Healthy New Year

Happy New Year! What better resolution for a new year than to resolve to be healthier? One easy way to do that by adding probiotics to the diet. Probiotics are live microorganisms (bacteria, yeast) that may confer a health benefit on their host (aka people). Fermented food such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir are beginning to be recognized for their importance in providing a healthy gut flora.

Recently, we had an opportunity to sample a variety of Lifeway’s BioKefir and Frozen Kefir products. While most people are familiar with yogurt and sauerkraut, many have not heard of kefir. Kefir grains are a combination of bacteria and yeasts in a matrix of proteins, lipids, and sugars. Now that more people are touting the health benefits of probiotics, we are starting to see it becoming more available in the US.

The texture of Lifeway’s BioKefir is very similar to the typical drinkable yogurt. It has a smooth feel and a tangy taste. The tanginess contrasted nicely with the flavor of fruits such as blueberry and strawberry. It was a nice treat at breakfast, lunch, or as an afternoon snack. The Frozen Kefir, while we did eat some for breakfast, was more suitable as a snack or for dessert. It was lighter and fluffier than ice cream, kind of like sherbet without the icy feel. All of the frozen flavors were delicious, but the Tart and Tangy Chocolate did take a little getting use to. Tart and tangy is not something we associate with chocolate, but we had two pints in the freezer and bothof them quickly disappeared. That should tell you something 🙂

We found both the BioKefir’s and the Frozen Kefir’s taste tangy and refreshing, the texture rich and smooth, and the overall experience completely satisfying. While yogurt may contain two to three “live and active” bacterial strains, a commercial kefir products such as Lifeway contains a blend of 12 different probiotics. Great taste, more probiotics, we think that Lifeway is an excellent way to start the new year!