Several years ago, I started experiencing allergy symptoms. About 5 years ago, my allergies got bad enough that they began to impact my life. That's when I began to get serious about changing my diet to see if I could make my allergies better. I made my own yogurt. I ate local honey. While my allergies didn’t get worse, they didn’t get better either.

A year ago, I discovered kefir. I stopped making my own yogurt and began making kefir and drink or eat it almost every day. [By the way, I usually made low-fat healthy yogurt, but try making a Greek-style yogurt from cream or ½ and ½ sometime. That is decadent.]

I highly recommend adding kefir to your diet. I can’t say that my allergies have gotten better from eating it, but I did experience my allergy symptoms later this year. Was it from the weather or the kefir? I don’t know, but they are better so far this year. Tthe bottom line is that drinking kefir has made me feel healthier. I found both short and long-term benefits to drinking it. It's easy to make and you will definitely feel the better for it!

When I came back from Desert Storm, one of the most immediate effects for me was that I experienced acid reflux almost every night. Maybe it was from the MREs I ate every day for almost a year, or maybe it was the stress that caused it. I don’t know. A couple months after I began eating kefir, my acid reflux got better. Now, it’s very rare that I have a problem with it.   

So, what is kefir?

Kefir is a cultured, enzyme-rich food filled with friendly micro-organisms that help balance your "inner ecosystem." More nutritious and therapeutic than yogurt, it supplies complete protein, essential minerals, and valuable B vitamins.
http://bodyecology.com/...

Our digestive system normally has what we would call "good" bacteria and "bad" bacteria. Maintaining the correct balance between the "good" bacteria and the "bad" bacteria is necessary for optimal health. Things like medications, diet, diseases, and your environment can upset that balance........

Within your gastrointestinal tract, there is intestinal microflora or microbiota. This complex ecosystem contains over 400 bacterial species. Small amounts can be found in your stomach and small intestines, but the majority is found in your colon. The intestinal microflora aid in digestion, synthesize vitamins and nutrients, metabolize some medications, support the development and functioning of the gut, and enhance the immune system.

When the digestive tract is healthy, it filters out and eliminates things that can damage it, such as harmful bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and other waste products. On the flip side, it takes in the things that our body needs (nutrients from food and water) and absorbs and helps deliver them to the cells where they are needed.......

The other way that probiotics help is the impact that they have on our immune system. Some believe that this role is the most important. Our immune system is our protection against germs. When it doesn't function properly, we can suffer from allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders Our immune system can benefit anytime that balanced is restored, so it's never too late.
http://www.medicinenet.com/...

   
Here’s a great video on how to make kefir. Remember to make sure you never touch your grains with metal.

How to make Kefir

I use this strainer and this pitcher. Use whatever works for you.

How to get Kefir Grains

The best way is to get them from someone in your community who already has them. A lot of people in the kefir community believe that you shouldn't sell the grains because they are alive. If you must buy them, you can find them online. I found mine on eBay for the cost of shipping. That seller isn't active anymore.

Recipes

In the summer, I serve smoothies with dinner using the kefir. My kids love my strawberry kiwi smoothie. I was just able to get some excellent mangos recently, so here’s s recipe for mango lassi.

Mango Lassi

Ingredients:

    2 cups ripe mangoes peeled and chopped
    1 and 1/2 cup kefir
    2 tablespoons honey or sugar (Adjust to your taste and/or use whatever sweetener    
    you normally use)
    1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder (Adjust to your taste)
    1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves (Optional)
    1 cups crushed ice or ice cubes, use as needed (Use up to 3 cups if you like)

Blend the mangoes, kefir and honey.  Adjust sugar according to taste.  Sugar amount will depend on the sweetness or sourness of the mango and yogurt

Add ice and cardamom powder and blend again.  Add water if you want to and adjust the consistency to your taste.  

Pour in tall glass and garnish with mint leaf. I grow mint in my yard so I use that.

I normally eat kefir with my cereal in the morning. By the way, I have always liked healthy cereals and I was given the nickname Special K when I was in the army stationed in Germany. Somehow it stuck with me throughout my years afterwards in the service.

I eat Bob's Red Mill Old Country Style Muesli for breakfast quite a bit now. It has Rolled Oats, Wheat, Rye, Triticale and Barley, Almonds, Date Crumbles, Raisins, Sunflower Seeds and Walnuts in it. I soak it overnight in kefir and that actually helps predigest the whole grains. Don’t worry, you can’t tell. I’ll also add some fruit like frozen blueberries. If you must have it sweeter, add a dash of vanilla syrup or orgeat [almond syrup, I have it on hand for Mai Tais.] if you throw in cherries.

I also make oatmeal using Bob's Red Mill Organic High Fiber Hot Cereal.  This is a ground oatmeal with Organic Whole Grain Oats, Organic Wheat Bran, Organic Flax Seed Meal, Organic Oat Bran, and Organic Wheat Germ. I also put it in the fridge overnight with milk and kefir and cook it the next morning. The longer you soak the oatmeal with the kefir, the smoother the oatmeal will be.

Here’s a link to a recipe for soaked oatmeal.
http://nourishedkitchen.com/...

Thanks for reading! I have had several requests to write this diary and I hope it makes you healthier.