Nutrient composition of milk vs. home-made kefir
I got a bit confused when looking up nutrition values for milk versus kefir made from that milk. For some reason many tables list higher values of some nutrients (e.g. potassium and magnesium) than is in the source form, i.e. the milk.
Can someone shed light on how this would happen?
I realize that lactose from the milk gets turned into carbon dioxide and alcohol, but where does it take the additional nutrients from if the only nutrition for the kefir grains is the milk and air?
Best Answer
It could just be the difference in milk sources. Different cows, receiving variable types of feed, produce milk with varying nutritional content. They probably only tested kefir using milk from one or at most two sources. In comparison, the figures for normal milk could be drawn from hundreds of dairy farms across the nation.
I would expect there to be changes in the carb/protein/fat content of the milk, as well as vitamins produced/consumed by the kefir. Specifically, the carbohydrate level should be lower from lactose being digested into lactic acid.
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What is the nutritional value of homemade kefir?
The nutritional value of homemade kefir depends on the milk and also on the fermentation process....Table: Nutritional value of kefir prepared with 3,5% fat.Nutritional value (average per 100 g of kefir) [g]Average Energy value per 100 g of kefir [kJ] *Water87,6/Proteins3,3056Fat3,50130Carbohydrates3,60614 more rows•Apr 18, 2019Is homemade kefir healthier than store bought?
Kefir is a healthy, fermented probiotic drink that has a thicker consistency in comparison to yogurt and comes with endless health benefits! Homemade kefir is not only better for your overall health, but for your financial health too. It's easy to make at home and it arguably tastes better than store bought kefir.Is kefir healthier than milk?
Kefir is low in lactose The lactic acid bacteria in fermented dairy foods \u2014 like kefir and yogurt \u2014 turn the lactose into lactic acid, so these foods are much lower in lactose than milk. They also contain enzymes that can help break down the lactose even further.Does homemade kefir have more probiotics than store bought?
Homemade kefir contains a higher number of cultures and probiotics than store-bought, which is typically made with a starter culture powder instead of the grains. For example, the Lifeway brand of kefir is advertised as including 12 live and active cultures and 7 billion to 10 billion probiotic strains.The Truth About Kefir Finally Explained
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Answer 2
There are many products that the nutritional value changes with aging and kefir is one such. You are growing good bacteria and yeast while fermenting and this adds to the milk's value. Also if you do a secondary fermentation you increase some of those values (like the B vit.) ck
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