Yes
Because kefir also offers an abundance of calcium and magnesium, which are also important minerals for a healthy nervous system, kefir in the diet can have a particularly profound calming effect on the nerves. Kefir is a fermented drink produced from milk and kefir grains -- small, gelatinous bundles of curdled casein that resemble cauliflower florets. These grains contain lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria and yeast. The drink has existed for thousands of years, originating in the Caucasus Mountains in Eurasia. With a flavor similar to yogurt, kefir offers protein, calcium and vitamin D. The bacteria used to create kefir also provide health benefits in the form of probiotics, which help with digestive regulation and gut health. You can drink kefir on its own or add it to cereal, smoothies or oatmeal. Kefir might be a better option than yogurt for some lactose-intolerant people, Hertzler says. Though both kefir and yogurt are good sources of calcium, potassium, and protein, kefir also contains a wider array of digestion-boosting bacteria. May 30, 2003 -- For people with lactose intolerance, a yogurt-like drink called kefir could put dairy in their diet again. Lactose intolerance is a very common digestive problem caused by too little of an enzyme called lactase, which the body needs to digest lactose -- milk sugar. More than just beneficial bacteria! In addition to beneficial bacteria and yeast, kefir contains minerals and essential amino acids that help the body with healing and maintenance functions. Like yogurt, which is made from fermented milk, kefir contains lots of bacteria that aid lactose digestion. Yogurt doesn't produce symptoms of lactose intolerance because these bacteria help digest the lactose. However, kefir has a broader range of nutrients than does yogurt, he says. Kefir is produced by allowing a combination of milk and kefir grains to ferment. Kefir grains do not contain grain. Instead, kefir grains is a colloquial term for a mixture of bacteria and yeast. A variety of bacterial strains are present in kefir grains, including Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Acetobacter. Kefir contains around 12 milligrams of magnesium per 100 grams, or about 3.5 fluid ounces of the drink. It is also a good source of vitamins B-1 and B-12, biotin, calcium, folic acid, vitamin K and phosphorus.
http://www.kefir.net/nutritional-content-of-kefir/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/518802-kefir-and-magnesium/ http://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/nutrition-kefir-5625.html http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20030530/kefir-helps-lactose-intolerance http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20030530/kefir-helps-lactose-intolerance http://www.kefir.net/nutritional-content-of-kefir/ http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20030530/kefir-helps-lactose-intolerance http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/kefir-yogurt-2757.html http://www.livestrong.com/article/518802-kefir-and-magnesium/
does kefir contain calcium