Kvass okroshechny benefits and harms. Homemade bread kvass - benefits and harms. Homemade kvass: step-by-step preparation

The benefits of this wonderful drink were known even in Ancient Egypt; the analogue of modern kvass was very popular due to its miraculous properties. But nevertheless, Russia is rightfully considered the birthplace of bread kvass, in Kievan Rus it was used everywhere and every day, its presence in the house was considered a symbol of health and well-being. There are several types of this drink today, it can be sweet or sour, prepared on the basis of berries, fruits, but the most famous and relevant in hot weather was and remains the traditional kvass made from rye or barley flour and malt product.

The benefits of kvass

Bread kvass is a famous Slavic drink, which is known for its incredibly pleasant taste and aroma, as well as its ability to maintain human health at a high level due to its unique chemical content, because it is a real storehouse of vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and trace elements. For example, calcium strengthens teeth, and magnesium provides the body with growth and development, which is why experts recommend drinking kvass with a deficiency of vitamins. A variety of minerals such as copper, iron, phosphorus and manganese contribute to the timely and correct digestion and assimilation of food. In addition, when prepared at home, the drink becomes completely natural, does not contain flavors, dyes and other additives that are found in almost all factory juices or carbonated drinks.

What other useful properties are inherent in bread kvass?

positively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cope with increased gas production, heaviness;
prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria;
improves metabolism;
strengthens the heart and blood vessels;
helps to strengthen the immune system;
acts as an antiseptic in the oral cavity, strengthens tooth enamel, heals wounds;
relieves fatigue and mental stress;
kvass contains vitamin C, which is necessary for hypertensive patients for a kind of cleaning of blood vessels and removal of cholesterol;
will be useful for diabetics;
kvass drink is a universal remedy for the beauty of skin and hair.

It seems incredible, but such a familiar one for us can be invaluable if you prepare it correctly and use it regularly, perhaps this is the easiest way to treat and prevent a number of ailments. In addition, kvass has the ability to enhance metabolism, so it can be consumed even during a diet, it is not for nothing that drinking based on flour and malt was the basis during fasting.

Kvass is used not only for drinking, but also as a unique means of rejuvenation. To improve the condition of the skin, compresses are made from the drink and rubbed with chilled kvass. There are recipes for wrinkles, masks to strengthen hair and nails, and even kvass baths for general tone.

The harm of kvass

It is so nice to drink a mug or two of refreshing kvass on a hot summer day, but people who are seriously interested in their health often wonder if this drink can often be consumed. Doctors answer unequivocally - for those who do not experience problems with high acidity, pancreas or intestines, and also do not have individual intolerance to cereals and yeast, you can and should drink kvass at any time of the year. Drivers who are breastfeeding should not be experimented with on children with caution. But all this refers to a home product, but what about factory products and kvass in barrels, which is sold on almost every corner in the summer?

Not everyone has the opportunity to make kvass at home, on the run we often buy a draft drink from barrels and kegs, in this case the question arises about it useful properties ah and "liveliness". If the product is concentrated, it will be significantly inferior in its taste. Before purchasing, be sure to check the availability of all documents and ask how and from what the drink is made, whether the container is often washed.

Bottled kvass can be very conditionally called such, but in any case, when purchasing it in stores, please note:

good and high-quality kvass can be slightly cloudy and sediment at the bottom;
as a rule, its shelf life is short - about 3 days;
give preference to a product without artificial additives;
the drink must be made by fermentation, look for information on this on the label.

Is there alcohol in kvass

Speaking about the presence of a certain alcohol content in kvass, you need to understand what is the peculiarity of its preparation. The concept of kvass combines several types of drinks with different strengths and different amounts. ethyl alcohol, it all depends on the specific recipe and the ingredients added, because on an industrial scale, drinks are produced not only with wort content, but even vodka, then a kvass drink is obtained at the exit.

If we are talking about exclusively homemade versions of kvass, then the technology for its preparation is based on lactic acid fermentation, the combination of malt, sugar and water also produces a small amount of ethyl alcohol, in percentage terms it is 0.6-2.6%. If yeast was added to the main components, the strength of the drink increases accordingly, because homemade beer is prepared in about the same way, only with a lot of yeast. For aroma, you can put fruits and berries in the drink, this will also affect the alcohol content, you can measure it using a special device.

If you wish, you can create an original kvass based on vegetable juices (radish or beetroot), it will be completely alcohol-free.

Kvass during pregnancy

It is generally accepted that due to the low alcohol content, kvass should not be drunk by women who are awaiting replenishment in the family. And this is true when it comes to packaged or bottled from the store. Homemade, made with love exclusively from natural ingredients is a completely different matter. In this case, you can and should drink kvass, but with one caveat - not to abuse, one or two glasses a day is enough to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals for mom and baby, for example, vitamin B is simply irreplaceable for the proper development of the baby.

Kvass for children

Kvass, made in factories and plants, contains a large amount of artificial additives, such a product will definitely not benefit the child, but only harm. A healthy person is allowed to drink homemade kvass in any quantity, but a fragile child's body is another matter. Doctors, when asked whether it is possible for a child to be given kvass, answer that a child who has crossed the line of 3 years can be given a taste of the drink in very moderate quantities. Such caution is explained by two factors - the presence of alcohol, albeit in small doses, and the peculiarities of the preparation of kvass, because it is a fermentation product, and after such a drink, children may develop discomfort in the stomach and flatulence.

Contraindications for kvass

Despite the beneficial effect that kvass has on maintaining strength and health, every product has a number of contraindications:

Negative consequences await, first of all, those who suffer from serious diseases of the stomach, for example, an acute or chronic ulcer, and all because of the lactic and fruit acids contained in kvass. Drinking a bread drink will cause heaviness and heartburn, even in people in the convalescent stage.
Specialists do not recommend kvass for patients with oncology.
In diseases of the bladder, fermentation can cause colitis and enteritis.
Caution should be taken with the drink for women during breastfeeding and babies.

Along with its excellent taste, kvass is also characterized by a wide range of useful substances and healing properties. it best remedy from beriberi, because kvass contains a lot of important trace elements and vitamins. Is kvass useful? This is what the article will tell you about.

Useful properties of kvass

The beneficial substances of kvass help to keep the work of the gastrointestinal tract under control, maintain the metabolism in the body, and prevent the reproduction of harmful microbes in it. This drink affects the improvement of the cardiovascular system. Useful substances and healing properties the drink is saturated during fermentation. Microorganisms in kvass normalize digestion and relieve dysbiosis. Vitamins produced by kvass bacteria enhance immunity. This drink is useful for patients with gastritis and low acidity, who have a weakened nervous system, as well as for hypertensive patients and heart patients. Kvass can cheer you up. The acids that make up kvass decompose and remove diseased cells from the body.

Kvass

The drink strengthens the tooth enamel. By the way, girls who are on a diet often ask if kvass is useful, so they don't get better from kvass, but, on the contrary, lose weight. This dietary and preventive drink is always recommended by doctors, because it reduces fatigue, giving strength and increasing human performance.

Useful substances of kvass:

Vitamin E;
Vitamin PP;
Vitamins B1 and B2;
Calcium;
Lactic acid;
Phosphorus;
Magnesium;
Amino acids.

Is bread kvass useful?

Bread kvass is made from rye flour or insisted on breadcrumbs. It is useful for heart diseases, helps to cleanse blood vessels.

Drinking a drink rich in B vitamins on an empty stomach stimulates the production of gastric juice.

Kvass is also useful for those who have problems with the eyes, liver, as well as with blood circulation in the brain. Bread kvass is a well-known drink that strengthens the heart muscle and stimulates potency.

Kvass is contraindicated:

Patients with peptic ulcer disease;
With chronic gastritis;
Patients with colitis, gout and enteritis;
With liver diseases;
People with urolithiasis;
With diseases of the digestive system.

How much kvass can you drink per day

One or two glasses a day is enough for both children and adults.

How to choose kvass

When buying kvass in a bottle, pay attention to the label and the description of the bottle contents. It is important that the drink contains sugar, yeast and malt. Alert should be the inscription "sparkling". The drink should not contain concentrates.

Kvass recipes

Pear kvass

For cooking, you need pears, sugar, raisins, yeast, citric acid.

Wash 150 g pears, chop, sprinkle with 80 g sugar and stir well. Pour 1 liter of warm water, add about half a spoonful of citric acid and yeast (2.5 g), pounded with sugar. Set aside in a warm place.
After 12-14 hours, foam should appear on the surface. Then you should strain the drink and bottle it. In this case, it is better to put 3 raisins in each. Leave in a cool place, tightly closing containers with lids.

Beet kvass

For cooking, you will need water, beets, crackers from rye bread, yeast, sugar.

Grate peeled beets (1 kg.) And put on fire, pouring water over it. It should cover the beets.
Simmer until the beets soften.
Add remaining water (5 liters total) and bring to a boil. After removing from the heat, let the drink brew.
Strain the cooled broth. Add 50 g of crackers, 150 g of sugar and 10 g of yeast. Leave for a few days in a warm place to ferment.

Lemon kvass

When asked whether kvass with lemon is useful, one should definitely answer - yes! For cooking, we need water, lemon, sugar, raisins, yeast.

In a liter of boiled water, add the lemon sliced and its zest, grated.
Brown a glass of sugar in a frying pan with a little water. Pour it over the juice.
Cool the mixture and add 5 g of yeast with 1.5 tbsp. Sahara. Let it brew in a warm place for several hours, wait for a strong fermentation process.
Add 10 g of raisins and store open in a cool place for 2 days.

Kvass one of the oldest drinks. The first prototypes, which were a cross between him and beer, arose back in ancient egypt... Herodotus and Hippocrates wrote about drinks reminiscent of kvass. The very first mention of him in written sources of the Slavs dates back to 996. It was with this drink that Prince Vladimir treated his subjects.

A non-alcoholic or, rather, a low-alcohol drink began to be made much later. Some researchers believe that they began to pay more attention to taste and quality after the appearance of vodka, since there was no need to chase after the fortress.

Initially, the drink was prepared only from rye bread, gradually the recipe was supplemented and changed. The basis for its manufacture began to serve different types malt, fruits, oats, berries, etc.

Kvass in Russia was a familiar daily drink that enjoyed equally great popularity among all classes. His presence in the house was a sign of well-being. In general, kvass was considered almost sacred, it was used in many rituals, and it also played the role of a talisman.

Even tsars drank kvass with pleasure. Peasants, going to work, always took this drink with them, because they were sure that it relieves fatigue and restores strength.

Kvass was included in the ration of the fleet, army and prisoners, and it was also an obligatory product in Russian hospitals and infirmaries, since its positive effect on humans was already known then. Let's consider what the most popular types of kvass are useful for and how exactly they affect the body.

Perhaps the most popular type of kvass is bread. It is endowed with a pleasant refreshing, albeit somewhat specific taste, and perfectly quenches thirst.

But in addition to excellent taste, such a drink also brings considerable benefits. In terms of its effect on the body, real bread kvass is similar to fermented milk products. This is due to the fact that it is also a lactic acid fermentation product and only partly alcoholic.

The benefits of kvass for the body are explained by the presence of many valuable components in it. It is rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, PP, H, C, A. The drink contains large amounts of amino acids, enzymes, lactic acid, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and many other equally useful substances.

Thanks to this composition, our ancestors with the help of kvass successfully coped with vitamin deficiency and scurvy. It was used to maintain the body during even the most stringent fasting (which, by the way, was a lot in Russia).

The benefits of kvass today are beyond doubt even among scientists. This wonderful drink is not only able to provide the body useful substances, and also has a beneficial effect on the work of many organs and systems.

First of all, it should be noted that bread kvass improves digestive system functioning... It inhibits the growth of harmful microorganisms (it has been proven that even typhoid sticks die in the drink), normalizes the microflora, increases the activity of gastric secretions (which is very important for gastritis with low acidity), promotes the healing of ulcers, prevents gas formation, relieves heartburn. The carbon dioxide present in it contributes to better digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients.
Due to the presence of B vitamins and some other components, kvass has a beneficial effect and on the nervous system... With its help, you can get rid of insomnia, depression, neuroses, improve performance and mood.
Natural kvass is useful for people suffering from cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy and other problems associated with vision.
The minerals contained in this drink strengthen tooth enamel, which significantly reduces the likelihood of caries.
Kvass will be useful for diseases respiratory tract and nasopharynx(tonsillitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, etc.), colds and flu. But only in such cases, it is recommended to take it as an additional, and not the main therapy.
The benefits of homemade bread kvass are also great for mid-vascular system... Regular consumption of the drink helps to cleanse blood vessels and improves their elasticity, strengthens the heart muscle, and normalizes blood counts. It should be introduced into your diet for people with diabetes, ischemic disease heart and atherosclerosis.
Despite its low calorie content (about 30 kcal per 100 grams), kvass is considered energetically valuable, nutritious product. It saturates well and gives a considerable boost of energy. In addition, the drink also retains moisture in the body, as well as normalizes the water-salt balance.
Kvass improves metabolism, strengthens the immune system, relieves the body of harmful accumulations and even, according to some reports, has a beneficial effect on potency.

Due to the peculiarities of its preparation, oat kvass retains almost all the properties inherent in oats. Namely:

improves metabolic processes;
has a beneficial effect on the nervous system;
protects the cardiovascular system;
strengthens the immune system;
cleanses the intestines;
lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels;
strengthens bone tissue, etc.

Kvass from oats, the benefits of which were not a secret for our ancestors, has long been used to restore vitality, with a breakdown and exhaustion after an illness. This drink is good for insomnia, decreased appetite and vitamin deficiency. It improves metabolic processes and protective functions of the body.

The protein, vitamins, organic acids and minerals contained in oat kvass help to restore tissues, strengthen nails, tooth enamel, bones and improve the condition of hair. This drink has high bactericidal properties, it will help rid the body of harmful accumulations (toxins, fecal stones, toxins), heal small ulcers and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The benefits of oat kvass are also in its ability to perfectly quench thirst. It is especially recommended to use it for hypertensive patients and heart patients, as well as for problems with the pancreas and for cleansing the liver. In addition, it will be useful for those who want to lose weight.

However, people seeking to normalize weight should not abuse such a drink, since its calorie content is not so small. For the purpose of losing weight, you should consume no more than a glass of kvass per day.

Our ancestors knew that beet kvass is the best medicine for high blood pressure. It acts almost instantly, but if in its courses, it helps to normalize blood pressure for a long period.

But this is not all the benefits of beet kvass. It has a positive effect on the entire body, cleanses of toxins and salts, eliminates constipation, and is suitable for the prevention of the digestive tract, lymph and liver.

Such a drink expands blood vessels and brings the rhythm of their contraction back to normal, eliminates putrefactive processes in the intestines, and normalizes metabolism.

The benefits of homemade kvass made from beets for women are great. It has a hematopoietic function, so its regular use will help restore the blood that the female body loses every month.

Beet kvass will help and it is easier to survive menopause, it will significantly alleviate the condition and may even be able to replace hormonal therapy, which is often used in this condition.

The drink also has a beneficial effect on appearance - it prolongs youth, improves the condition of the skin and hair. In addition, beet kvass is also a good aid for losing weight - it is believed that it activates the processes of burning fat.

Well, if this property is supplemented with the ability of the drink to speed up the metabolism and improve the digestive tract, it can be ranked among the best products for weight loss.

Harm and contraindications to the use of kvass

The benefits and harms of kvass largely depend on how it is prepared. Naturally, there can be no question of the benefits of a store product sold in plastic bottles, since it cannot be called natural in any way.

But, unfortunately, not everyone can use a natural home product. Each type of kvass has contraindications for use.

The harm of bread kvass lies in its inherent acidic environment, which is created by lactic acid fungi. Of course, such a property cannot be considered dangerous, but it can negatively affect people with certain diseases.

First of all, kvass should be abandoned for ulcers and gastritis, especially accompanied by high acidity, kidney stones, liver cirrhosis and cholelithiasis. Do not forget that such a drink contains a small proportion of alcohol, so you should not abuse it, especially for young children and pregnant women.

The harm of oat kvass can also manifest itself with gastritis or ulcers, especially if these diseases are in the acute stage. Despite the fact that this drink cleanses the liver well, in case of serious problems with it, you should refuse to use it.

The harm of homemade kvass made from beets is the high content of oxalic acid. This substance should not be used for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diseases of the bladder and kidneys.

Such a drink is contraindicated in case of hypotension, since it has the property of lowering blood pressure. It is better to refrain from it and those who have inflammatory bowel disease and stomach ulcers. Due to the content of a small percentage of alcohol in the drink, it should not be consumed by patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

In addition to its medicinal properties, kvass is also widely used in cosmetology. Until a few centuries ago, women used various recipes with kvass for skin health. Here are the basic recipes that have survived to this day.

1. To keep the skin always young and velvety, every morning you should wipe your face with kvass.

2. To smooth out small wrinkles, you need to moisten a towel in this drink and apply it on your face. You can also add a little honey to enhance the effect.

3. To strengthen the hair roots and make them more lush, you need to rub some drink into the scalp and hair and leave them under a cellophane cap for 20-30 minutes.

4. Malt grounds are excellently used as a lifting mask. For a good effect, it should be applied to the face for only 15 minutes.

5. In the days of Russia there was a custom in which the bride was bathed in kvass before the wedding. And this was not done for fun, because kvass gave the body a healthy shine and elasticity.

6. There are also many different masks, lotions and baths with this wonderful drink, which will help to preserve the skin's beauty, youth and vigor for a long time.

Kvass as a remedy to fight obesity

If you use kvass to improve the functioning of the digestive system, without using any diets, in addition to health, you can significantly improve your figure. To improve the effect, doctors recommend fighting excess weight with the help of beet kvass.

To prepare such a drink, you need to take a couple of beets, cut them into small pieces, pour in kvass and leave for 72 hours. Then add a small amount of honey there and leave for another 24 hours. That's it - the beet kvass is ready. This drink is considered one of the main ones for many people who make periodic "fasting days".

Also, kvass is able to perfectly satisfy appetite and accelerate the breakdown of fats. Even if the effect is not immediately visible, this does not mean that it does not work.

Most likely, he is engaged in cleaning the body of toxins, in the presence of which any diet will make absolutely no sense. To get rid of those extra pounds, you can also use the cake left over from the beet or cabbage drink. When using a cake diet, a person can lose up to 500-600 g in just a day.

There is a special kvass prepared in celandine. Its main property is to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, that is, it has a powerful fitness effect. Such a drink is being prepared according to the recipes of Academician Bolotov.

You need to take a glass with chopped stalks of celandine and pour 500 g of whey into them. Then add a glass of sugar there and fill it with water to make only 3 liters of the finished drink. Then the drink is infused for 10 days.

Almost everyone can take this type of kvass, however, before starting treatment, it is imperative to consult a doctor, since celandine itself is a plant containing a certain amount of poison. So, for people with blood diseases, such a drink will be contraindicated.

As mentioned above, homemade kvass is much tastier and healthier than purchased one. It is not difficult to prepare it. You will need:

rye bread - 500 g;
boiled water - 3 l;
yeast - 50 g live or 1 dry sachet;
sugar - 0.5 cups;
black raisins - 100 g.

Preparation:

Cut the bread into small pieces, place them on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Dry the bread for 10 minutes over low heat.
Pour croutons into a pre-sterilized jar and pour boiled water, but not to the very top, so that other ingredients fit.
Dissolve yeast in boiled water until smooth and pour into a jar.
Place the jar in a warm place, after closing it with a lid.
After 48 hours, you need to strain the liquid and add sugar with raisins to it. You can add fruits, berries or mint to the drink if you like.
Pour the finished kvass into more convenient containers (bottles). So that they fit in the refrigerator.
After 2-3 days, the kvass will be ready for use.

In addition to the fact that kvass itself is a finished product, it can also be used in the preparation of other dishes:

By adding fruits, berries and honey to kvass, you will only improve taste qualities the drink itself.
The most delicious okroshka, invigorating and refreshing on a hot day, is obtained from kvass. And what is obtained from botvinya kvass - you will lick your fingers!
Kvass is used to bake delicious, soft, yeast-free bread with a crispy aromatic crust, which does not stale for a long time. Read more:
Pancakes, pancakes, cookies, buns - all this pastry can be made with kvass, replacing them with soda, yeast and other leavening agents. The baked goods are airy, with an unusual aftertaste.
To make the boiled pork softer and more juicy, the meat is marinated in kvass. You can use kvass as a marinade not only for cooking baked meat, but also stewed and fried.

Kvass is a traditional drink of the Slavic peoples. They quench their thirst and use them to make cold summer stews. Nevertheless, there is evidence that even 600 years before our era, such a drink was known to the ancient Egyptians, who already then highly appreciated the tonic effect of kvass and its healing qualities for human health.

What is kvass

At its core, kvass is a sour drink made from flour or rye bread and malt using a fermentation process. It belongs to non-alcoholic beverages, although there is a small part of alcohol in it - about 1.2%. Honey, aromatic herbs, foundation are added to it, beets, fruits and berries can be used as a base.

In Russia, the first written evidence of the production of kvass dates back to the reign of Prince Vladimir, but until the 12th century it was somewhat different from the modern drink. It was brewed thicker and more alcoholic than even today's beer. Over time, the hop version began to be produced only by boiling, and its low-alcohol counterpart became the sour fermented kvass that we know today.

Both the folk epic and the works of classical writers tell us about the wide distribution of kvass in our country and its exceptional popularity. He was loved and eagerly drunk at any time of the year by representatives of the most diverse strata of society. He helped fight fatigue of peasants when working in the fields, artisans and workers in cities, quenched their thirst in soldiers' barracks and hospitals, was a guest of honor at feasts of high society and in monastic refectories.

Views

Do not think that kvass is only a dark brown drink, well-known throughout our country, made on the basis of rye bread. In fact, there are a great many types of them, and each of them has its own unique valuable properties. There are three categories of kvass - the well-known bread kvass, also berry and fruit kvass, which is produced on the basis of the juice of well-ripened fruits.

Today in our national cuisine distinguish between traditional bread, apple, malt, sugar, milk, honey, fruit, berry, mint and beet kvass. In addition, daily and okroshechny kvass stand separately.

Composition and calorie content

Fans of diets and healthy lifestyles look with apprehension at kvass, especially at the one that has the unpopular word "bread" in its name. But it does not differ in any high calorie content: 100 ml of the drink contains only 27-30 kcal, which allows it to be classified as a dietary one.

Bread kvass receives all the minerals, proteins, vitamins, saccharides and polysaccharides inherited from the whole grains used in its production. He is extremely wealthy essential amino acids: leucine, methionine, tryptophan, tyrtosan, valine, phenylolaline, lysine and threonine. Mine dark color the drink gets from the reaction products of proteins and amino acids. Kvass contains a lot of vitamins A, E, C, D, H and PP. It also contains phytic acid and carbon dioxide. It also contains a whole chemical table of macronutrients, which includes iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, molybdenum, calcium, fluorine and cobalt.

What is kvass useful for?

General benefit

Thanks to its unique composition, our favorite drink has an active and beneficial effect on human health. It helps the functioning of many body systems, which include primarily the digestive, as well as the genitourinary, endocrine and others. Moreover, using this or that type of this drink, we can direct its action in a specific area. The well-known Russian encyclopedic scientist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev recommended drinking carrot kvass to remove cholesterol from the body, milk kvass to lower blood pressure, and orange kvass to clean blood vessels if necessary.

These magical properties of kvass are given by the inconspicuous unicellular creatures lurking in it, known to us as yeast fungi. They find their way into the drink with a sourdough based on grains or vegetables or fruits, or even from the surface of the leaves of mint or black currant, which are included in some recipes. Fungi not only participate in the synthesis of vitamins, but are also involved in the fight against pathogenic bacteria. The enzymes produced by them contribute to the breakdown of the food eaten and the assimilation of the nutrients contained in it by the body. In fact, the effect of kvass on the body is quite comparable to the effect of consumed lactic acid products such as kumis, kefir or yogurt.

For women

For women, whose diet often includes kvass, it can become a real elixir of beauty. Strong, thick shiny hair, healthy beautiful nails, young skin, which all girlfriends will envy - all this is impossible without organic acids, which are abundant in this wonderful drink. Moreover, the phytohormones obtained with it help to overcome discomfort during menstruation or at the onset of menopause - a sudden change in pressure, "hot flashes", unexpected dizziness. With the help of vitamins and enzymes brought into the body, kvass helps the female body to gently and naturally cleanse and rejuvenate.

For men

And kvass did not bypass men with its mercy. It is worth remembering only the epic heroes from the Russian epic, omnipotent and tireless. How did our national drink help them?

First of all, it contains a large amount of zinc, vitamins B and E, as well as amino acids - and it is these elements that spur the production of male sex hormones, without which there will be no heroic strength. It will also help men prevent prostate disease, the appearance of adenoma and maintain potency for many years.

Kvass not only stimulates an increase in muscle mass, it helps to economically spend energy during hard physical work, increasing overall endurance.

During pregnancy

The magic wand of rejuvenation, vitamin E, which is rich in kvass, acts as a powerful antioxidant, supporting a woman's body during pregnancy. It helps him produce progesterone, an endogenous steroid that has a beneficial effect on human embryonic development.

The drink will supply the expectant mother with the ascorbic acid she needs, which means it will ease toxicosis and help prevent stretch marks and bruises.

Finally, B vitamins will make a valuable contribution to ensuring the full development of the baby. This will also help phosphorus and calcium, without which the baby cannot form full-fledged bones. Kvass helps to normalize blood pressure and bowel function and eliminate the threat of constipation, which will make the waiting period even more joyful.

When breastfeeding

The same antioxidant, vitamin E, when breastfeeding has an enhancing effect on lactation, and also improves the quality of breast milk and even improves its taste.

However, speaking about the benefits of kvass for women during pregnancy and for nursing mothers, it is necessary to clarify that the full positive effect of the drink can be guaranteed if it is live, prepared at home or by a well-known manufacturer. Otherwise, it will contain a lot of chemical additives - preservatives, colorants, flavor enhancers, etc.

For kids

All the beneficial properties of kvass, known since ancient times, would seem to suggest that all its qualities for adults would be useful for children, but it must be taken into account that it contains a certain amount of alcohol. That is why doctors do not recommend giving the drink to children under five to seven years old. At the same time, as is the case with any product new to a child, you need to start with a small portion, up to a third of a glass at a time. Children over 7 years old can use one glass (200 ml).

A child whose diet includes kvass can receive all the benefits of the lactic acid bacteria and yeast it contains, and this is favorable conditions for the development of metabolic processes, which is important for the actively developing organism of the baby. Then all the useful components of the drink will come into play, strengthening the bone tissue and enamel of the child's teeth, normalizing the functions of his intestines. They will make up for a possible deficiency of vitamins, delay the development of pathogenic microbes, increase immunity, and make metabolism stable.

When losing weight

People who are overweight can benefit from the properties of kvass to help remove excess fluid, which helps to reduce overall weight. The drink strengthens collagen fibers, and the elastic properties of the skin and, accordingly, the condition of the skin depend on them, which relieves the acuteness of the problem of stretch marks. Finally, it leads to a slight increase in blood insulin and a decrease in blood sugar levels, which helps to create a feeling of fullness.

Beet kvass stands out on the list modern species of this drink. He fully absorbed the healing qualities of his main ingredient - beet, which in ancient times was considered as, first of all, a medicinal plant. Indeed, the results of many years of research by scientists show that the use of beet kvass has the following beneficial effects on the organs and systems of the human body:

prevention and treatment of constipation;
a real reduction in blood cholesterol;
getting rid of respiratory infections;
helping to strengthen the liver;
help in the fight against atherosclerosis;
pronounced anti-cancer effect;
help in the fight against obesity;
beneficial effect on kidney function;
cleansing the body of toxic substances;
relief of a woman's condition during menstruation;
acceleration of metabolic processes;
reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease;
strengthening the skin, connective tissue, bones and blood vessels;
acceleration of cell growth and regeneration of cell nuclei;
beneficial effect on the production of the required amount of gastric acid;
reducing the risk of allergic reactions.

For the female body, beet kvass is especially useful, because the high iron content helps it to replenish monthly blood loss. It also helps to relieve the negative effects of menopause to some extent by stimulating blood circulation and metabolism. But men should not forget that beet kvass successfully affects the hormonal background, contributes to the normal functioning of the reproductive system.

The benefits of bread kvass

The exceptional benefits of kvass in our country have been well known since ancient times. It not only invigorates and refreshes in hot weather, but also perfectly relieves fatigue and helps fight all kinds of diseases.

It should be especially noted the remarkable ability of kvass to normalize bowel function. Scientists discovered about 130 years ago that the acids contained in the drink actively help digest plant foods rich in indigestible fiber. The natural acidic environment of kvass, which is created by double fermentation with the use of lactic acid bacteria of leavened culture and special pure yeast, helps to regulate the intestinal bacterial flora, which has a beneficial effect on digestion. Thus, drinking kvass helps to better assimilate the food eaten and affects a healthy bowel movement no worse than popular lactic acid products.

Kvass is a valuable source of vitamins. It is especially important that with its yeast microorganisms, it contributes to the production of B vitamins, since our body is not able to create a supply and is forced to extract them from the products entering it. Kvass gives us vitamin B1, which is necessary for the development of cells and the maintenance of the heart in a normal state, B2, which is responsible for the condition of the skin, hair and nails, B3, which is able to expand blood vessels and serves as a shield for our nervous system.

This drink also contains a certain amount of vitamin C, which supports the immune system, and E, which slows down aging. It also contains essential trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. They ensure the construction of bones and muscle mass, streamline the work of the circulatory and nervous systems, provide energy for a wide range of biochemical and physiological processes in the body, and ensure reliable heart function.

Kvass is distinguished by its ability to satisfy hunger. In the old days, this property was very helpful to the poor, who often simply did not have any other food. Hence the popular proverb: "Cabbage soup with meat, but no - so bread with kvass." On the other hand, as we have already seen, there are very few calories in this drink, so it can be successfully used as part of a diet.

Why is oat kvass useful?

The benefits of oat kvass are legendary among the people. Indeed, it retains biologically active components and substances contained in oats. Traditional healers and homeopaths actively use this drink to obtain positive effect with a number of diseases. It is indispensable for vitamin deficiency, gives positive results in the fight against diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and also perfectly supports strength during overwork, insomnia, exhaustion and neurasthenia.

Folic acid in oat kvass, obtained by a woman during pregnancy, will help the development of a healthy nervous system in a child. Oat-based kvass also has a mild diuretic and laxative effect.

Another important point is the beneficial cosmetological effect of the oat drink, which adds splendor to the hair, maintains skin turgor and strengthens the nails.

Finally, kvass helps to relieve overweight without tormenting yourself with exhausting diets, since its regular use accelerates the breakdown of fats in fat depots.

How to make it at home? You need to take about 400 g of oats and rinse it thoroughly more than once. Pour the washed grains into a 3 liter jar and cover with granulated sugar (5 tablespoons). Pour all this into 1 liter of boiled and chilled water. After that, close the neck of the jar with a gauze stopper and put the jar in a warm place for three days, after which you can drink kvass.

The healing properties of the legendary drink have been known since ancient times. Today's medicine recognizes a number of its beneficial qualities, allowing to have a positive impact on the course of treatment of certain diseases. In this case, the results of lactic and alcoholic fermentation of wort and the properties of the produced microorganisms are used.

Doctors use the ability of kvass to replenish the reserves of vitamins and minerals in the body, strengthen immunity, restore the digestive system, strengthen bone tissue and tooth enamel, and have a beneficial effect on vision. The drink is able to help patients suffering from gastritis with low acidity, stress and neuroses, problems with the cardiovascular system, nasopharynx and bronchopulmonary system. The characteristics of the drink are highly valued, allowing it to help reduce excess weight, cleanse the skin, fight against purulent inflammation, and have a detoxifying effect on the body.

With diabetes mellitus

It is possible and useful to use kvass for type 2 diabetes. Immediately it is necessary to make a reservation that this implies additional control, that is, you need to take into account the sugar of the drink in the total daily consumption of carbohydrates. You can replace kvass, which contains sugar as an ingredient, with a drink made from honey. For example, a blueberry or beetroot type of drink has a direct effect on lowering blood glucose levels to normal levels.

Important: the glycemic index of kvass is from 15 to 45 units.

With pancreatitis

In the case of pancreatitis, the use of kvass is a big question. Yes, you can drink it, but only in the stage of stable remission, in a very limited amount and with constant consultation with your doctor. In other conditions, doctors categorically prohibit the use of this drink for a number of serious reasons. The organic acids contained in it, which are otherwise useful, lead to an increase in acidity, which ultimately, with pancreatitis, causes the pancreas to self-destruct. Another problem is alcohol, which is contraindicated for patients with this disease even in microscopic doses. And also for patients with this disease, the choleretic effect of the drink is contraindicated and carbon dioxide is harmful, which causes bloating in them.

With gastritis

For people suffering from gastritis, the use of kvass requires extreme caution. If we are talking about gastritis with high acidity, this drink will most likely have to be abandoned, since it will increase the irritating effect of an aggressive environment that is already in the stomach.

With gastritis with low acidity, kvass does not have to be excluded from the diet. True, it is better to give preference to beet-based kvass. This drink can be drunk twice a day for half a glass. Do I need to remind you that it is imperative to monitor the body's reaction to the product received and adjust the portion in case of a negative effect. Well, in the period of exacerbation, of course, you do not need to use it.

For the intestines

Kvass has a beneficial effect on the condition of the intestines, in particular: it increases the production of gastric juice and prevents gas formation, relieves heartburn and treats peptic ulcer disease, improves microflora and even removes some harmful bacteria from the body.

For constipation

According to numerous testimonies, kvass has the most beneficial effect on bowel movement and can be used as such for constipation. Naturally, no one cancels consultations with the attending physician.

With gout

With gout, the patient is forced to follow a special drinking regimen to remove excess uric acid from the body. In this case, liquids should be drunk 2-3 liters per day. At the same time, kvass can be very useful, as it strengthens the immune system and has an anti-inflammatory effect. However, in too large quantities, the drink can be harmful: sugar and fermentation products cause fluid retention, swelling and exacerbation of painful sensations in the joints.

For the liver

The use of kvass has a positive effect on the condition and functioning of the liver, as it has the ability to strengthen the immune system, cleanse the cardiovascular system and replenish the reserves of vitamins. Naturally, when it comes to cirrhosis of the liver, there must be serious quantitative restrictions.

With cholecystitis

With all the useful properties of kvass, it has the ability to stimulate the release of gastric juice, therefore, with cholecystitis, it is on the list of foods that are restricted to use.

Application in cosmetology

We have already noted the beneficial effect that vitamins and minerals contained in it have on the health of skin, hair and nails when drinking kvass. But the drink also has a separate role in cosmetology when used externally.

A freshly prepared drink helps against freckles and age spots on the face, sagging dermis and a decrease in skin elasticity, as well as in the case of a large number of fine wrinkles. Kvass, rubbed into the skin, restores its health, freshness, and makes it velvety.

A nourishing mask suitable for any skin type: stir 1 tsp in ¼ glass of kvass. honey and apple juice. Dampen gauze and apply on face. Hold for 15 minutes and rinse with warm boiled water.
Means for strengthening nails and giving them shine: 1 tbsp. kvass and ½ tbsp. honey and lemon juice. Rub the mixture into your nails for 15 minutes. Continue every day for 2-4 weeks.
Kvass is also quite effectively used to combat hair loss, dandruff and disorders of the hair structure (most often when dyeing). Rubbing the drink into the scalp, you can strengthen the hair follicles, relieve skin irritation and itching, and remove dandruff.
To prepare a hair mask, you need to mix 50 ml of kvass with 2 tbsp. mayonnaise and add a few drops of lemon juice. Apply on face for 20 minutes, wrap warmly, then rinse with warm water.

Harm and contraindications

It is well known that there is no medal without a reverse side. So it is with kvass, for all the great benefits that the legendary drink brings to us, we must be aware that there may be negative aspects in its use.

The production of the drink is based on the fermentation process, so it tends to turn sour. And in sour form, it can cause acute stomach upset or even cause poisoning. Also, the alcohol contained in it, depending on the individual characteristics of a particular consumer, can cause a state of weak intoxication, which is dangerous when driving.

Kvass is also not useful for certain diseases. For example, its use is limited to patients with gastritis, increased gastric acidity, high uric acid, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis of the liver, urolithiasis, and low blood pressure.

When buying kvass in a store, it is advisable to be guided by the following rules.

It should produce foam, which indicates the correct carbon dioxide content.
The presence of sediment signals a violation of the technological rules of production.
As with other purchased food products, you need to check the expiration dates and composition, which can only contain water, rye flour, malt, sugar and yeast.
It is better to give preference to a dark container that protects the drink from the destructive effects of sunlight.

The general rules for storing the drink are as follows: in a tightly closed container in a dark and cool (from plus 2 to plus 12 degrees) place. If we are talking about draft kvass, under the same conditions it can be stored from 3 to 5 days. Once the bottle is open, it can only be kept in the refrigerator and no longer than 3 days.

How to drink kvass correctly

How to enjoy this national drink, everyone chooses independently and according to their taste, but at the same time there are several rules that it would be nice to know.

How much can you drink per day

Doctors do not put forward any strict restrictions on the daily norm of kvass, while they still urge to be guided by common sense and not drink more than 800 ml at a time. Considering all its properties, one can recommend 1-2 glasses a day. Most universal recipe in this case, listen to your body, and it will tell you when it is time to stop.

Is it possible to drink at night and on an empty stomach

With all the beneficial qualities of kvass, drinking it at night would not be the best idea, since it can cause the fermentation process in the gastrointestinal tract, fraught with unpleasant consequences in the form of flatulence. What's more, it is likely to increase stomach acid levels, which is very undesirable, especially when the body is in a horizontal position, as this is fraught with heartburn.

The same reasoning is fully applicable to drinking kvass on an empty stomach. However, if this happens at the beginning of the day, there are still more advantages from using it, given its tonic qualities.

Is it possible to drink while driving

The driver's official alcohol limit is 0.16 ppm in exhaled air and 0.35 ppm on a blood test. Considering that up to 1.2% alcohol content is allowed in kvass, it would seem that drinking it in an amount that will exceed the permissible norms is almost impossible. Nevertheless, according to experts, even this alcohol content in the drink makes its use impossible for a person driving a vehicle. In addition, no one can guarantee how your body will react to such an amount of alcohol.

Is it possible to get drunk from kvass

A negative answer immediately suggests itself to this question. After all, the drink contains an insignificant amount of alcohol - according to GOST, no more than 1.2% ethyl alcohol. Taking into account the rate of natural elimination of alcohol from the body, in order to get at least a slight intoxication (level of 0.4 ppm), it is necessary to drink from 3.5 to 5 liters of kvass within an hour, which very few people can do. Nevertheless, the individual characteristics of the organism of a particular person can lead to unexpected results.

Is it possible for Muslims to drink kvass

According to the Islamic Information Portal, kvass is a legal drink for Muslims, since it contains such a percentage of alcohol that cannot cause intoxication. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised in this matter, since during long-term storage, kvass can begin to ferment and, as a result, become capable of intoxicating. In this case, its use will be prohibited. Plus, we must not forget that we are all different, and everyone's reaction to the alcohol content in kvass is impossible to predict.

How to make homemade kvass: recipes

From bread

The recipe for making bread kvass has practically not changed over the past several hundred years. The efforts spent on making the drink at home will more than pay off with its beneficial properties, which cannot always be obtained from industrially produced kvass.

Kvass from rye bread (yeast version)
Ingredients:

Rye bread - 500 g.
Drinking water - 5 liters.
Granulated sugar - 250 g.
Dry yeast - 5 g.

Cut black bread into small cubes. We heat the oven to 180 degrees and put the sliced bread in it on a baking sheet. We dry the bread until a thin golden brown crust forms on it. It is important not to dry the bread to black color.
Boil and cool the prepared water. Pour into a large glass jar... We pour the obtained crackers into water. We seal the jar with a gauze stopper and put it in a dark place for about one day.
Now we filter the resulting wort. First, we squeeze the crackers, then filter the liquid through cheesecloth in several layers into a new clean jar.
To start the fermentation process, pour 200 g of sugar into the jar and pour in the diluted yeast.
We close the jar with a lid so that there is a gap into which carbon dioxide formed during the fermentation process could escape. Put the jar again in a dark room at room temperature for 15-16 hours.
We filter the finished drink one last time and add the remaining 50 g of granulated sugar. Mix thoroughly. Pour kvass into bottles, close tightly and put in the refrigerator.

Beetroot

Ingredients:

Medium beets - 4 pcs.
Small carrots - 2 pcs.
Drinking water - 3 liters.

Wash beets, peel, cut into small pieces (1x1 cm), place in a 3 liter jar.
Cut the carrots into strips and add to the beets.
We fill the drinking jar cold water, cork with a gauze plug and leave in a dark place for several days. When fermentation takes place, gas bubbles will rise from the bottom of the can to the top, the drink will take on a saturated burgundy color... This means that the kvass is ready to drink.
You can mix currant, cranberry, rowan or sea buckthorn juices in different proportions to the finished kvass. It is allowed to add a small amount of kefir, chopped herbs, spices to taste - this will have a positive effect on the taste of kvass and enhance its useful properties.

From oats

This ancient Slavic type of kvass served as a reliable source of vitamins and essential minerals all year round, especially during fasting times, and even replaced some medicines.

Ingredients:

Oats - 200 g.
Drinking water - 800 ml.
Granulated sugar - 30 g.

We wash the oats thoroughly with cold water several times. We sort out and reject spoiled grains. Transfer to a 3-liter glass jar.
Pour sugar into a jar, fill it with cold water, cover with gauze and set in a warm room with access to sunlight for 4 days. The first batch is ready. This process can be repeated with fresh water and new sugar up to 10 times.

From rice

This kvass came to us from China. It is especially good if you want to stabilize the stomach. Plus, the drink helps to fight the problems of the spine and joints.

Ingredients:

White rice - 120 g.
Drinking water - 2 liters.
Raisins - 50 g.
Cane sugar - ½ cup.
Dry yeast - 8 g.

Boil water and cool to 25 degrees. Dissolve sugar in it and pour into a glass jar.
Rice, without rinsing, pour into a jar of water, add raisins.
Pour dry yeast on the surface of the water in a jar, do not stir, tie it with gauze and put it in a warm room for a day.
Strain the finished kvass, bottle it and store it in the refrigerator.

Chicory

This type of kvass is very suitable for busy city dwellers, since it does not require special labor costs and is prepared in record time.

Ingredients:

Chicory powder - 80 g.
Drinking water - 5 liters.
Granulated sugar - 300 g.
Citric acid - 20 g.
Dry yeast - 4 g.

At the beginning of cooking, slightly warm a glass of water so that it is slightly warmer than room temperature, and dilute the yeast.
Dilute chicory, granulated sugar and citric acid in a saucepan, add diluted yeast and mix thoroughly.
We seal the pan with a gauze plug and incubate for 4–5 hours at a temperature of 21–25 degrees.

Kvass from rye bread with chicory
Ingredients:

Chicory powder - 20 g.
Drinking water - 7 liters.
Dry sourdough - 200 g.
Granulated sugar - 275 g.
Raisins - 40 g.
Rye crackers - a handful.

Making sourdough. Pour in a three-liter jar 100 g of dry sourdough, 120 g of granulated sugar, dry yeast and raisins. Pour 2 liters of warm water there and mix well. We seal the jar with a gauze stopper and place it in a warm room for 2 days. We drain the liquid from the sediment in the jar - we get the leaven.
We mix it with 2 tablespoons. dry kvass, 2 tbsp. granulated sugar and pour 2 liters of water. We leave it for another 2 days.
We drain the liquid from the sediment, we get the ready-made sourdough, which we mix in a 3-liter jar with 5 tablespoons. sugar, 2 tbsp. dry kvass, ½ tsp. yeast and chicory.
Top up the jar with warm water and put it in a warm place for 3 days. We filter the resulting kvass into bottles and store in the refrigerator.

From birch sap

This type of kvass usually does not cause any particular difficulties in production. The main requirement is timely and competently collected birch sap. So little effort will be rewarded with an excellent taste of a wonderful refreshing drink.

Ingredients:

Birch sap, freshly harvested - 3 liters.
Rye bread - 300 g.
Granulated sugar - 100 g.
Black currant leaves - 10 pcs.
Raisins - 30 g.

Cut the rye bread into small cubes and dry in the oven.
Strain the birch sap through cheesecloth into a saucepan and heat it on the stove, not allowing it to boil.
We mix the juice with the obtained rye bread crumbs and sugar. Add washed currant leaves and raisins.
We tie the jar with gauze and put it in a warm place for up to 5 days. Ready kvass is bottled and stored in a dark cool room.

Birch kvass with orange
Ingredients:

Birch sap - 2.5 liters.
Orange - 1 pc.
Granulated sugar - 100 g.
Fresh yeast - 5 g.
Mint leaves - 10 pcs.
Raisins - 20 g.

We filter the birch sap (preferably freshly harvested) into a large container.
Cut the orange into thin slices and put in the juice. Pour some juice into a mug, dilute yeast and sugar in it, add back to the juice.
We put mint in a container, cover with gauze and put in a warm place for 2 days.
Then we filter, pour into bottles, add a few raisins to each, cork and put in the refrigerator for storage.

Lingonberry

Lingonberry is extremely appreciated by specialists not only for its taste, but also for its healing properties. Kvass from this berry is not known to all home craftsmen. For those who master the technology of preparing this drink, it will present its wonderful taste and refreshing properties.

Ingredients:

Drinking water (cold) - 4 l.
Lingonberry - 5 glasses.
Yeast - 8 g.
Granulated sugar - 400 g.
Raisins - 20 g.

We sort out the lingonberries, wash them and crush them a little so that they begin to release juice. Put in a large saucepan, fill with cold water and cook after boiling for up to 15 minutes over low heat.
We cool the broth, filter the berries and combine with yeast and sugar, after which we stand for about 6 hours.
Then we pour the kvass into bottles, having previously thrown a little raisins into each bottle, and put it in a cool room for 2 days. The drink is ready to drink.

From apples

For apple kvass, fully ripe apples of juicy varieties are suitable. Its production does not require special costs, time or qualifications of the cook. You just need to more accurately withstand the time required for its fermentation and maturation, and you can get a delicious carbonated refreshing drink.

Ingredients:

Apples - 0.7 kg.
Drinking water - 2 liters.
Granulated sugar - 80 g.
Dry yeast - ½ tsp.

Pour water into a large pot, preferably enameled, and bring to a boil.
Rinse the apples and cut them into eight pieces. We discard the spoiled places of the fruit, cutting them off and throwing them away. Remove the seed pods and cuttings from the cut slices.
Put the apples in a saucepan, bring them to a boil again and keep on medium heat for another 7 minutes. Try the resulting compote for sugar, if the taste is sour, add sweets.
Cool the pan to room temperature and filter to remove all apple pieces. In a small amount of the resulting drink, dilute the yeast and pour it into a saucepan. After mixing all the ingredients well, cover the pan with gauze and place in a warm place for 12 hours to ferment.
We pour the drink into bottles or other hermetically sealed containers and place in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to ripen. Ready kvass can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Is it possible to give kvass to animals

Usually, veterinarians do not recommend giving animals anything exotic and not included in their usual diet. After all, there is always a danger of developing an allergic reaction to any ingredient that is part of a drink or food. So, that percentage of alcohol that is imperceptible to a person can be toxic for a pet. In particular, dog breeders are of the opinion that if a pet asks for kvass, it lacks some vitamin in its body, which it can get from the drink. Most often this is group B. In this case, it would be better to buy a special bait for the dog with these vitamins or to make a diet in such a way as to eliminate this deficiency with the help of products.

According to the Russian chronicles of 996, Prince Vladimir, during the conversion of Russia to Christianity, ordered to treat the newly converted kvass along with food and honey. This is the first written evidence of how kvass spread and gained popularity on Russian soil.
From time immemorial, kvass was not only loved by the people, but also enjoyed the favor of royalty, in particular the Romanov dynasty. So, Aleksey Mikhailovich, who reigned in the middle of the 17th century, ordered kvass to be put on the tables during his wedding feast. And later, Peter the Great had this drink in great esteem - for him kvass was made according to a special recipe of the king, with the addition of horseradish. Prince Grigory Potemkin was also fond of traditional drinking: he personally supervised the preparation of kvass for his table and invariably included kvass cabbage soup in the menu for his travels and military campaigns.
The masters involved in the production of kvass were called "kvassnik" in the old days. They sold their products, as a rule, in special places called "kvass rows" or "kvass yards". In particular, such rows, built in Kostroma at the very beginning of the 19th century, have been perfectly preserved to this day, adorning the city with their exquisite elegant architecture, being one of the tourist attractions. Kvasnikov could be seen from a distance by their professional headdresses, which resembled a wide top hat, and large glass vessels in which they carried their products. Each had its own narrow specialization, for example, there were "apple" or "strawberry" ferments and so on. They held the priority in the sale of refreshing drinks until the 19th century, when the growing tea trade gradually began to squeeze them out.
Among the professionals involved in the production of drinks, it is well known that at the international competition in 1975, held in Yugoslavia, the drink brought from the USSR under the brand name "Moskovsky kvass" was highly appreciated by the jury for its taste: it was awarded 18 points. At the same time, kvass left behind the famous Coca-Cola, which received only 9.8 points.

« Important: all information on the site is provided for informational purposes only. Before applying any recommendations, consult with a specialized specialist. Neither the editorial board nor the authors are responsible for any possible harm caused by materials. "

Olya Smirnova wrote that her mother makes it all year round and they drink it all the time, and not only in the hot season. I thought, times change, taste preferences too, but kvass remains one of the favorite drinks for a long time. What is the secret of such popularity, let's figure it out.

Let's start with the history, when this drink appeared, why people loved it and how it was made.

Historical facts about bread kvass

Despite the fact that even the ancient Egyptians had a drink similar to kvass, it is still considered Russian, in Egypt it was prepared differently and it was more of an alcoholic drink. In Greece, similar drinks were also made, but based on fruits.

It was bread kvass that appeared in Russia and, as they say, quite by accident. Somehow water got into the barrel where the grain was lying, it began to sour and even sprouted. The owner of this grain decided to revive it in order to avoid losses. He began to dry it, grind it, but, of course, it didn’t work with high-quality flour, but it turned out to be malt. He poured boiling water over it, left it to ferment, thought at least it would be useful for cattle for feed, but as a result of fermentation, a pleasant drink was obtained. This was the first bread kvass.

Later it was improved by thinking of making wort - the basis for real kvass. That is why kvass is considered Russian, since wort is our exclusive Russian technology.

As historians say, they made kvass before, but for the first time it was mentioned in the annals of 989, at the time of an important event for Russia - the adoption of Christianity. At the behest of Prince Vladimir, in honor of this event, food, honey and kvass were distributed to the people.

Previously, the preparation of kvass was a rather lengthy process, almost a ritual action, and guests were invited to try a new kvass. Each mistress had her own special recipe and she did not disclose it, but passed it on by inheritance. In the villages the most delicious kvass was named after its mistress - "Dar'in kvass", "Maryin kvass". To give a special taste and aroma, honey, raisins and various herbs were added.

In Russia, kvass was very popular, there were a huge number of types of kvass and it was made not only from bread, but also from fruits, berries, herbs and roots. There was even such a profession - kvassnik and people of this profession were treated with honor and respect.

For what, Peter I, a lover of everything Western, was not averse to drinking another mug of kvass, he even invented his own recipe - kvass with horseradish and improved his health with it after the feasts.

Alexander Suvorov revered bread kvass because it protected from scurvy, helped to recover faster from wounds. The Russian army always carried barrels with kvass and drank it not only by ordinary soldiers, but also by high officials.

Appreciated Russian kvass and the notorious Italian Casanova, and he wrote this about kvass:

"The Russians have a delicious drink ... it is far superior to the Constantinople sherbet ... and it is also quite cheap, since a large barrel is sold for a ruble."

He was happy to restore his strength, wasted in amorous affairs, with our kvass.

Indeed, in Russia, kvass was considered not just a tasty drink, but a healing one. On the wedding day, the groom was sure to drink kvass for the birth of healthy offspring. In hospitals, there were always containers with kvass and it was mandatory to give it to patients. So what is kvass useful for?

Bread kvass - benefits and harms

Speaking about the benefits of this drink for our body, we will talk about homemade kvass, since I strongly doubt that store kvass can be classified as medicinal drinks.

Although this drink is many years old, and folk healers and scientists are still in the stage of contemplation, which makes it curative. Some say that due to the fermentation effect, as a result of which it is enriched with useful substances and microorganisms. Others, that due to the beneficial properties of the cereals from which it is made. Probably, a combination of both gives a useful and even healing effect to this drink and its composition speaks about the same.

Bread kvass contains vitamins A, groups B, E, C, PP, such useful minerals as fluorine, phosphorus, cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum and iron, it also contains organic acids, amino acids, yeast, enzymes.

Thanks to this vitamin and mineral composition, kvass really has a beneficial effect on our body.

Useful properties of bread kvass

Natural bread kvass in terms of its effect on our body can be equated to kefir or yogurt, it has a positive effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract, suppressing the growth of harmful microflora, thereby helping to get rid of dysbiosis.
It normalizes metabolism, helps the body to get rid of toxins, thanks to kvass, better food splitting occurs.
It is useful for the cardiovascular system, in case of impaired cerebral circulation, it cleans blood vessels well.
It has a positive effect on the endocrine system of our body.
It soothes the nerves, therefore it is useful for fatigue, insomnia, neuroses and depression.
It has a good effect on the condition of hair, skin, nails. The famous surgeon N.I. Pirogov recommended bread kvass as a means of accelerating the fusion of bones in fractures.
Increases the body's resistance to colds and infectious diseases. The bactericidal properties of kvass were proved by the scientist V.S. Sotnikov, his research showed that typhoid and paratyphoid microorganisms die in kvass.
The enzymes that make up kvass make it useful even for eye diseases - glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy, retinal detachment, myopia.
Useful for people with kidney and liver diseases. N.V. Sklifosovsky argued that kvass is an excellent prophylactic agent for liver cirrhosis and peptic ulcer disease.
And finally, for the sake of which most people use it - it perfectly quenches thirst, prevents dehydration, helps with overheating, relieving heat in the body.

Yes, our ancestors knew a lot about drinks and homemade bread kvass is really healthy. And most importantly, making it is not at all difficult, the composition of the ingredients is simple and accessible to everyone.

Contraindications to the use of kvass

Of course, kvass can cause us harm, if you do not know what are the contraindications to its use. And in the case of chronic diseases, it will not be superfluous to ask the doctor whether you can drink this drink or not.

It is not recommended to drink, especially sour varieties of kvass for people with acute inflammatory diseases of the digestive system and gastritis with high acidity.
Bread kvass can cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to gluten.
Care should be taken to drink kvass for nursing mothers, as it can cause bloating and colic in the child.
Specialists in baby food it is not recommended to give kvass to children under 3 years old.

As you can see, there are not so many contraindications to the use of homemade kvass. There is one more nuance - homemade kvass can be made without yeast and using yeast. Which one is more useful?

Kvass with or without yeast - which is better

I reviewed a lot of information, but I found the answer only in the book by Tatyana Litvinova "Kvass - a healer for 100 diseases."

So this book says that yeast in kvass is a useful and necessary ingredient, since it is they that saturate kvass with B, PP vitamins, organic acids, help to retain moisture in the body, and therefore kvass quenches thirst so well.

In kvass without yeast, yeast is also present, which is obtained in a natural way, it is just that there is perhaps less of it. Therefore, bread kvass is useful both with yeast and prepared without yeast.

But there is an important point and this refers to contraindications - yeast contains purines, which inhibit the excretion of uric acid from the body, and this can lead to inflammatory processes in the joints.

You can not drink kvass with yeast for people with chronic renal failure and with such a disease as gout.

If you do not have such diseases, then you can safely drink yeast kvass, if you like it better.

I hope the information about the benefits and dangers of bread kvass was useful for you. Personally, I learned a lot about this delicious drink. So make homemade kvass (I talked about the recipes last time) and please yourself and your loved ones with a delicious and healthy drink.

If you do not like home-made kvass or do not want to make it, then watch the video on how to choose the right store-bought kvass.

Elena Kasatova. See you by the fireplace.