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Why you should be drinking Kombucha......

July 01, 2020

Why you should be drinking Kombucha......

WHAT IS KOMBUCHA?

Pronouced kawm-boo-chah, Kombucha is “a live culture of multiple species of yeast and bacteria grown to make a  fermented beverage.” (Or really just a concoction of bacteria, tea, and sugar.) A “kombucha mushroom” or SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) is crucial for differentiating kombucha from standard teas, along with providing its touted health benefits and distinct taste. Flavour can actually vary based on the duration of fermentation, as shorter fermentation offers a sweeter, more mild taste compared to longer fermented kombucha that provides a stronger, bolder vinegar taste.

Additionally, kombucha can also be enhanced with various juices, fruits, chia seeds, extracts, and spices and herbs. Nonetheless, a general 250ml serving of kombucha ranges from 5 to 20 calories and offers 20 to 25 percent daily needs of folic acid and several B vitamins. Kombucha also supplies probiotics, antioxidants, and trace amounts of alcohol due to the fermentation process it undergoes.

 HEALTH BENEFITS OF KOMBUCHA

Amidst the hope from kombucha-newbies and certainty from kombucha-lovers, there actually is evidence supporting the consumption of the probiotic drink.

1. Improves Gut Health

One of the most recognised favoured and explored benefits of kombucha relates to gut health, particularly related to its probiotic content. Probiotics are a type of “good” live bacteria with evidence supporting its use in treating diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics may also prevent foodborne illnesses by inhibiting Salmonella and Helicobacter pylori, along with ensuring food safety and prolonging shelf-life.

2. Supports Metabolism

While a significant metabolic boost is considerably unlikely, kombucha’s vitamin B and caffeine contents are attributable to energy production and boosts. B vitamins play an important role in turning the foods we eat into usable energy within the body, while caffeine content may also offer a natural energy boost.

3. Assists in Weight Loss

First off, kombucha should not be approached as a magic weight loss elixir. However, nutrient-dense kombucha is certainly a preferred drink of choice compared to sugary soft drinks. Nonetheless, its B vitamins help facilitate energy metabolism and the probiotics can result to improved gut health, with some research suggesting when probiotics (the “good” bacteria) are present, there may be a beneficial shift in the gut microbiome and contributes to weight loss and maintenance.

4. Boosts the Immune System

Thanks to its probiotics once again, kombucha may fight against harmful bacteria and strengthen the immune system. With probiotics acting as “good” bacteria, they may help kill of the “bad” bacteria responsible for infections.

5. Improves Mental Health

While the roles of probiotics are often specific to the gastrointestinal tract, they may also play a role in mental health. After a systematic review of 10 studies, researchers found probiotics may are helpful in alleviating depressive symptoms, including mood, anxiety, and cognition.

6. Reduces Chronic Disease Risk

Kombucha is rich in antioxidants and be helpful in reducing the risk of chronic diseases. In fact, kombucha has shown to lower both triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which may lower the risk heart disease. Antioxidants have also shown to protect against cell damage, which may be significant in deterring against numerous forms of cancer.