Water kefir, also known as Tibico's, is a fermented, fizzy drink that has been consumed for thousands of years for its great taste and health benefits.
Why drink water kefir? Because it is an all-natural beverage, full of probiotics and health-promoting ingredients. Best of all, it’s thirst-quenching and delicious.
Kefir Grains or SCOBY's (Symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeasts)
1. Kefir Is a Natural Low-Sugar Fizzy Drink
Water kefir (or fruit kefir) contains minimal sugar than commercial soft drinks.
The microorganisms in our live culture grains transform the sugar water into a fizzy, tangy drink.
During our unique low temperature slow fermentation process over 95% of the sugar is consumed by yeast and bacteria.
2. Water Kefir Is a Beverage That Contains Lots of Probiotics
Kefir contains a host of beneficial probiotics! Although strains vary from culture to culture, nearly 70 varieties of microorganisms can be found in water kefir grains.
Studies show that a 250ml glass of water kefir can contain up to 2.5 billion good
microorganisms. They are mainly separated into three categories:
Yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. florentinus, S. pretoriensis, etc.)
Lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei/paracasei, L.b. harbinensis, L.b. hilgardii, etc.)
Acetobacteraceae (acetic acid bacteria) (A. orientalis, A. lovaniensisand A. fabarium, etc.)
Due to the large diversity of microorganisms in water kefir, few studies have been carried out on the impacts of this community as a whole. However, many of these yeasts and bacteria have recognized probiotic benefits!
For example, the lactic acid bacteria casei/paracaseiare often studied for their effects on reducing digestive system disorders.
3. Kefir Helps the Intestinal Microbiota
Drinking kefir doesn’t just taste good: it’s also good for our microbiota!
The gut microbiota is the collection of microorganisms that live in our gut, where they help us in many ways.
Indeed, the microbiota plays an important role in digestion, weight management, blood regulation, and the immune system. No wonder it is called the “second brain”!
The microbiota is a complex research topic, but there is increasing evidence that eating fermented foods is beneficial to our health.
Indeed, studies have shown that some of the yeast and bacteria found in water kefir may colonize our gut and have a positive effect on our microbiota.
It has been demonstrated that these yeasts and bacteria can:
Help balance the intestinal flora.
Help regulate the digestive cycle.
Help fight pathogenic microorganisms, such as Candida albicans, Salmonella typhi, E. coli, and C. difficile.
Aid digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Help manage cholesterol in the blood.
For now, these effects are associated with the microorganisms that may be found in kefir, but the concentration may vary depending on the strain. Science is just beginning to take an interest in water kefir!
4. Water Kefir Is Full Of Nutrients
Tibico Water kefir is more than just sparkling water!
According to a literature review published in 2021, the microorganisms in kefir transform sugar and minerals into all kinds of nutrients and components during the fermentation process:
Organic acids
Beneficial enzymes
Organic components
Various flavours
Antioxidants
During fermentation, water kefir produces many antioxidants, which could have beneficial impacts on health. In addition, studies on animals have shown that water kefir has anti-inflammatory effects.
Therefore, microorganisms have the power to turn plain sugar water into kefir with many benefits!
5. Water Kefir Is Suitable For Many Types of Diets
Water kefir is a drink made of basic and unprocessed ingredients. It is suitable for all kinds of diets!
Unlike milk kefir, water kefir contains no dairy products. It is a probiotic drink suitable for people who are lactose intolerant, vegan, or vegetarian.
In addition, unlike kombucha or commercial sodas, water kefir contains no caffeine or theine. It is therefore perfect for people who are sensitive to caffeine, or for those who wish to reduce their consumption.
So that’s what science has to say about the benefits of water kefir!