[IsaFrench]

just received milk kefir grains last week .... did drinking kefir change your BM ?

is it normal ? is there a little "time of adaptation" after you start drinking milk

kefir ? can my drinking milk kefir it influence the BM in my nursing toddler
(who only nurses twice a day nowadays) = like three soiled diaper a day instead of one ....

 

[TzippityDoulah]

sure it can...

it's a lot of probiotics and for some people it takes a while to adjust. even though probiotics are great for you, it can be kinda surprising to your system if you have a lot at once. maybe drink a little less and let the toddler get a chance to get used to it before building up to whatever you're drinking now.

 

[IsaFrench]

thanks for the advice, it's reassuring to have imput from someone who knows more than I do about that subject ....

by the way, do you , or do anyone who reads this, know if drinking milk kefir does the same thing for the body than eating fermented vegetables ? is it the same kind of beneficial micro organisms or is it diffent ones and do they complement each other ? ...

I like to learn by seeing someone do rather than reading about it so haven't got round to starting fementing veg at all ....

 

[FernG]

Kefir grains are different strains of bacteria than you would get in yogurt or lacto-fermented vegetables. They are complementary.

I have been eating fermented vegetables for several years and recently added fermented, raw-milk kefir. I started with probably 1/2 cup per day at breakfast. I think that I'm now drinking about 12 oz each morning. My 1-year-old DD nurses about 15x per day. I haven't noticed any changes in milk, but I hope that the healthy bacteria is getting to DD. She likes to take a small sip when I'm drinking kefir.

The milk may be transitional as you refresh the grains. If I run low on milk and store my grains in the fridge, the transitional milk tastes a little yeasty or cheesy and may be clumpy and fizzy (like carbonated beverages). Normal kefir is sour (like yogurt or sour cream) and smooth. I use the transitional kefir in smoothies or I let it ferment until the "cheese" clumps more and then separate the whey and cheese. I use the whey for soaking grains and use the cheese like cream cheese.

 

[FernG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IsaFrench I like to learn by seeing someone do rather than reading about it so haven't got round to starting fementing veg at all ....

It is difficult when you are the only one you know in real life doing this stuff, isn't it? For me, it was a little overwhelming because I knew that I should change a lot about my cooking routine, but it was too much to do all at one time. I just changed one thing, and after I was really comfortable with my home/kitchen routine, I changed one more thing. I'm still working on making more changes to reach my goals.

What helped me the most was making a meal plan each week. Fermenting and soaking don't take much prep time, but you do need to plan ahead.

 

[IsaFrench]

THANKS for all these details .... just found out that a local health food shop might have for sale some feremented veg juices (carotte, betroot and cabage I think)....
do you think it's OK to buy ready made (one advantage is that it would give me an idea of what it's supposed to taste like ....)
but then when you ferment your own veg, surely you eat the veg as well as drink the juice ????? so why don't they sell the veg together with the juice ?

 

[FernG]

The only store-bought fermented veggies that I have bought are the Bubbies dill pickles - very good! (FYI, the bread and butter pickles are great, but they are pasteurized). They sell them at Whole Foods. There are also a lot of places online to buy fermented salsa's.

My homemade brine is often too salty for me to enjoy, so I just eat the veggies, but the Bubbies dill pickle juice is pretty good. I make my own kombucha and water kefir and drink that.

Here are some blogs that have really helpful info and also good adds for fermented stuff...
cheeseslave
Kelly the Kitchen Kop
Food Renegade

 

[IsaFrench]

Thanks for the links, have saved them & will read them
but toddler teething right now, must leave the computer !!!!!