Kombucha, or “booch” to its fans, has been rapidly growing in popularity among health food lovers, however, it’s actually been around for thousands of years.
Originating in China, it then made its way to Russia, India and Japan where it became a staple among Samurai warriors.
Kombucha tea is a fermented drink made from green, black or white tea. It is made by adding a colony of bacteria to sugar and tea, allowing the mix to ferment for around a week.
The starter is called a “SCOBY”, which stands for “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast.” This starter, often referred to as the “mother” resembles a light brown, gelatinous disk, which is actually a living and growing organism.
With each batch of kombucha tea made, the organism can regenerate and create a new culture called the “baby”, which can be shared with a friend like with the sharing of a sourdough starter.
Often called “mushroom tea” due to the appearance of the SCOBY, kombucha has been linked to a long list of health benefits.
Considered to be a probiotic drink with helpful bacteria that supports digestion and the immune system, kombucha tea also contains enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, and polyphenols.
Health Benefits of Kombucha
Detoxification
The probiotics and enzymes in kombucha help promote detoxification. By drinking kombucha, you are adding more good bacteria to your gut, which has the important job of helping your body detox.
One of the most helpful acids in kombucha is glucuronic acid (GA), a well known detoxing agent that is beneficial to the liver, one of the body’s main detoxification organs.
The glucuronic acid combines with toxins in the body such as pharmaceuticals and environmental pollutants and converts them into compounds that the body can excrete.
Kombucha may also help prevent tissues from absorbing toxins found in the environment.
Rich in Enzymes
Kombucha is rich in enzymes and B vitamins, which provides support for the body’s metabolic functions like heart health and overall energy.
Most people don’t consume enough enzymes because we don’t eat enough raw foods.
Digestive enzymes are important in helping to break down the foods that we eat into smaller compounds so that the nutrients can be more easily absorbed into the body.
The B vitamins in kombucha can also be beneficial towards women, in particular. B vitamins break down and flush out extra estrogen in the body, thus helping to reduce PMS symptoms.
Joint Care
Kombucha contains glucuronic acid, which can be converted by the body into glucosamine, a powerful compound that helps protect collagen and prevents painful arthritis.
The glucosamine found in kombucha stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid, which helps lubricate the joints, maintains tissue structure and flexibility as well as preserves elasticity.
Dancers in Russia and North America who consume kombucha have reported fewer ligament and arthritis problems, both of which are common among athletes.
Aids Digestions and Gut Health
Due to it being naturally fermented with a living colony of bacteria and yeast, kombucha is filled with helpful probiotics that help support digestion.
Kombucha tea has shown positive results in helping stomach and bowel issues by balancing pH levels and restoring intestinal flora. In fact, kombucha has been proven to be as effective as prescription medications in relieving symptoms of heartburn, GERD, and ulcers.
Boosts Immunity
Did you know your immune system is in your gut? Over the years, the good bacteria in the gut can be killed off as a result of medications and antibiotics.
Kombucha replaces that good bacteria with its probiotics and enzymes, helping to boost the immune system.
Due to its high antioxidant level and a large amount of vitamin C, kombucha also helps boost the immune system through its ability to fight free radicals in the body.
Antioxidants
Kombucha contains an abundance of antioxidants including vitamins E, C, beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Kombucha has actually been found to have an antioxidant activity 100 times higher than vitamin C and 25 times higher than vitamin E.
Like black tea, kombucha contains polyphenols. However, because kombucha is fermented, it is much more powerful than plain tea.
In fact, a powerful antioxidant known as D-saccharic acid-1, 4-lactone (DSL) is released during the kombucha fermentation process that cannot be found in black tea alone.
The DSL and vitamin C in kombucha help protect against cell damage, inflammatory diseases, and even tumors.
Increases Energy
Kombucha is the original, all-natural energy drink. Because kombucha helps to detoxify the body, it reduces the stress upon it, thus giving you more energy.
Kombucha also removes iron from the black tea it is made with. This helps to increase the level of blood hemoglobin, which in turn improves oxygen flow to tissues within the body.
The small amount of caffeine in the tea used to create kombucha helps to give you a natural jolt of energy without adding extra chemicals, like in commercial energy drinks.
Cancer Prevention
The glucaric acid found in kombucha has been found to be beneficial for cancer prevention, as well as recovery.
In particular, kombucha can help combat pancreatic and breast cancer.
The lactic acid in kombucha has been found to fight against cancer by shifting the pH level of the body, making it more difficult for the cancer to develop and grow.
The detoxification properties of kombucha also aid in the prevention and treatment of different cancers.
Is Kombucha For You?
Kombucha is not a magic potion, but it is a healthy, flavorful drink that is relatively low in calories and sugar.
If you are craving the carbonation of a soda, kombucha is by far the better option! Although kombucha can be made at home, it is vital that the tea is properly brewed to prevent contamination.
These contaminations can lead to an upset stomach and even allergic reactions, so to be safe, look for a reputable, commercial brand when purchasing kombucha.
Not all kombucha is created equal! Different brewing factors such as tea selection, brewing time, sugar and fermentation time can alter specific nutrients and probiotics in each batch. This needs to be kept in mind when choosing a product off the shelf.
Too Much Kombucha
Despite the amazing benefits of Kombucha tea, it is vital for anyone who is drinking this tea to use caution because side effects are possible. These side effects aren’t usually severe. Most side effects of drinking too much Kombucha tea involve the gastrointestinal system. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common side effects of drinking too much Kambucha tea. Stomach pain, allergic reactions, jaundice, and yeast infections are also possible.
It is vital to ensure the Kombucha tea is made in a germ-free environment because contamination can lead to other issues. Contaminated Kombucha tea was the cause of 20 cases of anthrax in Iran. Lead poisoning is also possible if the tea is fermented in lead-lined containers. People with weakened immune systems should be wary of drinking Kombucha tea because of the risk of ingesting contaminates, such as Aspergillus.
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