Kokova Magazine

When it comes to milk most of us like it fresh and cold, so when we discovered kefir at this year's BBC Good Food Eat Well Show, we were a little hesitant to try, especially once we had discovered what it was made from. However, with a growing number of health benefits being promoted through kefir, we thought it might be a good idea to take a look at this new superfood!

Umisha Singh had suffered for many years with digestion issues - stomach problems that were being medicated on prescription - but was keen to explore a more natural solution for her digestive health. So with the help of her husband, Onkar, Umisha took to the internet and during her research she discovered a growing trend for kefir, which what being promoted as a more natural way to boost your health.

Kefir is similar to a drinking yoghurt but has been made with milk (cow, sheep, goat) that has been fermented with kefir 'grains' - a combination of live bacteria and yeasts which live on a base product.

This base would usually be made from a variety of dairy products (milk) but can also be made on coconut, soya, rice and other alternative milks nowadays. This is especially beneficial to those who do not consume dairy products. Onkar has already set his sights on producing a non-dairy kefir, in the not too distant future.

Kefir resembles more common 'friendly bacteria' drinks, such as Yakult, but it contains approximately four times the amount of bacteria strains as those found in yoghurts.

In May 2016 Umisha and Onkar located a Kefir company in Poland and began importing the kefir, founding their own distribution company under the name of Little Bird Kefir. In a short space of time this new company has received encouraging and positive feedback, and now processes over 300 orders per month across the UK.

"Our creamy, tangy and fizzy kefir is a fantastic fermented drink to support your wellbeing. Kefir has a long list of proven health benefits and curative properties.

Kefir is one of the most probiotic rich foods on the planet. Boost your digestion and gut health with our creamy and tangy Kefir.

Little Bird Kefir

We were lucky enough to try a few bottles of Little Bird Kefir and our resident foodie Jo Banks has been eating it every day for a week, with her granola and fruit breakfast, as well as having tried using it in various recipes.

A short testing time has not yet recorded any health benefits but Jo certainly used the kefir to its full potential during her testing.

"I don't think kefir will be to everyone's taste, straight from the bottle, as it has a tart flavour that lends itself to being an acquired taste, depending on you palate. If you like the tang of goat's or sheep's milk then this may be a good choice. If you are unsure you can always mix it with fruit or use it in your recipes.

For many who like a natural yoghurt, it could become a staple of your new healthier eating plan. With the growing number of recorded health benefits to having the right bacteria in your gut, kefir may just be that little extra help your digestion needs.

Jo Banks

For more information visit www.littlebirdkefir.com