Protein content
A 1 cup serving of kefir contains 8.8 g of protein - a good source of protein, about 18% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup (244 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 8.8 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 3.59 g |
| Calories per serving | 127 kcal |
| Protein density | 28% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 18% |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
| Category | Dairy |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #2705394 |
A typical 1 cup serving of kefir contains 8.8 grams of protein (3.59 g per 100 g), which makes it a good source of protein. That covers roughly 18% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
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.
Among the 81 dairy foods in the database, kefir ranks 20th by protein per serving, and 329th out of all 796 foods on the site. 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 above is measured by volume at 244 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #2705394 - "Kefir" (Survey (FNDDS), published 10/31/2024). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Kefir has 3.59 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup serving (244 g) provides 8.8 g.
Yes. Kefir 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.
A 1 cup serving of kefir contains 8.8 g of protein, about 18% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Kefir is a good source of protein, and about 28% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. 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).
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