By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
5 amazing things kefir can do for you (and your weight)
253fb0b16aa12413ad5a6f24edb729718ce2745c2487ba3dfd957125b25fcae4
MAIN - photo by Kristina Tieken
Wouldnt it be great if there was a cure-all drink for all of your bodily ailments? Kefir is as close as you can get to finding that miracle drink. Kefir is a fermented drink made from milk and grains with live cultures that act as a probiotic to boost your health. It's also full of friendly bacteria and yeasts rich in nutrients. Here are some benefits of adding kefir to your diet:

1. You wont get sick as much

You probably know that yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics to keep healthy bacteria alive and thriving. Kefir has three times the amount of probiotics yogurt does. It is bursting with vitamins like B12, B1 and K12 as well as essential amino acids that help the body heal itself. Kefir also has had a profound effect on the nerves to give you a healthy nervous system. Thanks to kefir, you dont have to be the one who goes through a whole box of tissues when cold season comes around.

2. Strong bones

Bones construct the bodys frame; they allow you to complete the activities you love to do. Bone density is crucial to womens health. Osteoporosis targets women more than men, 3 to 1. Kefir is rich in calcium and helps to strengthen bone density. This dairy drink is also rich in magnesium which is essential for proper calcium absorption in the bones. With this mixture of calcium and magnesium, kefir will help build bone density to keep you running and laughing longer with your kids.

3. Healthy hair

Biotin is a frequently used supplement to stimulate the production of healthy hair, skin and nail growth. Kefir is a great source of biotin to help activate glowing skin and hair growth - giving you that glow that all women want. Kefir can also be used as a hair treatment to increase blood flow to hair follicles by applying it directly to the scalp. This will help moisturize, strengthen and stimulate your hair. No more flaky scalp or dried split ends for you!

4. Lose weight and keep if off

Losing weight is hard, but keeping it off can be even harder. Your body needs high quality strains of good bacteria in your gut to feel good and maintain healthy weight. A six-ounce serving of Kefir can contain up to ten grams of protein. It is a complete source of protein to help you feel full and reduce the urge to snack on cakes and cookies. The combination of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus found in kefir can also keep your energy levels up so you dont waste calories on drinking caffeinated beverage to stay awake.

5. Detox by healing your digestive track

Kefir can help flush out your digestive tract to lead a healthier lifestyle. It creates those friendly bacterias and yeasts that push pathogens and aflatoxins (food-born toxins created by various molds) out of your digestive system. The healthy bacteria can then live in the digestive tract to keep creating healthy bacteria that binds the other fungi you dont want in your system.

Take a trip to the grocery store and start seeing the benefits kefir can have on your overall health. If you want to try making your own kefir, find kefir grains or start powder. Try adding it to smoothies or in salad dressings and soon, youll be making friends with the friendly bacteria as you flush the bad bacteria good-bye.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.