What are the health benefits of drinking Amasi?

What is amasi?

Amasi is a South African fermented milk. A University of Johannesburg study describes it as a traditional product made from raw milk fermented naturally or with a starter culture.

What did the research find?

The study compared raw milk, naturally fermented amasi and amasi made with a starter culture. Fermentation raised most amino acids, and glutamic acid was the highest at 6.30 g per 100 g in naturally fermented amasi at 32 C. Potassium was the most abundant mineral. Free fatty acids went down, and phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity went up.

These antioxidant results come from laboratory assays (ABTS and DPPH). They show chemistry in a test tube, not an effect on your body.

Is amasi a probiotic that helps digestion or the gut?

NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says probiotics can be found in yogurt and other fermented foods. It also says that for most conditions, we still do not know which probiotics help. It reports some benefit for ulcerative colitis but none for Crohn’s disease. It does not name amasi, and we found no official source that tests amasi for these effects.

Does amasi help with weight loss, ulcers, cholesterol, skin or blood sugar?

We found no official source that says amasi helps with weight loss, stomach ulcers, cholesterol, diabetes, skin or bone health, so we make no such claim. If you have one of these conditions, ask a doctor or dietitian first.

Are there side effects?

NCCIH advises talking to a health care provider before taking a probiotic, especially if you have a serious health problem. Amasi made at home from unpasteurized milk was not assessed for safety in the sources we read.