Foods 
One thing I never thought I’d do is let milk sit out on my counter for 24 hours and ferment and be really excited about a smoothie the next day. That type of a thing didn’t sound terribly appetizing to me. Since becoming a bit of a hippie though, that’s exactly what happens every time I make kefir, and it’s easier to do than you think.
I was first introduced to kefir when my sister suggested I try a candida cleanse (anti-yeast diet) to see if that was what was causing some health problems of mine. The first phase of the cleanse you’re only allowed meat and vegetables. The candida diet eliminates all sugars, which yeast loves to feast upon. Foods high in carbs are not allowed. Milk is out of the question because of the amount of naturally occurring sugar, but kefir, in the 2nd phase of the cleanse, is not.
After a few weeks of eating vegetables with a side of meat for every meal, that first kefir smoothie was A-Ma-Zing. I started drinking the creamy treat like it was going out of style, unfortunately it’s not the cheapest hippie food you can find at the supermarket. Fortunately a local health food store carried a freeze dried kefir starter from Omega Nutrition. I decided to try it and was instantly hooked.
Not only was it easy to make kefir, but it takes all of 30 seconds to prepare. I haven’t bought pre-made kefir since getting my first box of starter packets. The video below shows how you can make kefir at home and enjoy this lovely fermented milk drink for a fraction of the price.
For an easy candida diet friendly smoothie simply combine the frozen berries of your choice and blend with your delicious homemade kefir. If you’ve got a craving for the texture of ice cream up the frozen berries and add less kefir. I’d love to know if any of you have favorite kefir smoothie recipes you’d like to share in the comments.
Have any of you ever tried making your own kefir?
BONUS: Check out this awesome FREE Candida Workshop, too! Click here for Candida Workshop details.
I’m astonished that you are making Kefir with starter. You have to keep on buying the starter! Why don’t you make kefir with kefir “grains” that reproduce themselves? You never have to buy more “grains.” They are available all over the Internet. I purchased mine from kefirlady.com almost a year ago (not expensive) and they have reproduced and more than doubled many times to the point that I now give them to my friends so they can make their own kefir. The “grains” make exactly the same kind of kefir as you make with the starter, and the price is only for the cost of the milk. The process of making the kefir takes less time than it took for me to type this!
Maybe it was just the starter I bought, but all I do is take 1/2 a cup of the old keifer and use it for a “starter” for the next batch. It works great and I’m always pleased with it. The only reason why I didn’t try grains the first time through was I wanted it the same day and the health food store in the area only had a starter. That was almost a year ago and I haven’t made it through my initial $6 investment. I’m curious about trying the grains, but haven’t needed to buy anything new yet.
You might want to try using the grains, as they have many more benefits than just the starter by itself. Here’s an interesting discussion:
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/profiles/blogs/real-kefir-grains-vs-kefir
I agree with Mary, though your method of using just kefir to make more is just as easy as using kefir grains, the grains will have more active probiotics in them. Here is how I make kefir with grains, with links to research and where to buy them. Cheers!
http://grassfood.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/kefir-the-worst-part-is-the-pronunciation/
We have been using Kefir in our home for 18 months now. LOVE!!! We use the grains (got some from a friend) and have kept them alive and growing for that long. Smoothie recipe even my 8 year old will drink. 6 orange juice ice cubes, (just OJ frozen in ice cube trays) 1 frozen banana, a handful of frozen strawberries, a little vanilla to cut the “tangy” for my young one, and kefir! (I also usually add coconut oil and a pack of orange flavored Coromega fish oil.) Has done WONDERS for my DD sensory issues and my fibromyalgia.