Probiotics

Q&A With Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD

We spoke with ADA spokesperson Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, author of The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian Way to Lose Weight, Be Healthier, Prevent Disease, and Add Years to Your Life (McGraw-Hill, 2008) about how kefir might benefit patients suffering from Crohn's or Colitis. Here’s what she had to say:

Have you worked with Crohn's or Colitis patients who have had good results from drinking kefir? Have you ever recommended it to patients for this reason?

Yes, I have recommended kefir for inflammatory bowel disease. It is one of the diet therapy recommendations the American Dietetic Association has for treatment of Crohn’s and colitis. I continue to give this recommendation because patients have given me feedback that the severity of their symptoms decreased, meaning they have less abdominal pain, diarrhea and nausea. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are considered to be at a significant nutritional risk. For example, it is estimated that 60% to 75% of patients with Crohn’s disease experience malnutrition, so it is important to make suggestions like drinking kefir to get patients feeling better so they can liberalize their diet and include more variety and nutrient rich foods.

For what other conditions have you "prescribed" kefir?

Irritable bowl syndrome, constipation/diarrhea/regularity, after antibiotic use to replace good bacteria, staying healthy during times of possible increased risk of cold/flu (back-to-school, traveling), allergic/inflammatory conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.