A Samoan family has given their personal testimony on the health benefits of kefir and believe it can keep noncommunicable diseases at bay if consumed regularly.

Sharing their experiences with the Samoa Observer, Tupaemanaia Dr. Steve Brown and his wife Funealii Lumaava Sooaemailelagi with their five children believe that kefir made from fermented cow milk is good protection against N.C.D.s or noncommunicable disease.

According to Tupaemanaia, digestion is improved with good gut flora leading to an improved immune system.

"I think if COVID-19 gets into the community we can combat it by bettering our immune system and kefir can heal your gut flora where the immunity is made strong," he said. "Not only that but the central nervous system is better balanced with good gut flora.”

Tupaemanaia then alluded to similar food in the Samoan diet which were proven to be good for the gut flora which is where the immunity of a person's body stems from.

"So when the coconut was made stale and used with breadfruit in the old days, that is kefir too," he said.

Tupaemanaia also made reference to the skin bible book which he and his children have used to create products that heal skin ailments fast. 

An addition to this is a good diet, as Tupaemanaia believes that fixing the skin symptoms is not the same as fixing the cause. 

According to Tupaemanaia, the gut flora needs to be cleaned with food people eat,” he told this newspaper. “I feel sad for the children eating noodles and all these cheap Chinese made foods so we get dysbiosis.

"According to the skin bible, the best foods are with high fibre and the other good one is indigestible fibre like raw bananas.”

Tupaemanaia then made reference to diets in the past, compared to today in Samoa, and how changing lifestyle is a contributing factor. 

“In the past people used to eat raw coconuts and fruits but nowadays people are eating canned foods, noodles and so forth, people need to go back to natural foods," he said.

"The most that we can eat is wholemeal, plant based, vegetarian, unprocessed and not in a package. 

“Artificial flavours and colouring is not good for us, cheap imported processed foods laden with salts and fat toxins are terrible to our gut flora.”

Tupaemanaia then used an example to illustrate how important a holistic approach to healing one's gut flora is. 

"If a car has all four flat tyres, and we only fix one tyre then it will take months to get somewhere," he said. "Similarly, for a healthy body, we need to fix the whole body by repairing the gut flora, which is the cause of the health issues we have.”

With that he looked at how often people just fix symptoms and made reference to its impracticality. 

"So to fix the skin with skin creams only, would not be enough, we need to look at how to eat better and do meditations to relax and do regular exercises.”

Asked what meditation means to him, Tupaemanaia said he only does what needs to make him relax, like swimming and training for a triathlon. 

Revealing that he is 69 years of age and still thriving, he believes fans of kefir can live healthy lifestyles due to their focus on the product.

"More and more people in Samoa are not only growing kefir but are talking about some huge health improvements," he said. "Kefir can help with diabetes and all sorts of N.C.Ds as people are testifying to it.”

To further enhance awareness on kefir, Tupaemanaia's  children have offered 10 free kefir starters from Lupeskincare if people write 10 best reasons why they want to start using kefir. The email for entries is: [email protected]

Tupaemanaia hopes to write a book about the positive effects of kefir on Samoans and possibly create an animated movie. 

A registered nutritionist at the M.O.H. and one of three in the country, Tina Toti Ulberg told Samoa Observer on Thursday that overall a balanced diet is always good for one's health. 

She alluded to the bacteria in the stomach that builds immunity and stated that fermented milk can be a yogurt but many Samoans do not eat yogurt. The raw green banana according to the nutritionist is also good for diabetes.