Ralph Carlson Blog

What is probiotic?

Yogurt and other fermented milk products are probiotic. This simply means that they contain healthful bacteria such as lactobacilli which are lactic acid secreting bacteria.  Preliminary research suggests that consumption of probiotics provide many benefits but one major benefit is the increased immune function that people with a rich probiotic diet seem to enjoy.

Kefir is a fermented milk beverage which originated in the Caucasus Mountains. It has a refreshing, tangy flavor with a hint of carbonization from the combination of yeasts and bacteria used to create it.

Both kefir and yogurt are at their best when left unadulterated by sweeteners and thickeners both natural and artificial. Take your yogurt and kefir straight or mixed with fruits for best results and look for natural products free from chemical additives or make your own.

I like a glass of kefir (plain) as a refresher anytime of day and I use yogurt as the liquid in my morning breakfast shake. If you really can’t stand the taste of plain kefir, then by all means try the flavored ones.  You still get the probiotics even with the added sugar and flavors.

You can make your own.

Many years ago I was an avid reader of the Whole Earth catalog which purported to demonstrate healthy and natural ways of living. I even made yogurt for a time. Now I don’t remember how but it is easy enough to find the yogurt recipe on the web. Making your own, you can control the quality of the ingredients such as lower fat milk without the hormones. You also avoid the gelatin that commercial yogurts often contain.

Greek style yogurt is strained to remove the watery whey. It is thick and creamy.