Unless you are an expert in nutrition and you know a lot about the composition of milk, kefir and yogurt, at first glance they may seem very similar dairy products with similar properties for our body. However, there are several differences between them , and knowing more about the composition of kefir vs yogurt can help you to be more informed about the specific benefits that each one offers and, in this way, know which one is more positive for your body. Do you want to learn more about the subject? In this article we solve all the doubts related to the kefir vs yogurt debate.
Benefits of natural yogurt and its composition
Yogurt is a very popular dairy product made by fermenting specific microorganisms in milk . Currently, it is a highly commercialized product that is sold in large supermarkets and that is subjected to processes that can worsen its nutritional value (such as the addition of high amounts of sugar or additives to achieve different colors and flavors), but the Natural yogurt is still a very complete food with many properties that are associated with several health benefits, including:
- Improves digestive health
- Improves the functioning and defenses of the immune system
- Protects against heart disease
- Protects against osteoporosis thanks to its contribution of calcium
- Has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Probiotics that includes
Yogurt contains several species of beneficial bacteria , but far fewer than those found in kefir. The spices found in yogurt vary depending on the type and brand consumed. The strains of bacteria often found in yogurt are usually live, active cultures such as:
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii
Kefir benefits and its composition
Kefir is a fermented milk drink similar in consistency to liquid yogurt. It is made with kefir grains – which resemble cottage cheese – and contains bacteria and yeast in its composition. Kefir originated in Eurasia and the Caucasus, but is now quite popular around the world as a healthy drink that can be easily prepared at home. Like yogurt, kefir is also associated with a multitude of health benefits, including the following:
- Improves intestinal transit and digestive health
- Reduce the cholesterol
- Fight microbes naturally
- Accelerates the healing and healing processes
- Increases the defense of the immune system
Probiotics that we can find in Kefir
The bacteria found in kefir may have the ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract, and it also contains several beneficial yeast strains. As a result, when consumed regularly it can offer long-term health benefits . This makes kefir a great probiotic for people suffering from a number of gastrointestinal disorders due to dysbiosis. The strains of bacteria and yeast most commonly found in kefir are:
Bacterial strains
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus brevis
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii
- Lactobacillus helveticus
- Lactobacillus ke fi ranofaciens
- Lactobacillus ke fi ri
- Lactobacillus paracasei
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacilli sake
- Lactococcus lactis
- Streptococcus thermophilus
Yeast strains
- Candida humilis
- Kazakhstan unispora
- Kazakhstan meager
- Kluyveromyces siamensis
- Kluyveromyces lactis
- Kluyveromyces marxianus
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- Saccharomyces martiniae
- Saccharomyces unisporu s
Kefir vs Yogurt: which is the best for you?
As we have already seen, both dairy products offer several health benefits. If more probiotic strains are what you need from having an intestinal disease, then kefir is probably the better option of the two. This is because it contains the highest amount of beneficial yeast strains, as well as bacteria.
As for yogurt, yogurt cultures differ and beneficial bacteria species can vary as well. Yogurt contains much less bacteria than kefir. Depending on your needs, such as if you are starting to take probiotics or if you have a health problem where too much probiotics is not ideal, yogurt is a great source of probiotic bacteria.
Regarding the consumption and preparation of kefir, of course, we must take into account the difference between the use of kefir powder and kefir grains. Kefir grains will always contain more beneficial bacteria . Additionally, homemade kefir may contain more strains of probiotic bacteria than store-bought kefir. The quality of the milk used can also play a role in its health benefits.
