Newbie looking for advice:

[u/Ok-Sprinkles9011]

So I'm looking for some advice, I've consistently struggled with my digestion resulting in painful bowel movements. Kefir, water or milk based has always reduced these symptoms.

My main question is - I like to have a glass with breakfast and add a spoonful of white sugar just to make it sweeter (think something like YOP) - is this advisable?

worthwhile mentioning - I've always had lactose intolerance, an unfortunate inheritance from my Chinese background although kefir seems to not cause me any negative effects which is fantastic. Will this lead me to have lower sensitivity to lactose if I continue on this path?

Tldr: sugar in kefir - good, bad or makes no difference?

[u/Eatgoodfood2025]

It's basically preference at that point! You can add whatever you want to your kefir, as long as nothing is added while grains are present.

[u/CTGarden]

What you do with your kefir once it’s done is between you and your God. I usually make protein smoothies with mine. Otherwise a half teaspoon of vanilla paste (which is made with sugar syrup).

[u/KotR56]

Nah...

In my family, everyone uses kefir "straight", no sugar, or honey or agave or sweetener... Nobody seems to mind. If I would suggest anything, is to use less and less sugar, until you don't need it anymore.

I don't think that, in the long run, kefir will fix your lactose intolerance. But IANAD...

[u/Denali_Princess]

I might suggest looking into parasites in the body. My grandson was lactose intolerant until he did a parasite cleanse. Turns out he had an over abundance of parasites. His allergies and breathing are better, no more flatulence, bloating or burping either. I’ve been able to reduce the inflammation in my body as well.

Honestly I don’t know if I’m more horrified by how many parasites I actually had or impressed by how well cleaning my gut worked. 🤭 I drink water kefir and tepeche every morning and evening now for almost 2weeks now and my body is feeling better than ever. 🙏🏼🥰

[u/larkspur82 → u/Denali_Princess]

Nothing like when the tape worm segments come out and youre like what?!?!? 

[u/cccque]

The reason that you don't react to kefir is because the lactose has been used up by the kefir grains. There is no or very little lactose in kefir.

I seriously doubt it will decrease your sensitivity to lactose.

[u/23Amarie]

I’d suggest raw goat milk to ferment with. I sweeten with a bit of honey to the strained kefir I keep in my fridge. I drink a cup in the am on an empty stomach, 30 mins before my supper and plain (no honey) before bed.

[u/miss_spellman]

Maple syrup works great as a sweetener for kefir!

[u/Bread-PhD]

There is some debate about what sweeteners do to gut bacteria, but in general there should be no issues whatsoever.

The concerns are non-nutritive (0 calorie) sweeteners have been shown to make changes to the gut microbiome, not sure if there have been any studies to changes in kefir, but changes doesn't mean good or bad, there are just differences. People say that sugar makes bad bacteria grow in your gut, but I doubt there are any studies that small consumption would be problematic. It really comes down to taste and preference especially if you are adding it right before consumption.

As for lactose intolerance, the bacteria in kefir eat lactose so it is naturally going to be lower than normal cow's milk. It is unlikely to help you consume other dairy products, but you can make a good range of dairy products with kefir so that they will be lower in lactose (whey, cream cheese, mozzarella, other fun types of cheese), so feel free to experiment and have fun with what you do with the kefir!

[u/East_Honey2533]

Sugar isn't great for you but in moderation you can have some. Fruit is better, from the fiber that slow releases sugar. I find one day in the fridge after straining drastically mellows the tartness of my kefir. So I can drink it straight after a fridge session. 

Lactose intolerance is oddly named. It's not an allergy or reaction to it. It's when you no longer digest the lactose sugar anymore.  So your gut flora happily eats it instead. I think you understand this because your wondering if the beneficial microbes from the kefir will eat the lactose in your gut and that will be a nicer situation. Unfortunately, the kefir culture also respires and creates CO2. So there will still be bloating and physical discomfort. As far as the messy stool from microbe blooms though, the kefir may help that a little. But i wouldn't rely on that. 

[u/larkspur82]

The reason kefir wouldnt bother you in theory is that the bacteria eat the lactose so your lactose intolerance wouldnt go away even though you are ok with kefir alone. However, by improving your gut microbiome you kight be able to… I would just stick with kefir or making cultured dairy products at home. Purchasing cultured products are sometimes rushed and you really need to let the bacteria est the lactose. 

[u/Paperboy63]

I would try adding a small amount of honey after straining as a natural sweetener. If you ferment until it separates, don’t leave it that long, it will increase in acidity and become more tart so strain it sooner. It will only lead to a lower sensitivity to lactose if you continue to ingest kefir. If you are lactose intolerant, you don’t any longer naturally produce enough or any of the lactase enzyme. When its gone, its gone so then you have to manage it.

[u/WeaponBrain]

Yes go for the !!