Reasons to Drink Kombucha
As one might imagine, when you go to Acupuncture College, the social aspect isn't quite as typical when compared to other student bodies pursuing their Master's Degree. The health buzz hadn't really taken hold yet in the early 2000s and so when my classmates and teachers casually dropped topics like Meditation, Qi Gong, Bone Broth, Ginger, Acro-Yoga, NLP, Goji Berries, and Kombucha, it was all new to me. I attempted to learn and adapt. Initially, it was all way out of my comfort zone. The first time I drank Kombucha, I thought it tasted like bad beer. However, I wanted to be like the cool kids, so I persevered. Now I love it! It improved my digestion and I noticed I felt energized after drinking it. What was this magical elixer?
Kombucha is a fermented tea thought to have originated in Japan or China. It contains all the benefits of tea as well as potentially beneficial bacteria that results from the fermentation process. Some of these benefits include:
Improving gut health due to probiotic content.
Antioxidant effects in your liver, especially when made with green tea. Rat studies consistently find that drinking kombucha regularly reduces liver toxicity caused by toxic chemicals, in some cases by at least 70%. This may explain why drinking Kombucha feels especially great after a night of indulging in a cocktail or two.
The acetic acid and tea polyphenols in Kombucha can kill potentially harmful bacteria, especially candida yeast and infection causing bacteria.
Kombucha may help your body process sugar. A study in diabetic rats found that kombucha slowed down the digestion of carbs, which reduced blood sugar levels. It also improved liver and kidney function Kombucha made from green tea is likely to be even more beneficial, as green tea itself has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels.
Improve cholesterol. Kombucha has been shown in some scientific models to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides while increasing good cholesterol.
Many flavors of Kombucha are made with herbs and superfoods for extra benefits.
Today, you can find kombucha in almost any grocery store. I have even seen it available at gas stations. Some of my favorite brands include GT's Raw Organic Kombucha & Kombucha 221BC. I also love keeping the glass bottles and reusing them as my to-go cups. Just make sure you get a bottle brush for cleaning.
Advice I give myself: Drink Kombucha and experience all of the amazing benefits.
Polished off a bottle of Moringa Lavender Kombucha by 221BC after a walk on the beach :)
*Kombucha is not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those who have a compromised immune system. It is important to note there haven’t been many human clinical studies to prove its safety and efficacy. There have been some reports that drinking too much kombucha can lead to unpleasant side effects such as stomach ache, nausea and dizziness. Always see your GP if you are concerned about introducing kombucha into your diet, or if you have any adverse side effects after consuming it.