Hey, moms-to-be…how’d you like to eliminate those pesky bouts of morning sickness from your daily routine for the next nine months? Believe it or not, riding the porcelain bus can be an avoidable side effect of pregnancy for moms who drink Kefir, a creamy probiotic dairy beverage. Kefir is similar to yogurt but jam-packed with vitamins and minerals, protein, calcium, and fiber, all thanks to seven active “friendly” microorganisms (yogurt typically has two or three) that stimulate digestion, ease lactose intolerance, lower cholesterol, protect against cancer, and control the growth of harmful yeast. 

What does all of that mean? For moms, it means an enhanced immune system and a stronger resistance to colds and other health maladies, like yeast infections. For kids, it could mean fewer bouts of infantile diarrhea and a shield against the rotavirus that too-often lands children in the hospital (and forces moms to waste those coveted vacation days at their bedside).

Mom-to-be Julie Smolyansky has been reaping the benefits of Kefir ever since she was an infant herself (her father, Michael, founded the company in 1986). Now the president and CEO of Lifeway Foods, which produces its flagship Kefir along with other specialty functional dairy foods, Smolyansky has experienced firsthand the power of Kefir and how it can offer moms a more pleasant pregnancy experience.

“I run a company, and so I’m probably a little more beaten down than the average person,” she says. “Yet I haven’t had a day of morning sickness, and I’ve gained just the average amount of weight.”

The ultra busy mom-to-be hasn’t slowed down one bit since receiving the wonderful news that she was pregnant with her first child, and she says she owes her “dream pregnancy” to both her healthy lifestyle and to her love for Kefir. “I couldn’t have gotten through this without it!” she says.

Smolyansky traveled to Tokyo and Bali as she approached her eighth month of pregnancy, and she survived the flu season without so much as a single cough. The avid runner continued to push through her regular workout regimen, and was running up to five miles through her second trimester before slowing down (sort of!) to four-mile walks. When the baby finally arrives, she says she’s anxious to push her little one in the stroller as she jogs, or even start attending “Mommy and Me” yoga classes.

“I’ve done everything I did before—there’s a few restrictions, but other than that, life continues on,” she says. “You’re not sick, you’re not dying, you’re just pregnant!”

Within the last few years, Kefir has been catching the attention of doctors, too, and consuming Kefir along with other cultured dairy products may soon become as standard as taking a prenatal vitamin.

Beyond its health benefits, Kefir is tasty and enjoyable. Simple as that. The Lifeway Foods website is chock full of photos of Tina Fey, Vanessa Williams, and many of our favorite celebs enjoying Kefir; most of us can’t afford their $800 dollar Bugaboos or couture toddler wear, so what better way to live like a celebrity than to do something good for your body?

“It’s something I can feel good about,” Smolyansky says. “As soon as most people try it, they love it.” She says Kefir makes for great smoothies and parfaits, or you can throw in some granola and fresh fruit for a nutritious and filling snack.

You don’t have to be named Shiloh or Suri to enjoy Kefir, either, with Lifeway’s new line of “Probugs”: organic whole milk kefir with characters and flavors even the pickiest eaters will have a hard time turning down. It’s high in protein and calcium, has added inulin for calcium absorption, and it boasts 10 live and active cultures for happy tummies and strong immune systems. “Kids love it; it becomes part of their ritual, and they can’t go to sleep without it!” she says. “It’s a great way to get healthy nutrients into your kids.”

When it’s her turn for motherhood, you can bet on Smolyansky introducing her baby to probiotic formula as soon as the little one enters the world. “It’s just so important to start building a strong immune system right away,” she concludes.

For more on Lifeway Food’s products, which consist of cheeses, puddings, and a variety of soy, low-carb, and even greek style kefir, check out their website at www.lifeway.net.