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Get a sip of this — it might just turn back the clock.
New research from Japan suggests that a trendy beverage, long praised for supporting gut health, may also help prevent or even reverse certain signs of aging.
The timing couldn’t be better: Within the next decade, older Americans are on track to outnumber the nation’s children for the first time in US history.
In the study, scientists from Shinshu University set out to better understand the health benefits of fermented milk products like kefir, particularly as they relate to getting older.
As people age, the immune system weakens and immune cells slow down, preventing them from dividing properly, the researchers explained.
This slowdown triggers chronic, low-level inflammation that helps fuel many age-related diseases, while vital organs such as the thymus and liver gradually weaken and lose function.
Researchers have long known that drinks like kefir contain lactic acid bacteria, or LABs, which are believed to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and even anti-cancer effects. Exactly how those benefits work, however, has remained unclear.
To find out, the team fed elderly mice a heat-inactivated strain of LAB isolated from kefir — Lentilactobacillus kefiri YRC2606 — over an eight-week period, then analyzed their immune health.
They found that mice given YRC2606 showed fewer age-related changes in key organs such as the thymus and liver.
Signs of inflammation were also lower, along with levels of proteins that normally stop cells from dividing — a major driver of aging tissues.
The first-of-its-kind findings suggest the kefir-based bacteria could help keep the immune system stronger as people get older, according to lead author Hiroka Sasahara.
“YRC2606 will be useful for the treatment of age-associated diseases, for example, as an ingredient in functional foods or dietary supplements designed to maintain immune function in older adults,” she said in a statement.
That, in turn, may help preserve key physical functions — a critical factor in maintaining independence and quality of life as people age.
Drinking kefir regularly offer additional health perks as well. After all, its name comes from the Turkish word “keyif,” which loosely translates to feeling good after eating.
The cultured, fermented drink — originating from the mountainous region between Asia and Europe — is similar to yogurt but thinner in consistency.
It’s packed with nutrients, with one cup providing about nine grams of protein and more than a third of an adult’s daily calcium, essential for strong bones. The drink also supplies healthy amounts of phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamins B12, B2, D and K2.
Kefir is rich in probiotics, beneficial microorganisms believed to support health in several ways, from aiding digestion and weight management to promoting mental well-being by balancing the gut microbiome.
Probiotics may also help with issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and allergies, and they may even support heart health by lowering bad cholesterol.
Research has shown that one of the probiotics in kefir, Lactobacillus kefiri, can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli.
But don’t go guzzling kefir just yet.
Foods and drinks rich in probiotics can cause gassiness, bloating and other digestive side effects, so it’s best to introduce them into your diet slowly so that your body can adjust.
People taking immunosuppressants should also consult their doctor before drinking kefir, since it contains live bacteria and yeast that a healthy immune system normally keeps in check to prevent infections.
