Daily physical activity is important for our health and wellbeing. Whether it’s a brisk walk, an exercise class or gardening in the backyard, a general goal of 30 minutes each day provides immediate and long-term benefits. These include brain and mental health, cardiovascular health, weight management and disease prevention.

To reap the benefits of physical activity, it’s just as important to fuel our bodies with a healthy and balanced diet. Including a variety of foods at meals and snacks provide protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins and minerals to give us the energy needed to be active throughout the day.

Dairy beverages are getting noticed as an ideal drink for fuel and recovery, with research pointing to their perfect blend of fluid, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in one glass. Taking that a step further, Kefir is a nutrient-rich fermented dairy beverage containing 12 live and active cultures (25-30 billion colony forming units) that gives our body the energy and microbiome support it needs for daily activity. Research is finding that those who include Kefir as part of a balanced diet and in their recovery plan after exercise may have less muscle soreness and damage, as well as a decrease in overall inflammation and oxidative stress.

Here are five solid reasons why Kefir should be part of a daily fuel routine:

1. Probiotics – Kefir contains 12 live and active probiotic cultures that research shows may help with physical activity and athletic performance. The probiotics may increase antioxidant, protein, and fat absorption important for energy pre, during and post-workout. In addition, research suggests that the probiotics may strengthen the gut’s lining and lower inflammation throughout the body, resulting fewer stomach problems during exercise.
2. Protein – Kefir is good source of protein, important in recovery to reduce muscle breakdown, increase the body’s ability to build new muscle and work with carbohydrates to restore muscle glycogen, helping to improve body composition over time.
3. Carbohydrates – As a natural source of carbohydrates, Kefir helps to refuel and restore muscle glycogen – the predominant fuel source for the body during physical activity and exercise.
4. Vitamins and minerals – Kefir contains calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, the three key nutrients for bone health and often not found in other sports drinks. Athletes and those who routinely do intense exercise need and may benefit from extra amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium due to their risk for illness and injuries such as stress fractures. In fact, studies have shown lower rates of bone fractures in those that consume fermented dairy such as Kefir.  Many of the nutrients found in Kefir also play a role in the metabolic pathways to give the body energy needed for physical activity.
5. Fluid and electrolytes – Kefir contains fluid and the key electrolytes sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium to replenish what is lost in sweat and to rehydrate the body.

Finally, just how physical activity helps keeps our immune system healthy and our mood lifted, research is finding that Kefir may do the same. Probiotics found in Lifeway Kefir support our immune system by maintaining a diverse gut microbiome where 70-80% of our immune cells live, and may be associated with appropriate immune response and decrease of inflammation in our bodies. Our gut is also home to where 90% of the serotonin in our body is produced, the mood-boosting hormone.  Studies have linked kefir to a balanced gut, an increase in serotonin levels and a decrease in the risk for anxiety and depression. So, next time you want to fuel your body and your mind, be sure to reach for a glass of kefir. Find Lifeway Kefir products at your local Mother’s.