Confused about the buzz around dairy and whether you should consume it or not? With concerns about lactose intolerance and claims that dairy can increase inflammation, it’s no wonder people are advocating against it. But it’s not always so black and white – in fact, cultured (or fermented) dairy is particularly beneficial. It can often […]
Digestion
Mental Health in America: National Mental Health Month
Last week we introduced our Mental Health Awareness Month series with a post about new research showing a connection between probiotic-rich foods, such as kefir, and reduced anxiety. We also talked about the White House’s National Microbiome Initiative (NMI), which will “advance microbiome science in ways that will benefit individuals, communities, and the planet.” Today we’re taking this series […]
The Secret to Happiness? Gut Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a month where those who often suffer silently are acknowledged. As kefir producers, it makes us proud to know that our product may aid in bolstering mental health. There have been several studies that have linked probiotic-rich foods to a decrease in anxiety. In fact, we’ve written about probiotics’ potential mental health benefits before.
Carbs are Back: the Lowdown on Resistant Starch
Did you hear the news? Carbs are not the public health scourge they’ve been made out to be. Whole grains and other healthy carbs are brimming with fiber for digestive health, as well as an array of vital vitamins and minerals. Plus, they taste pretty awesome, too. Beyond that, some carbohydrates contain a type […]
5 Healthy Holiday Party Snacks
Entertaining season is well underway for the Lifeway team and if you’re like us, you look for healthy (or at least healthier) options when entertaining guests. To us, healthy is synonymous with delicious and it almost always means our kefir will be involved in some capacity. To help us get through the holidays with our […]
Probiotic Partner: Sauerkraut
At the start of the year, E! News predicted that sauerkraut would be one of the trendiest foods of 2015. That’s because the crunchy, tangy fermented side dish is overflowing with healthy probiotic bacteria. In fact, all those good-for-you bugs are likely what prompted iconic integrative physician Andrew Weil, MD, to call sauerkraut “a living […]
The Wonders of Whey
Over the past few weeks the Lifeway Kitchen team has been experimenting with straining our kefir into a thick cream. The results are amazing (check out this recipe to see for yourself), but we’ve run into one problem: what should we do with all of the whey. Wait, whey? What’s whey? Milk, and therefore kefir, is […]
Why Our Kefir is Up to 99% Lactose-Free
If you’re a fan of our kefir, there’s likely a specific reason you took the plunge and grabbed your first bottle. While some of you grew up drinking it, others may have tried based on a tip from a friend, had it recommended by a health practitioner, or read a news story promoting the many […]
5 Easy Ways to Improve Digestive Health
Summer schedules typically fill up fast — longer days allow for more activities. Summer’s also a time when healthy eating is tossed to the wind in favor of convenience, when homemade meals are replaced by packaged snacks or drive-through bags. Bloating, gas, constipation, and pain in general, are all symptoms of a stressed stomach looking for relief. Digestive health doesn’t […]
What’s the Deal with Fermented Foods?
There’s been a lot of buzz around cultured and fermented foods recently, and for good reasons. While some may of these good bacteria-rich foods have strange-sounding names – kimchi, miso and kombucha, for example – kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut and yes, even wine and beer, are fermented foods that offer some surprising health benefits. Fermentation, or lacto-fermentation, […]