How do you start your day (besides pressing the snooze button)?

Dr. Nicholas Perricone starts every morning with a glass of unsweetened whole milk kefir to which he adds 2 tablespoons of pure pomegranate extract. If you haven’t heard of kefir before, this may not sound like a treat, but once this concoction is stirred up, it looks and tastes like a rich berry smoothie.

Want to start your day off right like Dr. Perricone?

Read on to learn about:

• What is Kefir?
• Kefir, a High Achiever
• Power Breakfast with Kefir

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What is Kefir?

The word kefir (kee-fer) is said to have derived from the Turkish word “Keif” which translates into “good feeling” or “pleasure.”

Kefir is a fermented, probiotic milk drink. Priobiotics are bacteria that help control the growth of harmful bacteria and maintain the natural balance of organisms in the digestive tract.

Kefir is sort of a liquid, sparkling yogurt, and in Europe, kefir sales are beginning to rival top soda brands. Yogurt is also made by fermenting milk with bacteria; but kefir is fermented with more and different types of bacteria, as well as yeast, an added benefit. The mixture of yeasts and lactobacillus bacteria cultures produce a small amount of carbon dioxide, alcohol, and aromatic compounds, giving kefir its fizzy, tangy taste.

Kefir dates back to the shepherds of the Caucasus Mountains centuries ago, who carried milk stored in leather pouches. The milk in the pouches fermented into a fizzy, sour form. And due to its benefits, kefir was once considered a gift from the gods.

Many of its health benefits remain untranslated from Russian, and in the West some claims remain unconfirmed, since Western research is in its early stages.

Kefir, a High Achiever

The benefits that have been confirmed are considerable. Kefir is a good source of calcium, protein, and potassium.

But the benefits may be greater. For example, some hospitals in the former Soviet Union use kefir to help treat conditions ranging from:

Studies have been conducted and are continuing to test kefir’s ability to stimulate the immune system, enhance lactose digestion, and inhibit tumors and fungi.

Power Breakfast with Kefir

Consider starting your day with a kefir smoothie like Dr. Nicolas Perricone. Try the one mentioned earlier, or for a power boost, try this recipe-for-1 below.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.)
• 1 cup organic plain kefir
• 1 heaping tsp of Dr. Nicholas Perricone PEP
• 1 cup spring water, if needed to thin
• 2 scoops Now Foods Whey Protein Isolate (optional but recommended)

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree on high until smooth.

Serve immediately.

Have you tried kefir yet? Tell us what you think of it below.

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