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Is Kombucha Good For You?
Health | October 26, 2015
Kombucha has become all the rage in 2015 even though it’s been around for over 2000 years according to Dr. Keith Steinkraus, a microbiologist from Cornell University. Popular in parts of Asia and Eastern Europe for centuries, it is currently the drink of choice for hipsters and health-conscious folks alike. Alongside a slightly sour and fizzy taste, lovers of kombucha also insist the tea has a variety of health benefits ranging from the reasonable – “it’s probiotic!” – to the slightly unhinged – “it can cure cancer!”
So What Is It?
Kombucha is a type of fermented tea. It is made by combining black and green teas with yeast, active bacteria cultures and sugar. Sometimes fruit juice is added as well. The combined ingredients are then fermented for a period of roughly ten days. A mass forms resembling a mushroom during the fermentation process known as a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). FYI, this is why kombucha is often mistakenly associated with mushrooms or called mushroom tea.
What Are The Benefits?
I don’t believe kombucha is the magical potion that many claim it is. There is little to no evidence to support some of the wilder claims fans of the tea insist upon such as curing arthritis or cancer. However, it does seem to be a suitable probiotic supplement and this may have a lot of value for our gut health. Increasingly, studies are now demonstrating just how vital proper gut health is for our overall wellbeing. Also, research now suggests that our cravings for certain foods, both good and bad, are rooted in what kind of gut bacteria is nurtured in our digestive systems.
If you’re a fan of Kombucha and can make it at home it seems to have some benefits. I don’t know if it’s really worth it to shell out money for the drink as it seems be more hype than anything else unless you simply enjoy it. There are also more effective, inexpensive ways to promote healthy gut bacteria like eating apples!
Do you drink Kombucha tea? What are your reasons? Do you buy it or make it at home?
Private Member |
perth, wa, australia
Great article 🙂
Private Member |
curitiba, parana, brazil
I have never heard about it…nice to meet you Kombucha! 🙂
Private Member |
ellijay, ga, united states
I’ve heard of Kombucha, but never tried it. As far as probiotic foods go, though, I’ve recently tried out making my own apple cider vinegar from some fruit from wild apple trees down the road from us…I was so excited when I saw the SCOBY form! (lol I guess it doesn’t take much to excite me! 😉 )
Private Member |
michigan, usa
I’ve never heard of it. Interesting!
Private Member |
Kombucha is fine but I’ve never felt an improvement w/ it and it is very expensive if you are drinking it on the daily. I opt for making my own sauerkraut which is very cost friendly and that way I get in a daily fermented food I’m willing to keep up with.
Private Member |
ellijay, ga, united states
Cost friendly AND better tasting! 😀 YUM!
Private Member |
ohio, usa
I was introduced to kombucha a couple years ago when I started following some real food bloggers and I love it. At first I would buy it at the stores, which can become an expensive habit. Then, I learned it was something you could make at home relatively easily, so I did that(way cheaper to make yourself). Then I just got tired of keeping up with feeding my scoby,(which is making a new batch every week), so I stopped making it for a while, and the scoby died.:( I think about going back to making it, but have to get another starter scoby. Anyway, I still drink it every week for the probiotics, I just am buying it, instead of making it myself. I love the way it tastes, but I think it has to grow on you a bit if you don’t like things that are sour. My husband thinks it tastes like vinegar haha! 🙂
Private Member |
If it is vinegary then you probably let it go too long before making a new batch. My husband didn’t like it for a long time but when I started the second ferment with a small about of juice or just a few berries that made it a world better for him.
Private Member |
I had the worst reaction a week ago to this stuff. Had to go to urgent care..vomiting bathroom tightens of chest horrible lasted over an hour! guess I got a bad batch..:(
Private Member |
saint-peterburg, russia
My parents have it and drink it every day. As for me, it looks disgusting and I could never make myself to taste it. We also had a milk mushroom that makes milk into something like a yogurt. It’s ok but you need to take care of it every day or it dies.
Private Member |
pa, usa
I made kefir for quite awhile. It was ok, but I never had that miraculous feeling of well being everyone claimed it caused! It was easy to grow, but my grains got out of control and I needed to hibernate them and then I neglected to get back into the routine at some point. Kind of time consuming but much better than the store bought kind that has added sugar and such.
Private Member |
peterborough, ontario, canada
Hey! Always wondered about this stuff – thank you.
Wondering when your pre-workout drink will be ready (fat-burner)?! I’m really stoked about buying some when it comes out so long as it ships to Canada (fingers crossed).
🙂