Pregnant and kefir

The ancient drink kefir is often consumed for its health benefits. It contains good bacteria and therefore probiotic properties. But the same bacteria and yeasts that provide these positive properties also produce a small amount of alcohol. As a result, it is not always clear to pregnant women whether kefir can be drunk during pregnancy. In addition, it is possible that milk kefir made from raw milk is contaminated with the dangerous Listeria Monocytogenes for pregnant women.

Kefir during pregnancy

The risk of Listeria or Toxoplasma growth is very small when making water kefir or milk kefir from pasteurized milk. Avoid drinking kefir made from raw milk unless you are sure that it has been sufficiently acidified. However, the biggest risk of drinking kefir during pregnancy is its alcohol content. Kefir that is prepared at home from kefir grains always contains a small amount of alcohol, which is formed during the fermentation. Alcohol is harmful during pregnancy in small amounts. Nevertheless, the nutrition center indicates that the amount of alcohol in kefir is so small that it can be drunk during pregnancy. If you prefer not to take any risks, there are kefir bags with which you can make kefir without alcohol. In addition, almost all ready-to-eat kefir for sale in supermarkets is alcohol-free.
The risk of growth of Listeria or Toxoplasma is very small if one makes water kefir or milk kefir from pasteurized milk. Avoid drinking kefir made from raw milk unless you are sure that it is sufficiently acidified. However, the biggest risk of drinking kefir during pregnancy is its alcohol content. Kefir that is prepared at home from kefir grains always contains a small amount of alcohol, which is formed during the fermentation. Alcohol is harmful in small amounts during pregnancy. Nevertheless, the nutrition center indicates that the amount of alcohol in kefir is so small that it can be drunk during pregnancy. If you prefer not to take any risks, there are kefir bags with which you can make kefir without alcohol. In addition, almost all ready-to-eat kefir that is for sale in supermarkets is alcohol-free.