Got  Culture?

Hi Jessica,

What is the difference between yogurt and kefir?  Is one healthier than the other?

Thanks,

Marcie

Dear Marcie,

I did some research on the topic and here is a summary of what I’ve learned:

Both yogurt and kefir start out as milk, and both have a live bacterial culture added to induce fermentation.  The difference is in the type of bacteria and yeasts used.  Yogurt is fermented with bacteria while kefir is fermented with more and different strains of bacteria as well as yeast. 

Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that help keep the digestive system healthy and provides food for the friendly bacteria that are already present in the gut.  Kefir, on the other hand, actually helps to repopulate the intestinal tract.  It contains more of the beneficial microorganisms known as “probiotics” and is considered to be more potent and nutritious than yogurt.

In regards to taste, kefir is slightly effervescent and has a tangy, sour taste similar to buttermilk while yogurt is traditionally thicker and has a milder flavor.  Some people drink kefir straight, while others find the taste too strong and prefer to add it to smoothies.

Both yogurt and kefir can be found in the refrigerated dairy section of most grocery and health food stores.  Make sure the container states that it contains live and active cultures.  Plain, unsweetened, organic yogurt and kefir are preferable since you can control the amount of sweetener that you add and it doesn’t contain any artificial flavors/colors.  A delicious combination is yogurt with honey, walnuts and sliced bananas. 

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own yogurt and kefir, which is typically healthier and cheaper than store-bought varieties.  Kefir is made from fermenting milk with kefir grains.  Kefir grains and recipes can be found online and in some health food stores.  Yogurt is made from fermenting milk with store-bought starter or store-bought yogurt containing live cultures (Greek style yogurt works well as a starter).  A great recipe for making homemade yogurt can be found at http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/yoghurt_scd.htm

Jessica

In her free time, Jessica enjoys researching food and healthy eating.  If you have a food-related question that you would like answered in the journal, please email her at Jessica_L_Tucker@yahoo.com