Kefir is a milk based drink from Eastern Europe and Russia which is fast catching on in North America. The drink is prepared by fermenting cow’s or goat’s milk with kefir grains. Kefir grains are a mixture of yeast, bacteria and various other nutrients and minerals.

Once the milk is fermented with the kefir, a sour alcoholic beverage is produced which resembles yogurt in consistency. The longer the milk is fermented, the higher the alcohol amount. The amount of alcohol is usually about 1-2%.

While many people can make the kefir drink at home, there is commercially available kefir in most grocery and health food stores.

One reason why kefir has caught on as a favorite drink among athletes, is that it is postulated to have a lot of health benefits. There are claims that unlike milk, kefir is better tolerated and does not produce any symptoms of lactose intolerance. There is also some evidence that it can decrease blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels.

Kefir is best consumed by adding a variety of fruits, juices or sweet syrup to it. one can blend the drink with ice cream, frozen yogurt and a variety of fruits. One can even drink kefir with cereals and add a variety of nuts, cashews and granola to it. Russians have used kefir as an ingredient in soups (borscht and okroshka).

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