We asked experts if TikTok’s newest probiotic darling actually lives up to the hype. 6 May 2024 Lots of folks have turned to probiotic products like kefir to try to ease their digestive woes , but as the “gut health” category in the supermarkets has continued to explode, we’ve seen some interesting offshoots come to the aisles too.
Take coconut kefir, a variation of the OG that’s drawing a lot of attention—it’s purported to offer the same benefits as the traditional stuff, but in a totally dairy-free way. That, of course, could make it extra attractive for the one in 10 Brits who are lactose intolerant, not to mention anyone with a dairy allergy or those on a vegan diet . So it’s not really surprising that creators on TikTok are touting it for everything from improving digestion to boosting immunity.
But how legit are those claims, really? We asked registered dieticians what the science has to say about the latest bacterial beverage. What is coconut kefir, and how is it different from the original stuff?
Any kind of kefir, whether we’re talking the dairy or the coconut stuff, gets its start from kefir grains, Rhyan Geiger, RDN , a registered dietitian and founder of Phoenix Vegan Dietitian , says. Unlike the oats or wheat that you might think of when we talk about “grains,” these are granules made of bacteria and yeasts that kind of resemble cauliflower when they combine—at least, if you look at them through a microscope. The exact amount of bacteria varies depending on the specific manufacturer, and there’s no dairy in them.
Read More
How much fibre should I be eating to feel regular?
And how do I even know if I’m eating enough?
By Fiona Embleton and Carolyn L. Todd
Original kefir comes together like cheese, yoghurt, and other fermented dairy products do: First you combine warm milk with live and active cultures (so in this case, the kefir grains). Then you let it ferment, which is when the magic happens: The bacteria proliferate into what we know as kefir—tangy, slightly effervescent, and thinner than yoghurt […]
What is coconut kefir, and can it really do anything for your gut health?
