Kefir Kommunity

You heard us right. According to a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition,  pregnant women who consume probiotic supplements may help prevent their children from becoming obese later in life. In the study, 256 women in their first trimester of pregnancy either received the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis or did not. Researchers found that probiotic intervention reduced the frequency of gestational diabetes, which happens when the body is unable to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. The result: high blood glucose levels for the mother during pregnancy, and the risk of delivering an infant with macrosomia (aka an overweight baby.) According to the American Diabetes Association, “babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth. Because of the extra insulin made by the baby's pancreas, newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes”

 

Although the study didn’t specifically include kefir, we know tons of moms who love – and crave – kefir while pregnant. Not only is it yummy, but it’s brimming with ingredients that can help a mom-to-be stay healthy – calcium, protein and, perhaps most importantly, probiotics.

 

We’re thinking of starting an online baby registry at Lifeway, where new moms and dads can register for all the kefir they need to keep their fridge stocked. Watch out, Crate & Barrel – here we come!