Can kefir lower blood pressure?
Kefir, the fermented milk drink usually made from milk, is thought to be very healthy. This is well known. It owes this reputation to the probiotics it contains, which-if they survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract-are believed to have a positive effect on the gut.
Kefir is made by adding a kefir grain (kefir fungus, Tibetan fungus) to cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk. In addition to lactic acid bacteria, the kefir grain contains yeasts and acetic acid bacteria that process the milk sugar and other milk components and feed on them. Depending on the fermentation time and temperature, kefir can become slightly alcoholic (0.2 to 2 percent). In this way, fermentation produces the typically tangy, slightly fizzy drink within one to two days.
The rats that received kefir had lower blood pressure and a healthier gut after the study period than the control groups. The permeability of the gut lining improved. That means some substances can pass through the gut lining while other, harmful or potentially dangerous substances are held back by the barrier. In addition, kefir is thought to have a positive effect on a specific enzyme in the brain that supports normal nervous system function.
The researchers conclude that kefir promotes interaction between the nervous system and the gut to lower blood pressure. We currently do not have information on whether this blood-pressure-lowering effect also occurs in humans.
This refreshing drink is very easy to make at home. Ask around among friends to see if anyone can give you a kefir grain. Because the grains feed on milk components, they grow and split into several smaller grains once they reach a certain size. These can then be passed on. For storage, they can also be dried or frozen.
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This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 01/2026).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
