Calories in kefir

[Guest guest]

Thinking along these lines, the energy and building blocks to make kefiran has

to come from somewhere. It comes from the sugars in the milk, the lactose. So,

as the kefir grains grow, they are extracting energy and sugars from the milk.

Any kefiran in the kefir liquid that we drink (or spoon feed ourselves if it is

thick curd) may be a carb by definition, but in practice it is more like a

medicine or a super healthy food, but not something that will add pounds on a

person.

and Katrina Bird's Incredibly Lucky Daddy

From: Frecs@...

Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 02:35:05 +0000

Subject: Re: Calories in kefir

The kefir grains (beneficial microbes) consume " some " of the sugars

(lactose)--how much depends on the length of time the fermentation continues.

The grains by-product is lactic acid. So, yes, there is less *sugar* in the milk

after fermentation but how much less *depends*. One source I found suggests that

both kefir and yogurt have 1/3 less carbs than what is stated on the package (or

what is in the milk used). Why less than what is on the package? Here is what

they say:

The problem with the stated carbohydrate content on the packages of fermented

food products arises because the government makes manufacturers count the

carbohydrates of food " by difference. " That means they measure everything else

including water and ash and fats and proteins. Then " by difference, " they assume

everything else is carbohydrate. This works quite well for most foods including

milk. However, to make yogurt, buttermilk and kefir, the milk is inoculated with

the lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria use up almost all the milk sugar called

" lactose " and convert it into lactic acid. It is this lactic acid which curds

the milk and gives the taste to the product. Since these bacteria have " eaten "

most of the milk sugar by the time you buy it (or make it yourself.) At the time

you eat it, how can there be much carbohydrate left? It is the lactic acid which

is counted as carbohydrate. Therefore, you can eat up to a half cup of plain

yogurt, buttermilk, or kefir and only count 2 grams of carbohydrates (Dr.

Goldberg has measured this in his own laboratory.) One cup will contain about 4

grams of carbohydrates. Daily consumption colonizes the intestine with these

bacteria to handle small amounts of lactose in yogurt (or even sugar-free ice

cream later.)

The site: http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/yogurt.html

How accurate this information is, I can not attest to.

Tina