Possible Hazards Vary By Drinker And Fermenter
Drinking too much kombucha could potentially lead to reactions like headache, nausea, GI distress or going into ketoacidosis , Smith continues.
Lead toxicity is also possible if homemade kombuchas are fermented in clay vessels or other containers that leach lead into the finished beverage, she says.
Those who should skip the kombucha altogether? We do know pregnant women and young children should find another drink of choice. So should those with certain chronic diseases , compromised immune systems and alcohol dependency, she adds.
Another caveat? Know that an allergic reaction is possible, as people can be allergic to just about anything, Smith cautions.
And then theres the whole question of proper sanitation. Tainted batches can become contaminated with undesirable fungi and an overproduction of yeast, she says. As when consuming any ferments, its wise to stick to a reputable source.
If the color or smell is off , Smith cautions not to imbibe.
Most of the commercially packaged kombucha at the store is perfectly fine, she reassures. But if youre at some random flea market and theres a kombucha table, it might not necessarily be the best place to get it.
What about if youre a DIY-er? If you brew your own using a SCOBY, youll also be OK as long as you have experience making fermented foods and you have a very clean, sterile environment, Smith concludes.
May Boost Cardiovascular Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , heart disease increases the risk of stroke or heart attack, but healthy lifestyle changes can improve your cardiovascular health.
This includes following a healthy diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. You should also incorporate exercise, medication, and yes, even kombucha.
The potential benefit is in kombuchas possible ability to positively influence cholesterol levels, according to the Journal of Chemistry research. High cholesterol is one factor for heart disease, notes the CDC.
Researchers need to conduct more human studies to confirm the effectiveness of kombucha on cholesterol.
But according to a study published in April 2015 in Pharmaceutical Biology, rats administered kombucha showed lower levels of LDL cholesterol) and higher levels of HDL cholesterol). More research is needed, but future studies could similarly reveal that kombucha improves cholesterol levels in humans. Only time will tell.
Help Maintain Healthy Weight
Kombucha can be an alternative drink if you enjoy soda or juices yet are looking for a beverage with fewer calories and less sugar and to lose or maintain your weight.
Sugar is high in empty calories, and when consumed in excess, theres the risk of taking in more calories than you burn, resulting in weight gain.
Remember, kombucha isnt sugar-free . Even so, a typical drink may have only 6 to 8 grams per serving, says Rebecca Stib, RDN, whos based in Boston and is the cofounder of Nutritious Gifts.
Youll have to double the amount for brands that have two servings in a bottle, but its still lower than your typical serving of a can of soda or juice drink, which can be upward of 25 g per serving, warns Stib.
For comparisons sake, a bottle of organic, raw kombucha can have 30 calories and 8 g of sugar in 8 ounces, per the website for GTS, a kombucha brand. On the other hand, 8 ounces of soda can have 60 calories and 16 g of sugar, according to the Coca-Cola website.
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Does Kombucha Do Anything
If only the tea leaves could say. Just one study looked at the health benefits in humans, according to a review of the available literature published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. Notably, 24 adults with non-insulin dependent diabetes consumed kombucha for three months, and their mean blood sugar levels reportedly stabilized to within normal ranges.But the study was not controlled or randomized, and the authors of the review noted that many of kombuchas claims like benefits involving rheumatism, gout, hemorrhoids and nervousness were based on anecdotal and unverified findings.
Cellular or animal research indicates the tea may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Like dark chocolate and olive oil, the tea itself is high in polyphenols, or antioxidants. The antioxidants that come from the tea on their own have a lot of health benefits, said Rahaf Al Bochi, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
But kombucha is unlike fermented milk products, such as yogurt, which have long been considered to have benefits for digestive and overall health. The bacteria in kombucha have not been confirmed to be probiotic. We dont know if it does anything, said Franck Carbonero,a microbiome scientist at Washington State University-Spokane, in regards to health benefits. Some kombucha brands add probiotics to their tea.
May Be A Source Of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that protect the body from the oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are a normal by-product of processes in the body, but the key is to minimise their impact by consuming food and drink rich in antioxidants. Tea, especially green tea, is rich in a group of antioxidants called polyphenols, especially catechins. However, there are a number of variables which may influence the antioxidant properties of kombucha, including the tea it was made from and the fermentation time.
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Does Kombucha Have Alcohol
Yes, all kombucha drinks contain some ethanol. This varies from beverages with a small amount to those made with a kick: Sales of hard kombucha have spiked 247 percent in the last year, according to Nielsen.
Most kombucha is marketed as nonalcoholic that means it falls under the federal 0.5 percent alcohol by volume threshold. Anything more becomes regulated as an alcoholic beverage, like beer or wine. Because of fermentation or the way products are stored, the alcohol content can increase even after they hit the shelves.
There have been many consumer complaints, said Bill Moses, co-founder of KeVita, a kombucha company PepsiCo Inc. acquired in 2016. Consumers have unwittingly purchased what was represented as a nonalcoholic kombucha that is low in sugar, but found when they consumed it they felt tipsy. Mr. Moses now heads Flying Embers, a producer of hard kombucha.
Kombucha Is A Potential Source Of Probiotics
Kombucha is thought to originate in China or Japan.
Its made by adding specific strains of bacteria, yeast and sugar to black or green tea, then allowing it to ferment for a week or more .
During this process, bacteria and yeast form a mushroom-like film on the surface of the liquid. This is why kombucha is also known as mushroom tea.
This blob is a living symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast, or a SCOBY, and can be used to ferment new kombucha.
The fermentation process produces acetic acid and several other acidic compounds, trace levels of alcohol and gases that make it carbonated .
A large amount of bacteria also grow in the mixture. Although there is still no evidence for the probiotic benefits of kombucha, it contains several species of lactic-acid bacteria which may have probiotic function. .
Probiotics provide your gut with healthy bacteria. These bacteria can improve many aspects of health, including digestion, inflammation and even weight loss.
For this reason, adding beverages like kombucha to your diet might improve your health in many ways.
Summary Kombucha is a type of tea that has been fermented. This makes it a good source of probiotics, which have many health benefits.
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How Much Kombucha Can You Drink In A Day
Not much research has been done on the subject, but consuming about 4 ounces daily may not cause any adverse effects in healthy people, according to the Centers for Disease Control. .
“However, the potential health risks are unknown for those with preexisting health problems or those who drink excessive quantities of the tea,” the CDC stated.
Pregnant woman and kids should steer clear of the beverage altogether, Gans says. Thanks to the fermentation process, kombucha can contain trace amounts of alcohol, usually ranging from 0.5% to 3% alcohol by volume.
Kombucha Is Very Healthy When Made The Right Way
Kombucha isnt something that you can just grab off the shelf and start drinking right away. It needs to be prepared in the right way.
Having kombucha that is contaminated or even over-fermented can cause a lot of health issues. Itll basically have the reverse effect that you want from it.
You can buy kombucha that has already been fermented and ready to drink, you just need to be careful when you want to make it yourself.
When kombucha is made the right way, youre going to be able to get all the benefits from it. You wont be shorting yourself at all.
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The Health Benefits Of Drinking Kombucha
Kombucha tea is packed with fizzy, fermented flavor, and according to Healthline, it also contains health benefits most famously its probiotic content. According to the Denver Post, kombucha is made by brewing black or green tea and adding it to sugar and SCOBY . Kombucha runs through three steps before the final product is complete, says Live Eat Learn.
During the first stage, which takes one to four weeks, the SCOBY is made, which allows for the fermentation process, states Live Eat Learn. SCOBY provides the yeast and bacteria that ferments the tea. The next step involves the first fermentation process, which makes the kombucha. Live Eat Learn tells us that this step lasts six to ten days. Finally, the third and final step involves the second fermentation, which lasts for three to ten days. You can experiment with fun flavors during the final process by adding honey, fruits, ginger, or chia seeds to the kombucha. Carbonation occurs during these last few weeks, transforming your tea into something quite magical.
Kombuchas Polyphenols Pack A Cancer
Much more research is needed in this area, but in one lab study, kombucha helped prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. In another, kombucha was able to slow angiogenesis the formation of blood vessels that feed tumor growth and decrease the survival of cancer cells.
Experts think these cancer-fighting properties are partially due to kombuchas polyphenols.
Tea polyphenols have been shown to protect against the development of cancers by interfering with enzymes needed for cancer cell growth. Research also suggests that regular tea drinkers are less likely to develop various types of cancer.
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Benefits Of Drinking Kombucha
There are plenty of drinks that contain properties that boost your health. Fruit juice, milk, and tea are good examples of such, especially tea.
Tea is well-renowned for being good for your health. It can give various effects, depending on the type of tea you consume. Some of the benefits it can provide are improved cardiovascular health and healthier bones. There is a wide variety of tea flavors and all of them have their own set of health benefits.
Perhaps one of the more popular variants of tea is Kombucha. You may have heard of this drink through social media or from a friend. Those who have tried it claim that it has one or more medicinal properties.
Kombucha is quite an interesting beverage, to say the least. The amount of praise it gets is met with an equal amount of backlash. This begs the question: does it really live up to all the myths and claims that surround it?
May Help Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer
Due to its powerful antioxidant content, kombucha may help prevent certain types of cancer.
One 2013 study examined the anti-angiogenic effect of kombucha and found that kombucha significantly decreased the survival of prostate cancer cells.
It is important to note that the research analyzing the effects of Kombucha on cancer cells is in a laboratory setting.
More research is warranted to further explore the connection between kombucha and a reduced risk of developing cancer using human subjects.
Summary
While more research is needed, kombuchas antioxidant activity may help prevent certain types of cancers, like prostate cancer.
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May Help Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Disease
Along with following a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats, drinking kombucha may also support your heart health.
LDL and HDL are both markers for heart disease.
One 2015 study found that rats given kombucha had lower levels of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of HDL cholesterol.
While preliminary research sounds promising, more extensive human studies are needed to further analyze the link between drinking kombucha and heart health.
Summary
While more research is needed, drinking kombucha may support your heart health by lowering your LDL and raising your HDL .
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What Is In Kombucha
Kombucha is usually made using 5 core ingredients. Here is what youll need to make 1 litre of the drink.
What else youll need
- A large, glass jar
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Simple Ways To Make Kombucha Tea At Home
In this section of the article, I will share some healthy and tasty recipes for brewing your own, customized kombucha tea.
Note: The choice of sugar, tea leaves, and the starter scoby matter a lot in making this tea.
Each time you make it, kombucha might taste different in different places, and if you choose different sources of these ingredients. Be open to tasting all the varieties you find for various benefits.
Kombucha Can Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is something that affects millions of people around the world. Its something that is getting worse in the United States as well.
People need to be more conscious of their diets. Type 2 diabetes is something that is characterized by high blood sugar levels and insulin resistence.
When you drink kombucha tea, your body is going to start helping with the digestion of carbs. This is going to help lower your blood sugar levels, thus aiding in the management of type 2 diabetes.
Kombucha benefits so much in the body and if you have type 2 diabetes, you should really consider adding it to your diet on a regular basis.
Having kombucha tea can be the thing that extends your life well beyond what it could be.
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If You Drink Kombucha Tea Every Day You’ll Consume A Significant Amount Of Antioxidants
Because of the beverage’s fermentation process, kombucha tea contains more antioxidants than other teas, according to Insider. Antioxidants, like probiotics, are widely considered to be important to the health of the human body. Lauri Wright, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, told Self that antioxidants help prevent cell damage by removing free radicals before they hurt the body. Free radicals have been linked to ailments such as heart disease and cancer. Since antioxidants neutralize free radicals, it’s been suggested that consistently consuming antioxidants can help prevent these kinds of diseases .
A 2003 study in the journal Biomedical and Environmental Sciences found that rats that regularly drank kombucha saw reduced liver toxicity caused by free radicals. So something similar could be the case in humans, as well, which, if proven, would certainly make for a good reason to drink kombucha tea every day.
Kombucha May Boost Cardiovascular Health
Heart disease is the worlds leading cause of death, so anything that can help prevent someone from developing it is essential. Kombucha, when given to rats in a study, has been shown to increase good cholesterol levels and decrease bad cholesterol levels, which can greatly reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Additionally, tea, in general, has been shown to protect good cholesterol particles from oxidation which is thought to contribute to heart disease.
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Provides Probiotics To Improve Gut Health
The probiotics found in kombucha may play a role in promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut.
One 2014 study identified the genus Lactobacillus in kombucha. Lactobacillus is a common type of probiotic that can have multiple positive effects in the body, depending on the species and strain.
These friendly bacteria can help you digest food, absorb nutrients, and fight off harmful bacteria that may cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, all while supporting your immune system.
Summary
Kombucha contains probiotics that may help promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut. Having a balance of healthy gut bacteria can help with digestion, absorption of nutrients, warding off diarrhea, and supporting your immune system.
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Kombucha May Promote Liver Health
Lastly, kombucha has been shown to naturally aid in body detoxification, which will boost liver health. The liver has the huge job of detoxifying the body and ridding it of any impurities, so anything that will reduce the amount of work it has to do will ensure that it functions properly for longer.
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Kombucha Provides Same Benefits As Green Tea
This makes sense because you are able to make kombucha with green tea, not just black tea.
It is widely known that green tea is one of the healthiest drinks you can have. The benefits of it shouldnt be overlooked.
However, when youre drinking kombucha that is made from green tea, youre not only going to get the benefits of green tea, but also whatever else kombucha has to offer.
That sounds like a match made in heaven for your health.
All you need to do is add this to your regular diet and you can see your health improve greatly.