Homemade kvass: benefits and harms

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of fluid for the body. And if this liquid is rich in useful components, is able to improve the course of physiological processes, to stimulate immunity, its value increases several times. However, the benefits and harms of kvass can overlap, depending on the individual characteristics of each organism.

What is this drink

Real kvass is a healthy drink that, despite its long history, must meet certain requirements. According to the requirements of GOST, the technology for preparing the drink is based on the fermentation of the wort, and the presence of alcohol in the drink is normalized at the level of 1.2%. Drinks produced today with a strength exceeding this indicator, according to the rules, are subject to a change in the classic name.

The beneficial properties of kvass are formed due to the natural processes of making malt, and subsequently the wort.

Malt is obtained by wetting and germinating cereals, in particular barley. Rye, wheat, triticale, corn grains are also used. The enzymes produced during the germination of cereals are one of the valuable nutritional components of malt-based beverages.

Wort is brewed from malt and flour - a direct participant in fermentation.

These classic recipes are used to produce a traditional Slavic beverage. Today, there are technologies for making healthy kvass from rye crackers, into which fragrant herbs, honey, raw materials from beets, some berries, and fruits can be added for the smell. This allows kvass to be used for preparing healthy first cold dishes.

Chemical composition and calorie content of kvass

The stages of making healthy kvass involve many chemical reactions, during which biologically valuable substances are obtained, which are necessary for normal life.

In addition to organoleptic properties, specific gravity, the chemical composition is important:

• free carbon dioxide;
• total amount of acids;
• the presence of volatile acids;
• alcohol content;
• alimentary fiber;
• niacin (vitamin PP and B3);
• the amount of ash, protein bodies;
• sugars (mono- and di-carbohydrates);
• extract.

The calorie content of the drink is 27 kcal.

What is kvass useful for?

The benefits of homemade kvass are not only an excellent thirst quencher. The drink has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, reduces the permeability of blood vessels, and stabilizes metabolic processes. The presence of amino acids and enzymes determines its antibacterial effect.

B vitamins are useful. They are involved in strengthening the nervous system, helping to cope with depression. The drink is useful for cerebral circulation and normalization of vision.Recommended for patients with atrophic changes in the cerebral nerves, for example, in the eye.

Useful chemical elements that make up the liquid fermentation product (copper, iron, manganese and phosphorus) can heal organs and systems, give a person a boost of vigor, improve mood, and calm the nervous system.

By killing pathogenic microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, kvass improves digestion, promotes peristalsis, and normalizes beneficial microflora.

The presence of vitamin C allows the drink to be used for the prevention of vitamin deficiencies, the treatment of scurvy, and strengthening the immune system. Useful kvass promotes the growth and development of the body.

Kvass is recommended for patients with eye diseases (cataracts, glaucoma, increased eye pressure, optic neuritis).

The benefits of kvass for women

Nature has entrusted the female body with a responsible and complex function of bearing and reproducing offspring. For a woman to be able to give birth to a healthy child, it is useful to drink kvass - a source of biologically valuable and useful substances, a participant in metabolic processes.

The presence of calcium will strengthen your nails, bones and teeth. Vitamin B stimulates brain activity. Normalization of metabolism will allow you to adhere to the desired weight, and energy activity - to fight increased fatigue, to be always “in shape”.

The set of trace elements included in the drink has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the genitourinary system, helps to normalize bile formation, and prevents the formation of kidney stones, gall bladder. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system, helps a woman to cope with diseases.

By consuming healthy kvass in reasonable quantities, a woman has a positive attitude, better resists stressful situations.

The benefits of kvass for men

To maintain its health, the male body also needs helpers such as kvass (provided that it is natural). Enriching muscles with lactic acid, it supplies the necessary energy, increases efficiency.

There is also information regarding the strengthening of "male power". This is due to the B vitamins - testosterone production stimulants.

Activates the beneficial kvass protective properties of the male body. This is the prevention of the incidence of viral infections during the season of epidemics and energy recharge at the time of fatigue.

The chemical elements present - selenium and zinc - help a man fight hair loss, get rid of "bad cholesterol", and control his emotions during vigorous activity.

The benefits of kvass for weight loss

Useful kvass is a reliable assistant for weight normalization. On the one hand, it is not a high-calorie food. Its energy value is measured in the range of 27-30 kcal.

On the other hand, by normalizing metabolism and actively stimulating the processes of removing toxins and toxins from the body, it fights stagnant processes, promotes tissue renewal, and weight loss.

A weak diuretic effect will help get rid of excess fluid, and the contained healthy dietary fiber will improve peristalsis. Drinking a glass of such a life-giving liquid, a person feels a desire to take active actions, which, in turn, leads to the consumption of energy accumulated in the form of fatty deposits.

Can pregnant women drink kvass

Pregnant women, eating foods prepared on the basis of fermentation processes, can bring both benefits and harm to their body.

So, in the presence of diseases of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and other inflammation can worsen. An increase in the acidity of gastric contents will lead to the development of heartburn, a feeling of fullness in the abdominal cavity.

We should not forget about the possible fermentation processes in the stomach and intestines.

If in the body of a pregnant woman there is a tendency to the formation of edema, the use of excess fluid is also not indicated.

Is it possible to give kvass to children

There are no contraindications for healthy children to consume natural healthy kvass, but do not forget that it contains a small amount of alcohol. At what age can you give kvass to a child? Of course, from the age of 5. However, if there are chronic diseases, you need to consult a doctor.

The use of kvass in traditional medicine

Based on biochemical properties, many traditional medicine recipes include kvass in their composition:

1. Compresses from a slightly warmed drink are useful for acne, hemorrhoids, pustular diseases of a bacterial nature.
2. It is recommended to drink a glass of a healthy drink half an hour before meals three times a day for bronchopulmonary pathologies, diseases of the urinary system.
3. 200 ml of a cool drink on an empty stomach is useful for vision problems, as well as atherosclerotic phenomena in the vessels and thrombophlebitis.
4. If you are concerned about pain in the spine, on the basis of healthy kvass, you can prepare the following compress: mix it with 100 g of wine (preferably red), two tablespoons of vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar. Knead with flour until soft and apply to the sore spot.
5. For the treatment of endocrine problems: during the preparation of kvass, add 2-3 chestnuts to the breadcrumbs. Insist and take a glass of drink three times a day.

The use of kvass in cosmetology

The benefits of using kvass in caring for their appearance are noted. A plus to improving the condition of hair, nails and skin through healing from the inside are various masks, rubbing, balms, tonics prepared with its use.

For facial skin

Freshly prepared kvass can be simply rubbed into the skin when:

• freckles and superficial age spots;
• flabbiness of the dermis, weakening of elasticity;
• numerous small wrinkles.

After applying a course of such rubbing, the skin becomes velvety, fresh, healthy. Its color and structure are improved.

To prepare useful masks, you can additionally use honey, yolk or egg white (depending on the type of skin).

For hair

With the help of kvass, you can successfully fight against:

• hair loss;
• dandruff;
• violations of the structure of the hair (for example, when dyeing).

When it is rubbed into the scalp, hair follicles are strengthened, irritation from the skin is removed, dandruff and itching go away.

A hair mask can be prepared from 50 ml of kvass, 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply the mask for 20 minutes, wrap it up, then rinse with warm water.

Is it possible to drink kvass while driving

When planning to get behind the wheel, it is better not to drink a healthy drink, since even those 1.2% alcohol will be enough for a traffic police inspector to catch the driver of drinking alcohol.

Is store kvass useful?

The benefits of purchased kvass can be regarded in two ways. If the manufacturer adheres to the classic technologies of its preparation, such a drink has beneficial nutritional properties and biological activity.

The drink, sold in bottles, is pasteurized to avoid early spoilage. Its implementation period is 17-21 days, and with cold sterilization - from 10 to 30 days. Pasteurization and sterilization ensure the microbiological safety of the drink, but destroy a number of useful components.

The benefits of draft kvass can be greater, since the drink contained in the cisterns is not intended for long-term storage. Its implementation should be carried out within two days and no more.

This way of storing the finished drink has its drawbacks. Slime-forming bacteria that develop on the inner surface of barrels, hoses, taps, make kvass highly viscous, give it a dense atypical consistency. You can't drink it.

In addition, sourness occurs due to the appearance of acetic acid bacteria. Eliminate the consequences of natural damage by using special disinfectants.

The benefits of bread kvass

Among the varieties of a useful product, you can find fruit and berry, beetroot, oat drinks, but it is the bread origin that is traditional.

This is one of the most useful options for such a drink - a source of enzymes, vitamins and trace elements. Contains dietary fiber and sugars. The drink is rich in protein bodies and free carbon dioxide.

Homemade bread kvass recipes

Any housewife has a recipe for making delicious and healthy homemade kvass. It can be a yeast, yeast-free, fruit, rye, vegetable option, which is prepared depending on personal preference.

Classic recipe for kvass without yeast

Cooking algorithm:

1. Cut the bread into slices (no thicker than 2-4 cm).
2. Dry in the oven.
3. Put the crackers in a container and pour boiling water over.
4. Add 50 g of sugar.
5. Add raisins to the wort cooked and cooled to room temperature and let it brew for 24 hours.
6. After filtering, you can use kvass.

Yeast Kvass

How to make a healthy drink:

1. Heat half a glass of sugar over high heat until it is completely caramelized.
2. Pour into prepared water and stir.
3. Dissolve 25 g of fresh yeast in water, add sugar and let it bloom, then add flour. This is a dough that should be kept in a warm place for one hour.
4. Dough should be combined with sliced ​​bread or breadcrumbs, placed in advance in a three-liter jar of water, and let stand for 10 hours.
5. Squeeze out the thick sediment and drain into a storage container.

Kvass from rye bread

You can prepare a healthy drink at home and without dough. To do this, you can buy a ready-made kvass dry mixture and follow the following steps:

1. Cut a loaf of rye bread into slices and put them in a 3 liter jar (fill no more than a third).
2. Pour out a pack of dry mixture and 2-3 tablespoons of sugar, add water.
3. Cover with cheesecloth and leave to drink for 24-48 hours.
4. When the healthy drink is ready, add a few raisins to add a savory soda flavor.

Kvass from rusks

The previous recipe for healthy kvass can be used to make a drink from crackers - pre-dried pieces of rye bread.

Useful kvass from crackers is prepared with the addition of dough. For this:

1. Pour crackers into a 0.5-liter jar, add 1 tablespoon of sugar and pour boiling water over. When the contents have cooled, add dry yeast and stir thoroughly. Leave the leaven alone for 3 days.
2. Pour the sourdough into a three-liter jar, fill a third with bread crumbs prepared in advance from rye bread. Add sugar to taste, leave a healthy drink for a day.

Contraindications and harm of kvass

For all the benefits of the drink, there are negative consequences from its use. They should not get carried away by people with high acidity of gastric juice. Fermentation products trigger additional mechanisms of its production, as a result of which a "burning" effect is exerted on the mucous membrane. As a result, gastritis may worsen, and the preconditions for peptic ulcer disease may be created.

Will do more harm than good kvass to patients with urolithiasis, as well as those suffering from liver cirrhosis.

Especially there is a lot of harm from the use of an unnatural drink, to impart taste and smell to which artificial flavors, additives and preservatives are used.This drink is a potential cause of allergies, intestinal diseases, poisoning and intoxication.

In limited quantities, kvass is recommended during pregnancy and small children.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of kvass go almost hand in hand. Having diseases of internal organs, it is better to consult a doctor about the advisability of drinking a drink. For those who are shown such a healthy drink, this is a real source of health, a charge of vigor, and positive.