Kefir as probiotic for Lyme?

I'm new with limes (new meaning I've been suffering the symptoms for months, but only realized I had lyme disease - had a bullseye rash last summer). I've grown kefir for a long time, and wonder if it's helpful.

I just read in another topic that Lymer are to avoid it, and would like to know why.

Tickle are you making water or dairy kefir? The reason I ask is that I make water kefir and because of its alcohol content (even though it's low) I can't take it anymore. I just make it for my husband now. Water kefir is also fed with sugar so there's always that risk that the kefirs have not consumed all of the sugar yet.

I don't think dairy kefir has the same issue. It feeds off of milk and not sugar so is probably very different.

 

If you can get raw goat's milk, I believe that makes all the difference - it's much healthier than cow's milk in many ways. I've made kefir with raw goats milk now for over a year and have none of the issues with the goats milk that I've had with cow's milk.

Another thing is that kefir has many, many strains of good probiotics in it - not just one or two, plus it is the only way that I'm aware of that you can replenish the good yeasts that are necessary in the intestinal tract.

Hey Tickle,

Welcome to the forum!

Have you checked out the site

www.canlyme.com/[url]

Hi Tickle, I will pm you with a name of someone here on Vancouver Island. I am there too and just found one.

.....I don't know where to pm you. I've looked but can't find the area to do that.

Post Edited (waverunner) : 3/11/2012 2:44:01 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Traveler!! :)

Okay, I'll check again later to see if they've enabled it.

I found some good information about kefir as an anti-inflammatory:

from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16280101

Somebody said...
Kefir is a fermented beverage originating form the Caucasian regions composed of a number of bacteria and yeasts living together in polysaccharide grains secreted by them. Kefir can be considered a probiotic source as it presents anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic, anti-neoplasic and immunomodulatory properties. Aiming to appraise a possible anti-inflammatory effect of kefir we conducted cotton-induced granuloma and paw oedema assays in rats, the latter using carrageenan, dextran and histamine as stimuli. Kefir samples were thawed and continuously cultured during 15 days both in a molasses solution (50 g/l) and in cow's milk. A polysaccharide extract isolated from the grains (kefiran) was also tested in cotton-pellet experiments. The results showed significant inhibition in the formation of granuloma tissue for all the test groups, as compared to the blank group. Kefir suspensions in molasses presented an inhibition of 41 +/- 3% for the inflammatory process, fermented milk prepared from kefir showed 44 +/- 6% inhibition and kefiran extract 34 +/- 15%. Rat paw oedema also showed significant decreases with the mediators. Dextran-induced oedema was completely inhibited at 1 h after input, with a 76% inhibition after 2 h. Carrageenan stimulus was inhibited 62% after the 3rd hour, and histamine by 52% after the 2nd hour. These results points to the existence of anti-inflammatory prebiotic compounds present in symbiotic cultures of kefir growing in both aqueous and milky suspensions.

I think inflammation is the reason dairy products are on the 'no' list for lyme sufferers? In that case, it might be prudent to remove kefir from the dairy list? It's such an excellent source of probiotics - millions more per dose plus much more diverse source of different beneficial bacteria and yeast than you could ever get from a manufactured supplement.

Kefir kills candida. "The candida yeast in kefir is a vicious cannibalistic sister of the infamous Candida albicans!" I've used it for this very purpose. It's extremely effective against the candida strain that affects us.

After taking IV antibodies (for an infected dog bite), I had a candida overgrowth. I used kefir internally, as well as externally and it was gone like magic. I used nothing else.

Post Edited (Tickle) : 3/11/2012 4:34:15 PM (GMT-6)

I like to do the double fermentation - it really smooths out the flavor! Got goat's milk kefir??? giggle!!!

Hi guys!

Tickle I sent you the name.

Hi Traveler, man you guys like you fermented stuff lol. Does it taste like buttermilk if it's fermented?

It's sounds good for yeast but I'm too scared to try it now as I've never been milk drinker.

Okay, "lactose from milk" is why they say no milk on a Candida diet. I've been a "why yes or no" for certain foods forever and here is a link that backs up the claim as to why some Candida diets say no to milks etc.

http://www.holistichelp.net/blog/is-goats-milk-safe-on-the-candida-diet/
Lactose is milk sugar, and that is why milk and milk products should be avoided or limited on the Candida diet. Candida feeds on sugar and it will feed and proliferate on goat milk sugar.

*I thought that link was interesting as it talked about goat milk. I don't know how accurate that is in regards to goat milk though.


But here it says in the Dairy Products column:
http://www.thecandidadiet.com/foodstoavoid.htm
Milk contains sugar so should be avoided. Kefir and yogurt are better because most of the sugar disappears during the fermentation process.

*So that's good to know about Kefir then isn't it? xo

You will only need to drink 2 - 4 ounces of kefir a day. If it hurts you tummy when you drink it, you may be drinking too much for you.

Sleepless, being as how you found it so sour, did you buy the unsweetened? You can add some stevia to it to sweeten it a bit. Stevia is generally considered safe even for those who have issues with candida.

Waverunner, the taste is closer to yogurt, only with a little more twang possibly.

Tickle, I ran across a site that has raw milk producers listed - look closely and you will see even raw goat milk for some areas. But please, buyer beware!!! If the facility doesn't strike you as being clean, don't buy it!!! Ask tons of questions of them also, like how much do you sell?, has there ever been any health issues reported? and other questions like that. If in doubt, don't buy from that person!

Here's the link: www.realmilk.com/where01.html

Trav-- I bought plain. It's sour!! Maybe its bad? It says its fine even after opened, until experation which is in April, but I opened it several weeks ago. I'm not sure now. Maybe I should buy another and try. I dunno. It is kinda gross:(

Everyone has their own likes and dislikes!! At least you tried something new!! I make my own, so I have no clue as to how the store bought stuff is.

I would suggest that you buy another one. Once it's opened it'll continue to ferment. I don't think even I would drink one that had been opened that long! LOL!