Protein content
8.8 g of protein in 1 cup (244 g) of kefir, or 6.9 g for every 100 kcal it supplies.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Protein per 100 kcal | 6.9 g |
|---|---|
| Protein per 100 g | 3.59 g |
| Protein per serving | 8.8 g in 1 cup (244 g) |
| Calories from protein | 28% |
| Protein to fat | 3.7 g per 1 g fat |
| Rank in dairy foods, per 100 kcal | 28th of 81 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 590th of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 18% per serving |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
One 1 cup, 8.8 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of kefir brings 6.9 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 28th of the 81 dairy foods in this database and 351st of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 3.59 g per 100 g ranks 66th in its group.
Around 28% of the calories in kefir come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Weight for weight, kefir has 3.7 g of protein for each gram of fat (3.59 g against 0.96 g per 100 g).
Set against gruyere cheese, another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (gruyere cheese has 8.3 g per 1 oz).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving quoted here is measured by volume at 244 g, and it covers about 18% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 3.59 g | 52 kcal |
| 1 cup (serving used here) | 244 g | 8.8 g | 127 kcal |
| 1 fl oz | 30.5 g | 1.1 g | 16 kcal |
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Related
Highest-protein dairy foods per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Head to head
Quick answers
3.59 g. The 1 cup serving used on this page weighs 244 g and so carries 8.8 g.
6.9 g. That figure divides its 3.59 g of protein per 100 g by its 52 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Yes. The protein in kefir supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
About 18%. One 1 cup serving has 8.8 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #2705394 (Kefir), FNDDS survey data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.