children and kefir

[forestrymom]

I am completely immersed in research of all things TF right now, and in passing through wondering what in the heck a kefir grain was, I read that kefir has alcohol. So, do you give it to your children? How much alcohol does it have? Thanks so much!

[Magelet]

Kefir grains are a strange sugar/yeast/bacteria culture that looks kind of like... cauliflower. It "eats" the sugars in milk, and creates a yogurty sour cultured milk drink full of enzymes and really healthy. (I'll let someone else fill in more of the benefits of kefir lol) Strangely enough, they don't actually know where they come from. Kefir grains can only be produced by kefir grains growing. The grains came from people in the Caucasus mountains of Russia, where they are believed to have come from the prophet Mohammad. Scientists have tried to create kefir grains, but unlike cultured milk, you can't make kefir without kefir grains (or artificial starters), and you can't make kefir grains without kefir grains.

Kefir has about .5-1% alcohol by weight, which is very low. (in the same alcohol content range as non-alcoholic beer, which can legally be sold to minors. not that this is of likely help or reassuring, but it is very little alcohol) It is, of course, up to you, what you give your children, whether you feel uncomfortable giving your kids the very small amount of alcohol. I've read that not shaking the jar during fermentation keeps the alcohol content lower. I personally am not worried about the slight alcohol content in kefir for kids, but its up to you for your kids.

[tolovemercy]

Ah, yes, I do give it to my kids. The alcohol content is so low that, IMO, the benefits far outweigh it.

[Koalamom]

I wonder if you could leave the lid off for a bit, and let the alcohol dissipate?

[pixiepunk]

the content is really, really low. i've neve noticed it had any effect on my kids.

[forestrymom]

Thank you for the responses. You've answered my questions!