Mailbag! Strange Beverage BOOSTS Your Immune System!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted June 15, 2021
I’ve been hearing a lot about kefir and that it’s good for your gut. Then recently I heard it can help your lungs too. Is there anything to it?
–Thelma from Kent, Connecticut
Hi Thelma,
You’re right— kefir is a hot topic lately.
Kefir is a fermented yogurt drink that you used to only see in health food stores, but now you can find it almost anywhere (I’ve even seen it in gas stations!).
People mix kefir into their smoothies or drink it straight.
While kefir has the normal nutritional value of any dairy product, it also contains much-needed probiotics to keep your gut bacteria (microbiome) happy.
But that’s not all.
Researchers have found that kefir naturally stimulates our immune system, specifically when it comes to our lungs.
One study found that it increases immune cells called immunoglobulins (IgA) while ALSO helping macrophages (a type of lung cell) gobble up foreign invaders.
So… should you try kefir?
The answer is yes! One of the things we’re missing most in our modern diet is healthy bacteria that help support our digestive health.
If you lived in a preindustrial society, you’d be putting bacteria in your gut all the time.
Think about pulling a carrot out of the ground and eating it right away without washing it. You’d get all sorts of probiotics—in fact, many of the bacteria in our guts are the same ones found in the soil.
That’s why I suggest people eat yogurt, kefir, and other fermented foods like sauerkraut as much as possible.
And to protect your gut even more, here are some additional tips.
Dr. Scott’s Road to Microbiome Mastery:
- Stay away from antibiotics unless you absolutely need them.
- Eat fermented foods, including sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt. (And for the adventurous: miso, natto, and kimchi).
- Take a good probiotic. I personally like to rotate probiotics to get a wide variety of bacteria species.
- Eat plenty of fiber prebiotics. Probiotics need food, and fiber is one of the best ways to feed them. Fresh raw vegetables are your best source of prebiotic fiber.
P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
This Sleep Mistake Is Doubling Your Disease Risk
Think your inconsistent bedtime is just a harmless habit? Think again. New research reveals that going to bed at different times each night isn’t just making you tired—it could be dramatically increasing your risk of serious diseases. But the key to making sure poor sleep doesn’t derail your health goals likely isn’t what you think…....
Stop Obsessing Over Diet Trends
Can we stop with the endless diet debates already? Every other week there’s a new headline shouting about which diet is best for weight loss, heart health, or diabetes. Paleo, keto, low-carb, high-protein… it’s exhausting. And now, a new meta-analysis is out comparing the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and something called AHEI (that’s “Alternative...
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...