Kefir Smoothie Easy Recipe

Smoothies can turn a pile of fruits or vegetables into a healthy, tasty drink. They are nutritious, taste great, and can be fixed in 10 minutes flat! They are the perfect substitute for breakfast if you don't really feel hungry in the mornings, but don't want to leave your house on an empty stomach either. Eating 4 different fruits for breakfast is a task, but put them in a blender and a thick, tangy breakfast smoothie is just so much easier to handle. In here, you will learn how to make a kefir smoothie.

What is Kefir?

Kefir means "well being" in Turkish! It is made by fermenting friendly and beneficial bacteria in milk. Kefir is really easy to make at home too, and you have the option of experimenting with the method a little, to suit your taste. Just buy cultured Kefir grains (you can usually find these in the supermarket), and ferment them in milk for a day or two, while keeping it in a cool place. Once fermented, strain the mixture and your home-made Kefir is ready. You can try different types of milk to make slight variations in the taste. Kefir also has some medicinal value. It has been in use in Russia for a long time for treating ailments.

Kefir is an easy to digest, enzyme rich, cultured dairy food. Its a little like yoghurt - thicker than milk, but not as much as yoghurt. It has great nutritional value since it is rich in proteins, essential minerals, calcium and the B vitamins, and really easy to digest. It provides excellent nourishment and restores the body balance after a treatment of antibiotics. Even people who are intolerant to lactose find it easy to digest kefir if taken on an empty stomach in the morning. It has a slightly tangy or sour taste and is available in a few flavors if you don't like the plain type. Typically, non fat kefir packs in 88 kcal, 8-10 grams of carbohydrates, 3-5 grams of fat, and 10-11 grams of proteins among other things.

How to Make a Kefir Smoothie?
Things you will need

• 1 Cup Kefir (Plain or Flavored - whichever way you prefer it.)
• Stevia, raw honey, or some other sweetener (optional)
• 1 or 2 frozen bananas
• Frozen fruits of your choice (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, papaya, passion fruit, kiwis, pineapples, etc)
• 1/2 cup coconut cream (optional)

Preparation time: 10 mins.

How to prepare
This is the easiest part - a simple two step process which won't take more than 5 to 10 mins.

• Skin/peel the fruits you are using and put all the ingredients in the blender.
• Turn on the blender and go from low to high gradually till the pulp is without lumps.

You can add a little water while blending, to get the right consistency. Your delicious smoothie is ready! Sit it in the freezer for 15 mins if you want it really cold.

Optional Ingredients that You can Try

• 1 Scoop Protein Powder (flavored or unflavored)
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1 or 2 egg yolk, no whites if you like the taste of eggs
• Lecithin to help digestion
• Maple syrup
• Vanilla extract, nutmeg, cinnamon and other flavoring

Other Recipes with Kefir

• Kefir Lattes
• Kefir filled Pancakes
• Kefir Nog
• Kefir Cakes, Cookies and Pies
• Kefir Bread

Why Kefir?

Kefir contains lots of friendly bacteria which help in maintaining the inner balance of your body. It has vitamins B, and K, essential minerals, amino acids, etc., and so it helps to keep your body replenished with many necessary nutrients. It also has plenty of phosphorous, which helps in maintaining the growth and energy levels in our cells by using the carbohydrates, proteins and fats in our body.

Kefir also has the distinct quality of soothing your nervous system which makes it a perfect part of your diet if you are suffering from fatigue, depression or sleep disorders. Kefir reduces flatulence, helps in relieving intestinal disorders and helps in improving the body's immunity to diseases. It is known to help people with cancer and AIDS as well.