Research into beneficial microorganisms and their effects on human health especially in the area of epilepsy is fast evolving. Research has shown that certain probiotic strains and prebiotic fibres are beneficial for people with epilepsy whose gut microbiomes showed less diversity and lack of certain key species and they can even modulate/change seizure threshold.
Although, many questions into precision probiotic therapy for people with epilepsy remain unanswered, it is important to incorporate fermented foods in your child’s or your own diet. In addition to the beneficial microorganisms, kefir contains bioactive compounds such as exopolysaccharides, including kefiran, bioactive peptides, and organic acids, especially lactic acid. Kefir bioactive compounds present antimicrobial, anticancer, and immune-modulatory activities. The artisan kefir (made in small batches using kefir grains in different countries) appears to contain more diverse beneficial microbial profile resulting in a wider array of bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential.
Some of the microorganisms isolated from a variety of artisan kefir included the following species: Cryptococcus sp. vega, Cyberlindnera jadinii, Davidiella tassiana, Dekkera bruxellensis, Dioszegia hungarica, Eurotium amstelodami, Ganoderma lucidum, Heterobasidion annosum, Kz. barnettii, Kz. Unispora, Kl. marxianus, Malassezia pachydermatis, Microdochium nivale, Naumovozyma Castelli, Penicillium sp. vega, Peziza campestres, Pichia fermentans, Pichia kudriavzevii, Sc. cerevisiae, Teratosphaeria knoxdaviesii, Wallemia sebi, Zygosaccharomyces lentus, Lactobacillus sp., Lb. delbrueckii, Lb. kefiri, Lb. paracasei, Lb. plantarum, Lb. sakei, Lc. lactis, Ln. gelidum, Ln. mesenteroides, Pediococcus pentosaceus.
I hope you enjoy making and personalising your own Kefir!
