Kefir Complex
The Journal of Natural Health Solutions
Vol. 19, No. 2 MEMBERS’ ALERT February 2017
Access to hidden cures... powerful discoveries... breakthrough treatments...and urgent advances in modern, underground medicine
The Probiotic Drink With No Hidden Nasty Ingredients
Mounting research has revealed the staggering extent of the role our ‘friendly’ gut bacteria play in keeping us healthy. They help suppress harmful organisms, break down toxins, manufacture vitamin K and other important nutrients, boost immunity, keep you regular and could help to prevent colon cancer, kidney stones and irritable bowel syndrome.1 They even influence the way our brains work and may help in preventing neurological problems such as dementia.2
It’s little wonder, then, that many people swallow a regular morning shot of one of the hugely popular probiotic drinks that jostle for attention in supermarket chiller cabinets. Yet many of these products aren’t as beneficial or healthy as we’ve been led to believe.
Studies have shown that the bacteria in some brands don’t survive the stomach’s digestive juices,3 while a look at the small print reveals just how jam-packed they can be with sugar, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), artificial sweeteners, flavourings and other additives. In addition, the UK’s top-selling brands of probiotic drinks are all milk-based, which means they can cause problems for people who are dairy intolerant.
Fortunately, there is now a probiotic formula – Kefir Complex – that’s been tested to the most rigorous standards, with no dairy content and no added sugar, HFCS or artificial sweeteners. It is a probiotic powder that can be mixed into water, juice or a smoothie to make a great-tasting daily drink.
Kefir Complex contains two different kinds of lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus kefir and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, in a base of carrot and banana, with added N-acetyl glucosamine and glutamine, and sweetened with a natural plant sugar called xylitol (which is much lower in calories than normal sugar and also supports the growth of beneficial kinds of bacteria).
The Lactobacillus strains in Kefir Complex have been specially selected and tested to survive the harshest conditions in the digestive tract, including being exposed to stomach acid and bile. More than 90 per cent of the bacteria present have been found to survive these stringent tests.
Every ingredient in Kefir Complex supports the health of your gut
Kefir Complex has been designed to not only give your friendly bacteria a much-needed boost, but also to help prevent ‘leaky gut syndrome’. This is when inflammation, food sensitivities or medications cause the normally tight junctions between the cells lining the gut (called epithelial cells) to open up. This allows bacterial toxins, protein fragments from food and other ‘foreign’ matter to pass from the gut into the bloodstream, where they can be the cause of a wide range of health problems.
The lactic acid bacteria in Kefir Complex help to convert dietary fibre and starches into short-chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid. These provide a ready source of energy for the rapidly-dividing epithelial cells and help support the integrity of the gut lining.4 In addition, N-acetyl glucosamine and glutamine are included in Kefir Complex because these substances are also important for ensuring the health of the epithelial layer and for preventing or healing leaky gut syndrome.
The banana and carrot juice powder that form the base of Kefir Complex don’t only make it taste great, they are also prebiotics that help feed your friendly bacteria. Both banana and carrot juice contain beneficial carbohydrates in the form of complex polysaccharides and oligosaccharides that encourage the growth of Lactobacillus bacteria in the intestinal tract.
In addition, carrots provide the vitamin A precursor beta carotene, which the epithelial cells need for growth and repair, while banana provides mucilage, a form of soluble fibre that has a soothing effect on the gut lining.
Lactobacillus bacteria help neutralise toxins and boost immunity
The two kinds of lactic acid bacteria in Kefir Complex have been shown in scientific studies to have many other health-supporting properties. Lactobacillus kefir has been found to help neutralise the toxins produced by the harmful bacteria Clostridium difficile, which can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhoea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon.5 Animal studies have confirmed the ability of Lactobacillus kefir and other micro-organisms from kefir to protect against diarrhoea and even death resulting from Clostridium difficile infection.6
Another property of Lactobacillus kefir is its ability to block the toxic effects of heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury. In laboratory studies, Lactobacillus kefir bacteria were found to act like tiny magnets, binding to and immobilising large quantities of cadmium, so protecting human cells from damage.7
The other beneficial kind of bacteria in Kefir Complex is Lactobacillus bulgaricus. In an animal study it was shown to significantly boost activity of the immune system’s so-called ‘natural killer cells’, which have a vital function in recognising and destroying viruses and cells that have become cancerous.8 This and other beneficial properties of Lactobacillus bulgaricus appear to be largely due to its production of compounds called exopolysaccharides, which are complex carbohydrates with a wide range of biological activities.
As well as regulating immune activity, Lactobacillus bulgaricus exopolysaccharides have been found to help prevent the proliferation of cancer cells, lower blood pressure and reduce blood fat levels.9 They have also shown an ability in laboratory studies to remove cholesterol from the bile, suggesting that they may help to reduce blood cholesterol levels.10
Lactobacillus bulgaricus could even help people to cope better with pain and stress. In a clinical trial, healthy women took either a fermented milk drink containing the bacteria, or a non-fermented placebo, or no treatment, for four weeks. The women taking the fermented drink had significantly lower activity in areas of the brain linked to stress and pain perception.11
What to take for best results
Each individual sachet of Kefir Complex can be mixed into water, juice or other cold drink. For best results take it once a day with a meal. Kefir Complex is also suitable for children from five years old, who should take half a sachet daily.
Kefir Complex may not be suitable for those with shellfish allergies, as it contains N-acetyl glucosamine which is sourced from shellfish.