Kombucha – More Than Your Average Health Drink
Take a trip to any supermarket these days and it won’t take you long to find bottle after bottle of Kombucha. This fizzy fermented tea has taken the healthy beverage industry by storm and is not only available everywhere but in many forms and flavors.
If you haven’t tried it yet then read on because you may find that you are missing out on a simple way to improve your health. If you are already a fan, then still read on as it’s not just a great probiotic!
1. Boots Your Immune System
You may be surprised to learn that Kombucha is actually a natural antibiotic. The process of fermentation produces a bi-product called acetic acid. This creates a kind of sterile environment which inhibits the growth of unhealthy bacteria.The probiotics also found in Kombucha help fight the bad bacteria. Antibiotics prescribed by your Doctor actually kill off all the bacteria in our systems; good and bad, however Kombucha leaves the good and kills the bad. No bad bacteria means no infections which equals a healthy, happy immune system.
2. Aids Digestion
As mentioned in the point above Kombucha is full of healthy bacteria. One of the primary benefits is that these probiotics, yeasts, and enzymes help with digestion by breaking down food for better nutrient absorption. They also promote growth of healthy gut flora, which help us digest our food better and maintain a healthy PH level.
3. Loaded With B and C Vitamins
Kombucha is absolutely loaded with Vitamins B and C, both of which are essential for optimum health. Vitamin B helps ease stress levels, curb sugar cravings, lowers your risk of heart disease, and help memory functions. Vitamin C increases the health of our immune system, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and playing an important part in eye health.
4. Aids Digestion
The fermentation process in Kombucha helps pre-digest some of the enzymes, which means your pancreas doesn’t need to work as hard or secrete as much digestive fluid. It also helps achieve a healthy PH balance in the gut and promotes the growth of healthy bacteria. For these reasons, the beverage has been known to help those suffering with stomach issues such as Irritable Bowl Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, and Candida overgrowth.
5. Strengthens the Stomach Walls
Another by-product of the fermentation process in Kombucha is a substance called Butyric Acid. Butyric Acid is known to have antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic properties as well as being known to strengthen the walls of your gut, kill parasites and protect against yeast infections.
6. Improves Joint Health
Ever thought that your daily Kombucha drink could also help you with joint health? Kombucha actually contains naturally occurring glucosamine which means this drink can help keep your joints healthy and mobile which ultimately could prevent arthritis.
7. Full of Antioxidants
It’s no secret, antioxidants are good for you! The best sources of antioxidants are fruits and vegetables but Kombucha is also full of antioxidant compounds which means that it has detoxifying properties, which can help cleanse the liver and prevent cancer.
8. You Can DIY
It is really easy to make your own fizzy Kombucha. All you need is a large clean jar, green or black tea, sugar, water, a wooden spoon, a coffee filter or piece of cloth, a rubber band and a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). This is what’s responsible for the fermentation and production of healthy probiotic bacteria. You can purchase a SCOBY and get directions online. Be aware though, that home brewed Kombucha contains more alcohol than shop purchased brands, so pregnant women should beware.