Lifeway CEO Julie Smolyansky took time out of her crazy schedule to be on the very first Interview Show at The Hideout, in Chicago, five years ago. Loved having her on again back in March and talking probiotics, women in business and how to pronounce "kefir."

With so many "functional" beverages out there, one wonder if they provide actual health benefits or are just trendy. With fermented beverages like kombucha, the good news is that many live up to the hype.

Unless you hail from Russia or really pay attention when perusing the yogurt aisle at the grocery store, chances are, you've never heard of this 2,000-year-old nutritional rock star: kefir.

I bought some kefir grains at the co-op in Minneapolis. A grass-fed, goat kefir from Northern California. It was cold and I took some sips. Wow