Kefir has become an integral part of many refrigerators, but not just because of “healthy fashion”. Actually, This natural probiotic is becoming increasingly important due to its potential effect on kidney health. In an environment where gastrointestinal problems are becoming more common every day and the gut microbiota is the focus of much research, fermented foods such as kefir have become an important ally.
This also helps a lot, especially considering that a certain population is already affected by bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and other digestive disorders. This intestinal dysbiosis not only causes symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, bloating or fatigue, but is also associated with diseases of other organs, including the kidneys. For this reason, Caring for the microbiota is not just about “better digestion,” but also about protecting important systems that cleanse toxins and regulate hydration.
In this scenario, kefir, once considered something exotic, has become a supermarket staple. It is a fermented food that can be made from cow’s, goat’s, sheep’s milk or even plant-based drinks such as soy or coconut. Its value lies in the large amount of beneficial bacteria it contains: Not only do they contribute to the balance of intestinal flora, but they can also have an indirect and direct effect on kidney health.
A study links this pathology to intestinal dysbiosis: an increase in harmful bacteria and a loss of the intestinal barrier, allowing endotoxins and bacterial products to enter the blood more easily. Maintaining healthy flora through probiotics such as kefir would help reduce this “bombardment” of harmful substances that the kidneys have to constantly filter.
From there, research results are reviewed in which kefir shows specific effects. In diabetics, one study observed that consumption helped reduce blood urea and creatinine levels, two important points of kidney function, and provided some protection against the effects of excess sugar.
Other work focused on kefir peptides found this With a very salty diet, this food prevented the kidney from becoming fibrous and maintained its filtration capacity.something that is crucial to preventing structural damage.
In a study of cisplatin, a very aggressive drug for the kidney, Kefir was shown to help stop the cell death that this drug causes in kidney tissue. This means that it would not only have a preventative effect, but also as a possible protection against specific damage caused by intensive treatments.
Yes, indeed, Much of this work was done on animal models, so experts urge caution. Nevertheless, there are data in humans that point in the same direction: Research published in the journal limits in nutrition, Based on thousands of people, it was concluded that those who regularly consume probiotics are less likely to develop chronic kidney disease. Kefir belongs precisely to the group of probiotics with protective potential.
Kefir is more than just “fashionable yogurt”: a fermented food that, when consumed daily as part of a balanced diet, could help maintain a healthy microbiota and thereby reduce the risk of kidney damage and improve certain parameters in people at risk. Scientific research is ongoing, but what is already known suggests that caring for your kidneys may also start in the gut and that a glass of kefir a day could be part of a solution.
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