Is kefir useful for the liver — 5 medicinal properties and possible harm

It has long been known that our health depends on the food we eat. The endless amount of saturated fats, simple carbohydrates, preservatives and salt in our diet increases the risk of developing obesity, atherosclerosis, cholecystitis, fatty hepatosis, etc.

Such nutrition increases the load on the liver several times &8212; the main organ involved in the detoxification process of the entire body. Therefore, it is important to consume foods that have a beneficial effect on the liver from time to time.

There are quite a lot of such products. Kefir is considered one of the most effective and safe. This product helps to remove toxins and toxins from the body, restore metabolic processes and ensure the normal functioning of the liver.

A Modern research it is even claimed that kefir is effective for the prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NZHBP ).

5 useful properties

Not all fermented dairy products are equally useful for the digestive tract and liver, however kefir is ranked among the group of priority dietary foods for people with liver pathologies, obesity or digestive disorders.

The main beneficial qualities of kefir for digestion:

  1. Liver cleansing . The fermented milk product helps to normalize metabolic processes and accelerate metabolism, which is a priority when cleaning the liver gland. That is why kefir is often included in recipes for liver detoxification as a main component. In addition, kefir helps purify the blood ;
  2. Probiotic effect . Probiotics are microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora. It is thanks to the probiotics in kefir that the cleansing processes are normalized and bloating, flatulence and intestinal pain disappear;
  3. Blocks the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms . This item is related to the previous one. Kefir colonizes the intestines with beneficial organisms, which helps to increase local immunity and displace all unwanted bacteria from the intestinal zone. This applies to both infections and bacteria that cause serious pathologies;
  4. Choleretic effect . In the process of cleansing the liver, it is very important to normalize bile exchange. The substances in kefir have a mild choleretic and diuretic effect, which allows you to clean the excretory ducts and normalize bile metabolism;
  5. Increases the protective functions of the body . A healthy liver causes a strong immune system. If the gland works smoothly, then all toxins entering the body from the outside or destroying organs from the inside are quickly blocked. This prevents most diseases from developing.

Possible side effects

Like any other medicinal or food product, kefir has its possible side effects. If they are not taken into account, then you can get more harm than good from eating kefir.

  1. Exacerbation of chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers . For people who suffer from increased acidity in the stomach or chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, this fermented milk product is unlikely to be suitable. Due to its "acidic" composition, it is able to irritate sensitive or affected stomach walls, causing deterioration;
  2. Exacerbation of allergic reactions . People with allergic lactose intolerance are prohibited from taking any dairy products, including kefir. Rash, urticaria, itching, diarrhea, bloating, swelling, vomiting may occur;
  3. May cause diarrhea . People with sensitive intestines, as well as patients prone to frequent indigestion and diarrhea, it is undesirable to consume such fermented dairy products.

Is it possible to drink kefir for liver diseases?

Any form of kefir (whether it is a regular product or a biological product) helps to improve digestion, as well as relieve excess load from the liver and improve its functioning. In the absence of contraindications, doctors advise to consume a glass of fresh product daily. But be sure to check with your doctor if you have any prohibitions for using kefir, since it can cause side effects in patients with a diseased liver.

Fatty hepatosis

Both kefir and yogurt can reduce the risk of fatty liver hepatosis. This, in turn, helps to enhance the protective functions of the liver and prevent the development of cirrhotic pathology and cancerous tumors.

It is recommended to include kefir in your diet even if the pathology already exists and it is necessary to stop its development. Be sure to consult with a specialist before adjusting your daily menu.

Cirrhotic lesion

Kefir helps to regulate the outflow of bile, thereby reducing the load on the liver.

Due to the components in its composition, the fermented milk product soothes irritated liver tissues in cirrhosis and helps to start regenerative processes at the cellular level.

With the exacerbation of most liver pathologies, experts recommend using a special "cleansing" with kefir

This will help restore the bile and liver function. The product is also able to remove small stones from the bile ducts and gallbladder.

Preparation for cleansing

Before cleaning, be sure to consult your doctor. There may be contraindications to any cleansing procedures.

Before proceeding with the procedures, 2-3 weeks before the start of treatment, start eating according to an adjusted diet:

  1. Rid your menu of fatty, fried, spicy, salty foods, canned and smoked foods, alcohol and carbonated drinks.
  2. Limit the consumption of sugar and sweets.
  3. Make up your diet of dishes based on lean meats and fish with the addition of Liver-healthy vegetables .
  4. All food should be steamed or stewed.
  5. Add also fresh vegetables and fruits yellow.

Some people prefer to visit the sauna, steam room or take a hot bath before the procedure. This helps to speed up blood circulation and increase the effectiveness of cleansing.

After carrying out all cleaning measures, observe the recovery period.

Returning to the usual diet is undesirable, so it is better to give up harmful foods forever. If you do the cleaning, and then the very next day you eat cheap sausage along with a double burger and donuts, then expect serious problems. Possible inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, intoxication and irreversible consequences for your body.

4 options for the procedure

There are several basic recipes suitable for cleansing the intestines and liver. All of them have kefir in their composition.

1. Standard one-component cleaning

This option does not require any additional manipulations and a variety of diet.

Such a diet lasts for three days. Every day you should drink 1.5-2 liters of high-quality kefir.

On average, the entire volume should fit into 5-6 servings, which should be consumed throughout the day. It is best to take each serving at regular intervals.

For such a procedure, it is advisable to choose a low-fat product grade (and be sure to pay attention to the expiration date). The liquid itself should be at room temperature, the cooled product is not suitable for gentle cleansing.

2. With the addition of buckwheat

One of the most popular methods of liver cleansing is the use of buckwheat with kefir. For cooking, it is worth choosing kefir according to the same parameters as for the classic one-component diet.

Buckwheat should be chosen only of the highest grades. Before cooking, you need to inspect it well: clean it from dust, debris or spoiled peas. Rinse the right amount of grains well, you can not dry them.

But it should be borne in mind that such a recipe is not suitable for those who suffer from chronic or acute pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or pancreas.

To prepare porridge with kefir, you can use the following recipes:

  1. Method 1. Scald the grains with boiling water, pour them into a deep container. Pour the buckwheat base with kefir and put the mixture in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, take out the porridge and warm it up to room temperature. After the porridge warms up, it can be consumed. Before that, drink a cup of warm, clean water. The first meal should take place only an hour after eating porridge. The treatment course should last 10 days;
  2. Method 2. For seven days, you need to eat buckwheat porridge seasoned with one percent kefir. To prepare, take a glass of buckwheat grains for one and a half liters of water, put the ingredients in a saucepan, wrap in a warm cloth and leave to stand overnight. During this time, the porridge will swell and in the morning you will receive freshly prepared porridge, while maintaining maximum benefit.;
  3. Method 3. Repeat recipe

3. With milk thistle

Kefir with milk thistle seeds can be used.

To prepare such a diet cocktail, take high-quality low-fat kefir, add a teaspoon of ground milk thistle seeds to it.

Seeds can be noticed by the same type of flour.

4. With flaxseeds

Like the recipe with buckwheat, there are also several recipes with the addition of flax seeds to kefir. The most popular is the one that provides for a three-week application:

  1. In the first week, take 100 ml of kefir and add 1 teaspoon of seeds to them;
  2. In the second week, the amount of fermented milk drink remains the same, but you need to add two spoons of seeds already;
  3. In the third week, 150 ml of the drink is poured into three spoons of sunflower seeds.

This mixture should be consumed as a second breakfast. As soon as you add the seeds to the liquid, wait a little (let the seeds swell). After you drink the drink, wait 1-2 hours and then have a light snack.

Do not forget to drink enough fluids during the procedure. Facilitate the removal of toxins and toxins from the body.

If the flaxseed diet is tolerated normally, then you can increase its duration by another week. For the fourth week, use the same quantitative parameters of the ingredients as in the third week. Instead of seeds, you can use high-quality flaxseed flour.

Contraindications

It is forbidden to use any fermented milk products (including kefir):

  • With lactose intolerance,
  • In the presence of allergic reactions to any dairy products,
  • People with high stomach acidity.
  • For patients with sensitive intestines and a tendency to dyspepsia.
  • It is undesirable to use such products for people suffering from gastritis, pancreatitis or ulcers.

Interesting video

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Conclusion

Kefir is one of the few dairy products that is often included in the diet menu. Its rich composition helps to cleanse the body of toxins and decay products, as well as help to establish metabolic functions and metabolic rate. But this product is not allowed to be consumed by everyone, so consult your doctor before using this fermented milk drink.