Yogurt, Kefir and My PCOS Diagnosis

by Conscious Consumer

Hello!

I really like your site. I stumbled upon it when I was diagnosed with PCOS some odd years ago. I read your newsletters and find them quite helpful for people who have just been diagnosed and really need to change dietary habits.

I have since changed my lifestyle completely, dismissing most/all cosmetics, eating unprocessed local natural foods, the whole WAPF-style eating.

As I read your last newsletter I was pleased to see that the gut dysbiosis issue was addressed. Your recommendation for probiotics was a bit appalling though. Which probiotic do you recommend? You have said:

"Yogurt and kefir have bacteria, but the amount and variety is insufficient for our purposes."

According to my research (which come from many sources over many, many years ): -- supplemental probiotics have a set number when they are manufactured (usually found on label: the amount listed "at time of manufacture"), which means that some of the probiotics could actually be less-than-effective because some could die-off or not be viable through transport to the store/temperature changes etc.

Yogurt and Kefir are actually LIVING foods which means that all of the bacteria are STILL ACTIVE thereby giving the consumer the full probiotic benefit of the multi-strain bacteria that are contained in these nourishing beneficial foods.

These are ancient foods that people consumed and are regarding as health-promoting...when only a teaspoon of yogurt is used to make a new batch of yogurt out of a liter of milk, according to regular biology 101, the colony of bacteria have grown in the milk and turned it into yogurt!

Just because we cannot actually count how many bacteria are being consumed does not mean it is less-than-effective, maybe it means they are TOO MUCH to count!

Consuming a food item (bacteria living in its own environment) is more intuitive than consuming a lab-made item (bacteria grown and packaged in a pill).

Please review/research this topic and edit this in your next newsletter.

Thank you!

Still, good work overall.

~Conscious Consumer

Comments for Yogurt, Kefir and My PCOS Diagnosis

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Water Kefir?
by: PCOS Editor

I'm sory but I don't know much about water kefir, in terms of its effectiveness. It may be excellent, but I just don't know.

Aside from the microorganisms, the primary metabolites of the fermentation process are: ethanol, carbon dioxide, lactic acid, glycerol, and acetic acid.

As for dairy kefit, there are several medical studies to suggest that it helfpul for controlling insulin resistance and improving blood sugar control. I haven't seen any studies regarding water kefir.

In general, we support the idea of consuming a variety of fermented products.

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Water or Milk Kefir
by: Anonymous

I would like you know your options on Water Kefir.

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Kefir
by: Anonymous

I'm just heading into another phase of no dairy after doing so a few years ago & successfully conceiving & having a son!

I'm just weighing up whether to exclude kefir or have a little & came across your discussion.

I don't have much to offer except that as a Chrsitian I believe it's perfectly good to use dairy products as far as ethics are concerned; God has outlined what is & what is not food in the Bible.

The question of other unwanted additions like hormones etc is another question but what if a person is using organic milk?

I'm happy to go dairy free (with the aim of conceiving again) & even drop milk kefir to replace with water kefir but am just considering the benefits of doing either & wonder if anyone else has a comment or experience?

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Dairy may not be appropriate for women with PCOS
by: PCOS Editor

Hi Conscious Consumer,

Thanks very much for your feedback!

I wasn't implying that someone with PCOS should not eat yogurt or kefir. I agree that yogurt has been consumed as a health food for centuries.

On the other hand, I would suggest that the yogurt produced 200 years ago is not the same yogurt that is mass-produced today. This is just my opinion. But I would suspect the bacterial count and type in "modern" yogurt may not be the same as it was centuries ago.

Secondly, women with polycystic ovary syndrome have issues with the proteins found in dairy products. Let's remember that milk is designed for growing baby cows. It is NOT designed for consumption by adult human beings. The proteins, hormones and other constituents of modern dairy products, especially milk, can contribute to hormonal imbalances. This the reason why we don't include milk and dairy products in our recommended diet for PCOS.

We are the only species on the planet that consumes the milk or milk products from another species. There is nothing whatever that is "natural" about that!

As for probiotic products, I agree that the quality varies wildly and that they should be refrigerated or kept in a cool place. Otherwise they could die off. It is essential that a person purchase probiotics from only the highest quality suppliers.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

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