Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball 072: Is Kefir Healthy? How Fermented Foods Boost Gut Health and Immunity with Julie Smolyansky of Lifeway Kefir
May 20, 2025
Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, shares her journey of transforming her family's immigrant food business into a kefir powerhouse. She discusses the surprising benefits of kefir for gut health and immunity, highlighting its role in reducing inflammation and supporting mental wellness. Julie imparts practical advice for introducing kids to nutritious foods and the importance of modeling self-care. With insights on dairy's vital role in women's health, this conversation is packed with inspiration for raising adventurous eaters.
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How Lifeway Started From Immigrant Roots
- Julie's parents defected from the Soviet Union and launched Lifeway after missing kefir in U.S. stores.
- Her father built a kefir plant and her mother sold Eastern European foods through a deli and import business.
Kefir Links Gut Health To Mental And Immune Benefits
- Kefir's probiotics support the gut-brain axis and may reduce stress, depression, and anxiety.
- Researchers link fermented milk consumption to improved immunity and lower risk of some colon cancers over long-term studies.
Modern Lifestyle Harms The Microbiome
- Modern habits like overuse of antibiotics and excessive sanitizing erode the microbiome and raise dysbiosis risks.
- Restoring diverse microflora through fermented foods helps counter inflammation-linked illnesses that are rising today.
