Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt? - PaleoHacks.com

Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-04-09T19:36:37Z

I just tried Kefir fir the first time. The bottle says 15 billion per serving.

I normally use chobani greek yogurt. (I don't have a tub in front of me, but I don't remember if it ever mentioned counts).

So, what has more probiotic power? (Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt)???

Thanks, Mike

Answer by Matt B for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-04-09T19:39:00Z

I don't think it truly matters - I think you're reading into the marketing hype. 14 megapixels! 18 megapixels! It's a good idea to diversify your probioitc sources, so the best move would be to enjoy some of each, and also try some kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc..

Answer by Nance for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-04-09T19:44:08Z

In general, kefir--either dairy or water--has many more species of beneficial flora than yogurt. The marketing of "16 million" doesn't touch on how many species. I've read that good yogurt will have 2-5 species (with large total counts) while kefir may have dozens.

Kefir and kombucha are more powerful--so much so that it's advisable to start with very small daily doses while such caution is frequently not necessary with yogurt.

Answer by Mat for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-04-09T19:46:55Z

I take a supplement once a day with 50BILLION.. I don't remember the exact types but I could look it up.

Answer by Jules K for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-04-09T20:06:47Z

Greek yogurt has most of the whey strained off, and I believe that's where a lot of the bacteria reside (I'm not 100% on this, but fairly certain). Kefir FTW!

Answer by Eugenia for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-04-09T22:08:05Z

Real kefir (not store-bought, which doesn't contain yeasts) is a super-food, with up to 40 different strains of yeasts & bacteria. Consider that I'm Greek, but I root for Kefir.

I read somewhere that a cup of yogurt contains up to 1 trillion bacteria, and kefir up to 5 trillion, I don't know if these numbers are correct though.

Answer by desi for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-04-10T05:21:31Z

Depending on how long the product has been sitting on the shelf also reflects the probiotic strength,so if you have fresher yogurt and not so fresh kefir,I'd go with the yogurt.But in general kefir has more strains.I make both at home and from experience know that some organic yogurts are dead,because the don't work as a starter.So,I guess it depends on the brand

Answer by Carrie for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-10-28T18:20:16Z

its all marketing anyway. . however the kefir yogurt tastes better to me than greek yogurt.

Answer by Janknitz for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2012-10-29T04:08:55Z

I recently heard a lecture by Sandor Katz who has written two books on fermentation. ALL of the yogurt cultures commonly available In the US are primarily from two major strains. Kefir has many more.

Answer by Terry J. Crebs for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2013-04-09T17:17:28Z

I'm Greek too, and make my Home-made Greek yogurt (Yiayia's recipe), kefir (milk and water), sauerkraut, and many cheeses. Recently (5-Mar-2013) I had Warren Analytical Labratories of Greeley, Colorado, USA assay some of my ferments for "Lactic Acid Bacteria MB 075 (Spiral)", here are the results:

1) Milk Kefir -- 2.6 Billion Colony Forming Units per milliliter (CFU/ml); 2) Water Kefir -- 1.2 Billion CFU/ml; 3) Greek Yogurt -- 60 Million CFU/gram (note for water, 1 milliliter = 1 gram); 4) Cabbage Sauerkraut -- 5.3 Million CFU/gram; and, 5) Health-Food-Store-bought Greek yogurt -- 1.1 Million CFU/gram.

I make my ferments for less than $8 per gallon, and believe highly-processed store-bought probiotic ferments and pills are outragelessly expensive. Learn to ferment real delicious food and live healthy like Mediterranean people often do.

Answer by Warbler for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2013-04-15T00:02:32Z

Kefir grains grow into a cauliflower like glob. I bought mine on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p3984.m570.l1311.R11.TR11.TRC1&_nkw=kefir+culture&_sacat=0&_from=R40

These folks have a useful screen container to grow it in: http://www.culturesforhealth.com/milk-kefir-starter-kit.html

You can use milk or water, though I prefer raw goat milk. Let the milk reach room temperature (unless you're getting it straight from the goat), add the grains or clump. It should ferment at room temperature for about 30 hrs to be most beneficial. (See Restoring Your Digestive Health by Jordan S. Rubin, NMD and Joseph Brasco, MD).

After that time (actually I taste test mine), I remove the clump, freeze with a little goat milk in a plastic container for next time and refrigerate the kefir.

Just yesterday I took the store bought stuff (which just tastes like runny yogurt) and put some clumps in it for about 48 hrs. It improved the flavor and now tastes like actual kefir.

It does continue to grow in the refrigerator, but at a much slower rate.

Answer by Nirinjan for Probiotic Counts: Kefir vs. Greek Yogurt?

2013-04-15T04:37:28Z

Yes, kefir will have more types of bacteria and yeast over yogurt type ferments. Plus making fresh kefir seems to be more active and very easy to make.

You can get fresh kefir starter here: store.organic-cultures.com or dried kefir starter at www.cultures for health.com

The dried starter will take a few rounds to become active over the fresh grains

Happy culturing,

Nirinjan