered sugar to make a quick, tangy glaze for pound cakes, donuts and more – tastes great with fresh orange or lemon zest, too!
If you aren’t sure where to start, check out the recipes we’ve already blogged. Some of our favorites include a basic kefir salad dressing, honey nut panna cotta, creamy guacamole and spinach dip, tomato bisque and even donuts. Oh, and don’t forget pancakes! Our customers love to replace buttermilk with kefir in their favorite pancake recipes.

Kefir for Your Skin and Hair

There are so many ways to cook and bake with kefir, you’ll have no trouble getting kefir in your belly every day – but what about putting kefir on your body?

You’ll find Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) in most trendy skin care products these days – it helps to expose more radiant skin by dissolving the lipids that hold old skin cells together. You will also find AHA in… kefir!

So why pay extra for added perfumes, artificial coloring and other junk when you already have a bottle of kefir in your fridge? Check out DIY recipes for facial cleansers, scrubs, masks, hair conditioner and more on our Kefir Beauty Secrets page!

Have you found any interesting uses for Lifeway Kefir? Leave a comment, we’d love to hear about it!

Kefir is “Mom Food” (book giveaway!)

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:06:00 GMT

If you’re a mom, you probably eat either standing up, in the car, or off of your kid’s plate. Maybe you can snatch a few samples at CostCo and call it lunch. But considering the Herculean amount of energy you’re expending by chasing your child around, shelpping him from activity to activity - not to mention possibly working full or part time, managing a household and exercising when you can – you need (and deserve!) more.

Old Fashioned Banana Cake with Kefir

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Prepare yourselves, banana fans, we have some news you might not like. We did a quick poll around the office and guess what? None of us are crazy about bananas! Yes, they are a great source of vitamin B6, potassium and fiber. Yes, they are individually wrapped for your snacking convenience. But with their mushy texture, they just aren’t for everyone. Despite not liking them on their own, we could all agree that we love bananas in things. Banana bread, banana cake, smoothies – even the biggest banana haters in the office agreed that all those things are delicious.

So we were thrilled to find an old fashioned banana cake recipe in Rebecca Miller Ffrench’s book Sweet Home: Over 100 Heritage Desserts and Ideas for Preserving Family Recipes that we could add kefir to! The result is a not-too-sweet cake with lots of oats, so it’s slightly nutty and substantial. You can frost it with cream cheese icing like we did, or just dust the top with powdered sugar and have a slice with a cup of tea.

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
¾ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup Lifeway Plain Kefir
1 & ½ cup all-purpose flour*
¾ cup rolled oats
1 cup mashed bananas (2-3 very ripe)

*Substitute up to half this amount with whole wheat flour.

Preheat your oven to 30 degrees and grease a 13x9” baking pan. Cream the butter and sugars for about 4 minutes on high. Add the eggs one at a time, blending with each addition.
In a small bowl, dissolve baking powder, baking soda and salt into the kefir. Alternately add the kefir mixture and the flour into the butter mixture. Blend in the oats and bananas, beat on low for 30 seconds.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan.

Lifeway CEO Julie Smolyansky Speaking at GE Leading & Learning Conference

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:36:00 GMT

Later this month, Lifeway CEO Julie Smolyansky will share her insights on leadership as part of the Entrepreneurs Panel during the 10^th annual GE conference for senior women business leaders – Leading & Learning. The Leading & Learning event provides a forum for some of the most prominent women in the world to discuss global trends, innovation, leadership, and growth challenges.

Julie Smolyansky became the youngest female CEO of a publicly held company when she took over Lifeway Foods in 2002. As a tireless advocate for women and entrepreneurs, Julie is excited to offer her unique perspective during this opportunity for senior female executives to learn, grow, and network.

Leading & Learning will be held May 7-9 at GE’s Leadership Training Campus in Ossining, NY.

Men, we can give you a bigger package

LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:58:00 GMT

Mice have it rough. They’re preyed upon by dogs, cats, owls and snakes, they’re infested with diseases, and people scream like wild animals every time they spot one.

Also, they have small balls.