Biotiful protein kefir review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of Biotiful protein kefir. We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition, use and flavour of this high protein kefir. We’ll also compare some health factors against a popular kefir.
This kefir is available in various supermarkets in the UK.
You might also be interested in reading our article on the best probiotics in the UK if you want to add more healthy microbes to your diet.
About kefir
Kefir is a fermented dairy drink which is traditionally made by adding kefir grains - which are full of different strains of bacteria and yeast - to milk. (There’s also non-dairy kefir, but we won’t get into that here.)
The result is a tangy dairy drink which is similar to yoghurt but more runny. It also has a lot more bacterial diversity than yoghurt does which makes it better for our gut.
Because of this diversity and increased microbial activity, kefir can sometimes taste a bit more ‘funky’ than yoghurt.
Kefir can be had on its own or you can add it to cereal, smoothies or dressings to increase your probiotic intake.
And because of the strong fermentation of the milk sugars, it is better for people with some degree of lactose intolerance.
However, many commercial kefir are not made in the traditional way and do not offer all these benefits. So it’s important to be aware of how your kefir is made and what it really offers.
Read more about the benefits of kefir and how it differs to yoghurt.
What is Biotiful protein kefir?
This product is best not thought of as a traditional kefir, as we will see through this review. It certainly isn’t something you can drink.
It is probably best viewed as a high protein yoghurt with a texture bordering on soft cheese.
Ingredients of Aldi Beautiful kefir
This kefir has simple ingredients with only cow’s milk and live kefir and quark cultures.
In case you were wondering, quark is a fresh, soft dairy product made by fermenting milk with specific lactic acid bacteria (different from those typically used in yoghurt) and draining off the whey. This creates a mild, high-protein cheese similar in texture to thick yogurt.
I would suggest this product is actually more like a quark with added kefir cultures, than it is a kefir.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Benefits of Biotiful protein kefir
This kefir comes with various health benefits particularly related to its protein and fat content. For context, we’ll compare a few key factors against Yeo Valley kefir which is a popular, more typical kefir.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live, beneficial microorganisms that have been proven to support health. They are a specific type of live culture.
Biotiful protein kefir states that it includes ‘kefir and quark cultures’. Unfortunately they don’t state which specific strains of live cultures are included so we don’t know how many can be considered probiotic. Also, the cultures typically used to make quark (Lactococcus and Leuconostoc) are not usually classed as probiotic.
In comparison, Yeo Valley kefir includes 14 strains of live cultures but they also don’t specify which strains are included.
In terms of the actual amount of bacteria present (usually expressed as colony forming units), both brands don’t give any specific information on this.
Learn more about the benefits of probiotics.
Other health measures
Biotiful protein kefir’s health measures compare favourably against Yeo Valley kefir.
Protein: This kefir has very high protein levels at 12%. Yeo Valley is only a third of that at 4%.
Sugar: Its sugar content is moderate at 3.5%, which is much below Yeo Valley at 5.7%.
Fat: It has very low fat levels at 0.4%, which is a far below Yeo Valley (1.9%).
Calcium: Its calcium content is good at 139mg per 100ml - which is above Yeo Valley’s level of 126mg.
Appearance
As the picture below shows, it appears like an extremely thick yoghurt and maintains a highly irregular shape in the bowl.
Texture
The texture is very thick and sticky. Given the extremely low fat, it isn’t very creamy.
Flavour
The aroma is fairly subtle but not ideal - it is mainly of mild cheese with (and sorry for this) a touch of vomit characteristics.
The taste is somewhere between a very bland yoghurt and a very mild soft cheese. Unfortunately the unpleasant aspect to the aroma does come through a little on the aftertaste. The aftertaste also carries a surprisingly acidic tang (which seems out of balance) and some chalkiness.
Overall, the taste is quite poor and flawed in multiple ways. It certainly doesn’t taste anything like a traditional kefir.
Use
Given the suboptimal taste, this kefir would be best added to a smoothie.
Cost of Biotiful protein kefir
You can buy a 250g tub from Sainsburys for £2.
Summary
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Biotiful protein kefir is not what you would expect from a kefir. It is more like a thick yoghurt with good health measures but a poor taste.
Pros
simple, natural ingredients
very low in fat
very high in protein
good calcium levels
Cons
is nothing like a kefir in terms of texture or taste
flavour is poor
needs more information on the strains of live cultures present
needs more information on the actual number of bacteria present (ie colony forming unit count)
Now read about the best kefir in the UK!
Other health benefits of kefir
Along with the specific benefits of this kefir mentioned above, kefir in general is good for our health in the following ways.
Vitamins and minerals
Kefir is a source of various vitamins and minerals including:
calcium
B vitamins (B12 and riboflavin)
magnesium
potassium
phosphorous
These vitamins collectively support bone health, energy production, muscle function, immune function and cardiovascular health.
Probiotics
These are the beneficial living microbes you are ingesting when you drink kefir. And kefir in general usually has a lot more different strains of probiotics than yoghurt or kombucha does.
Probiotics offer many health benefits including:
better digestive health
better immune function
reduced inflammation
reduced allergies
better nutrient absorption
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are essentially beneficial things probiotics produce during fermentation. These include healthy short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Reduced lactose
Because of the strong fermentation of milk sugars by a diverse range of bacteria and yeasts, kefir is better for people with some degree of lactose intolerance compared to milk or yoghurt.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Your reviewer
This hands-on review was written by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut-health enthusiast, science nerd and passionate kombucha maker of over 10 years!
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