Kefir, Kombucha, And Buttermilk: 3 Fermented Drinks Good For Immunity

If you've never tried kefir, kombucha, or buttermilk, autumn is the perfect time to start a course of these fermented drinks. These ancient recipes contain live ferments with probiotic effects. We invite you to discover these three drinks that are good for the microbiota and therefore for immunity.

Kombucha: A Fermented Black Tea

A beverage consumed for millennia in China, India, Mongolia, and Russia, kombucha is low in sugar and naturally effervescent. Although its taste is reminiscent of sweet cider, it is not made with apple juice but with tea. Kombucha is one of the three fermented drinks good for immunity because it results from the fermentation of black tea with sugar and natural yeasts.

During the fermentation process, some of the sugar turns into alcohol, so the final sugar content is quite low. But rest assured: commercial kombucha has an alcohol content of less than 0.5%, allowing it to be sold as a non-alcoholic drink.

This fermented black tea, often flavored with fruits, has many health benefits. It contains vitamin B, enzymes, amino acids, trace elements, and especially probiotics, meaning living ferments that positively affect the composition of the intestinal flora or gut microbiota. Because this drink contains millions of ferments per milliliter, a small glass a day is enough to enjoy its probiotic effect at the intestinal level.

Kefir: a fermented drink made from fruits or milk

Among the 3 fermented drinks good for immunity, kefir must also be mentioned, or rather kefirs, as there are two types: milk kefir and fruit kefir.

Fruit kefir made with water, sugar, dried figs, and lemon is a kind of lightly sweetened lemonade, while milk kefir is similar to a slightly fizzy drinkable yogurt. Milk kefir can be used in cooking as a substitute for milk, for example in a smoothie, but to benefit from its probiotic properties it should not be heated.

This fermentation process has been known since ancient times. It is said that nomadic tribes of the Caucasus already used it to preserve the milk of cows, sheep, and goats they raised. The kefir grains used to make these drinks are clusters of microorganisms, bacteria, and yeasts beneficial for the intestinal flora and immunity. Stored in the refrigerator, they can be used up to 5 times to make homemade fermented beverages.

Thanks to the probiotics they contain, both types of kefirs strengthen the immune system and have a regulatory effect on the digestive system in case of transit problems or irritable bowel syndrome. Milk kefir, rich in calcium, also has a preventive effect on osteoporosis and gastritis, that is, inflammation of the stomach lining.

Buttermilk

The last of the 3 fermented drinks good for immunity is a Breton specialty called buttermilk. Like yogurt, this product consists exclusively of milk and lactic ferments.

These ingredients create a slightly tangy drink that can be consumed plain or flavored with syrup. Buttermilk can also be used in cooking to add moistness to baked goods or creaminess to sauces. However, as we previously indicated for milk kefir, it is important to avoid heating it in order to benefit from its probiotic properties.

In conclusion, these three beverages with very ancient origins are as effective as industrial products from brands like Yakult or Actimel for a probiotic course. Indeed, they contain between one million and one billion live ferments per milliliter. This helps to enhance the diversity of the microbiota, which tends to diminish with age! To enjoy the benefits of these fermented drinks, simply consume a glass per day, varying the flavors and pleasures.