Eating kefir as a snack now seems more beneficial than before. A new study has brought to light all the benefits of drinking kefir, from reinforcing immune system, to anti-inflammatory response in viral diseases. The new investigation gives rise to several more that will follow one another in the coming months and years.
The study has been carried out in Israel, specifically in the University Ben Gurion University. A team of researchers consisting of Prof. Jelinek and Ms. Malka was able to demonstrate some very important benefits of kefir (very similar to yogurt, with a liquid texture and that has been fermented with yeast and bacteria).
Unlike other studies that link dairy products with allergies, intolerances, arthritis problems, depression, acne and several more, the new research focuses on the kefir probiotics and how it helps strengthen the immune system and even fights back by reducing inflammation in case of viral diseases.
Kefir prevails over conventional yogurt
The researchers found that the probiotic molecules in kefir significantly reduced the spread of the cholera-causing agent. In turn, in a follow-up study, the kefir probiotic molecules acted as an anti-inflammatory booster in viral diseases.
So much so that they discovered that it boosted the immune response against the well-known cytokine storm, which is the leading cause of death in patients with Covid-19. In the research they saw that the probiotic molecules not only eradicated the cytokine storm, but also restored the balance of the immune system.
The study comments that achieving antibacterial activity by blocking communication between cells is a strategy that promises a lot in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
This research is enlightening, since for the first time a mechanism has been discovered by which milk-fermented probiotics are capable of protecting us against pathogenic infections by helping the immune system.