5 Health Benefits of Kombucha
Kombucha is one of the most popular health drinks on the market today, and its popularity is growing amongst those looking to take better care of their body and be more mindful of what they eat and drink. It has a number of purported health benefits though none have been outright proven. But what exactly is it and what are some of these potential health benefits?
What is Kombucha Exactly?
At its core, kombucha is a tea made with either green tea or black tea thought to have originated in China where it is a traditional beverage. It is a fermented and lightly carbonated tea popular for both the unique taste and reported health benefits. You’ll often find kombucha available with added flavors or even spices and fruits to give it a different taste profile. It’s fermented using a culture of bacteria of yeast called SCOBY, which somewhat resembles a vinegar mother or even a sourdough starter. Kombucha is a favorite of the health-conscious consumer and has even become commercially available in supermarkets.
It’s a Probiotic
Probably one of the most reported health benefits of Kombucha is that it can help promote happy, healthy gut bacteria and for this reason it’s often marketed as a probiotic. This is thanks to the large number of bacteria and yeasts that it contains. Although there is no direct scientific evidence of the probiotic nature of kombucha, it does contain several lactic-acid bacteria that have been shown to have a positive probiotic effect.
It Can Have a Positive Effect on Stress
Some commercially available kombucha drinks contain adaptogenic tea which has been shown to help with mental stress in both the short and long term. By including botanical adaptogens like lemongrass, lavender, and sage, kombucha can have a positive effect on recovering from high stress.
It’s a Source of Antioxidants
Because kombucha is made from tea, it contains much the same nutrients that you can expect from a cup of tea. If you drink green tea kombucha, these nutrients include polyphenols, which are a powerful antioxidant that can have a positive health effect on your liver. Some studies also link the health benefits of green tea to things like blood sugar control, cholesterol and even belly fat.
It Can Help Reduce Heart Disease
A more niche study done on rats has shown that kombucha can have a positive effect on both bad LDL cholesterol and good HDL cholesterol. Once again, green tea kombucha is likely to realize this benefit more. This change to cholesterol levels translates to potentially aiding in the protection against heart disease.
Kombucha continues to grow in popularity as we become more conscious of the effects of what we eat on our body and mind. While the health benefits of kombucha are largely derived from the tea that is used to brew it, these benefits have been studied extensively. A properly and safely brewed kombucha is not only tasty and refreshing, but it can have numerous positive effects on your health.
