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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Hugh on March 2, 2012, at 19:15:00
I started drinking kefir (fermented milk) about a month ago, and it has given my mood a boost. It makes me feel more alert and positive without making me feel wired. Kefir is a good source of probiotics, and this probably explains its effect on mood. I've been eating yogurt nearly every day for years, and I've taken many different brands of probiotics -- Culturelle, Align, Pearls, Ultimate Flora, etc. None of them have had the impact on my brain that kefir has. Kefir is sold at health food stores and at some upscale supermarkets. It's usually about four or five dollars a quart. If you live near a Trader Joe's, they have kefir for $2.99 a quart. Plain, strawberry or pomegranate. It's easy to make it at home, and cheaper that way. Just google "kefir starter kit" or "kefir grains." And there are YouTube videos on how to make it. Lactose intolerance isn't an issue with kefir, since the lactose in the milk is consumed during the fermentation process.
It's a good idea to start with a small amount, just a tablespoon a day, and gradually increase it over a couple weeks until you find an amount that works for you. This is so your gut can get used to the beneficial strains of bacteria in kefir. I got up to about three ounces a day, but at this dose, I had difficulty falling asleep, so I cut back to about half that. But some people are able to drink eight ounces a day -- just don't start with that amount because your gut may not be able to handle it.
WARNING TO ANYONE TAKING MAOIs LIKE NARDIL, PARNATE, MARPLAN OR SELEGILINE OR THE ANTIBIOTICS ZYVOX (LINEZOLID) OR FUROXONE (FURAZOLIDONE): KEFIR SHOULD BE AVOIDED. This is because kefir contains tyramine. Some samples of kefir contain just trace amounts of tyramine, and some kefir contains more. For more info about tyramine in kefir, read this:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/j913m07658253453/
This article from the LA Times is about the possible use of probiotics to treat depression and anxiety.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/30/news/la-heb-gut-bacteria-depression-stress-20110830
Posted by bleauberry on March 9, 2012, at 15:03:21
In reply to Kefir as a mood booster, posted by Hugh on March 2, 2012, at 19:15:00
I only tried one bottle of Kefir once because my doctor suggested it to help avoid yeast issues while on antibiotics. I don't think we know solidly in scientific terms why the gut integrity is so important to mood, or how it ties in so strongly to the immune system and the nervous system, but it just does. And as with most things, a particular mechanism or delivery may work better than another similar one. Thus in your case Kefir better than yogurt, even though both are very similar.
Anyway, I'm all for trying new stuff for mood support and I go to Whole Foods a couple times a month so on the next trip I'm going to get a few bottles. Thanks for the suggestion! I think last time the only reason I didn't get a second bottle was because of the cost. Compared to meds and doctors or whatever other options I might consider, the cost of a bottle of Kefir is pretty darn cheap relatively speaking!
Posted by sigismund on March 10, 2012, at 2:10:47
In reply to Re: Kefir as a mood booster, posted by bleauberry on March 9, 2012, at 15:03:21
Speaking of mood boosters/gut agents which are a bit pricey.....I liked lactoferrin.
Posted by Hugh on March 10, 2012, at 16:39:14
In reply to Re: Kefir as a mood booster, posted by bleauberry on March 9, 2012, at 15:03:21
>I don't think we know solidly in scientific terms why the gut integrity is so important to mood, or how it ties in so strongly to the immune system and the nervous system, but it just does.
A study done last year found that beneficial bacteria in the guts of mice had a calming influence on their brains via the vagus nerve. When a portion of their vagus nerve was removed, the bacteria no longer helped. The type of bacteria used in the study was Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1. Another type of bacteria, Lactobacillus salivarius, had no effect. Kefir contains different strains of bacteria than yogurt. Maybe one or more of these strains is the reason that kefir has such a bigger impact on my brain than yogurt.
Posted by Beckett on March 15, 2012, at 13:49:02
In reply to Kefir as a mood booster, posted by Hugh on March 2, 2012, at 19:15:00
What an interesting post. Thank you.
I did not know about kefir and tyramine. I am on the Emsam patch and drink various kefirs w/o mishap. If I had known, I wouldn't have. I have the kefir grains at home now, ready to go, so I can say goodbye to all the plastic bottles I buy my kefir in :)
If only I had my own milk goat now....
Posted by Hugh on March 16, 2012, at 11:20:01
In reply to Re: Kefir as a mood booster » Hugh, posted by Beckett on March 15, 2012, at 13:49:02
> I did not know about kefir and tyramine. I am on the Emsam patch and drink various kefirs w/o mishap. If I had known, I wouldn't have.
What dose of Emsam are you on? I read that the lowest dose, 6 mg, doesn't have dietary restrictions. That study I posted about tyramine levels in various brands of kefir in Turkey found that some brands contained just trace amounts. Maybe what you've been drinking out of plastic bottles contains just trace amounts of tyramine. Be careful with the kefir you're making from the grains. If you do drink it, it would be a good idea to start with small amounts and monitor your blood pressure frequently.
Posted by Beckett on March 17, 2012, at 14:05:19
In reply to Re: Kefir as a mood booster » Beckett, posted by Hugh on March 16, 2012, at 11:20:01
Hi Hugh, I'm now at 6 mg. There were only issues (in general) at 12 mg. I'll take it easy with the home brew regardless :) Thanks for the caution--I appreciate it.
Posted by Beckett on March 24, 2012, at 7:16:42
In reply to Kefir as a mood booster, posted by Hugh on March 2, 2012, at 19:15:00
Our kefir is coming along well. Right now we get a bit more than a cup a day. It's quite strong and thick, and its taste sweetens with each subsequent batch. Production is easy, and apparently the grains grow over time. Ours are slowly expanding.
Posted by Hugh on March 25, 2012, at 16:35:40
In reply to Re: Kefir as a mood booster: homemade, posted by Beckett on March 24, 2012, at 7:16:42
> Our kefir is coming along well. Right now we get a bit more than a cup a day. It's quite strong and thick, and its taste sweetens with each subsequent batch. Production is easy, and apparently the grains grow over time. Ours are slowly expanding.
I've got a one-quart batch of kefir fermenting right now that should be ready tonight. I haven't progressed to kefir grains yet. I'm still using a starter kit. I'm being more careful about the milk I use. I'm now using Kalona SuperNatural, since it's pasteurized at 145 degrees. A lot of brands are ultra-pasteurized at 161 degrees, which the Kefir Lady calls "ultra dead milk."
Posted by Beckett on March 31, 2012, at 12:03:15
In reply to Re: Kefir as a mood booster: homemade » Beckett, posted by Hugh on March 25, 2012, at 16:35:40
We've been having good luck with Clover milk. Funny, I saw the milk you mentioned yesterday. I don't think I would have noticed it if you hadn't mentioned it. Clover not ultra-pasteurize, though I'm not sure they meet the standards of the other milk. http://cloverstornetta.com/
This is where I bought the grains that I am so pleased with. I drink about 6oz each morning as does my husband. It yields that much after only two weeks. It's delicious plain. http://www.culturesforhealth.com/. I know you mentioned the Kefir Lady :)
Posted by Hugh on April 9, 2012, at 11:28:40
In reply to Re: Kefir as a mood booster: homemade » Hugh, posted by Beckett on March 31, 2012, at 12:03:15
> This is where I bought the grains that I am so pleased with. I drink about 6oz each morning as does my husband. It yields that much after only two weeks. It's delicious plain. http://www.culturesforhealth.com/. I know you mentioned the Kefir Lady :)
That's a good site. I like the how-to videos.
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