If you’re in looking to get more probiotics (good bacteria) into your stomach gut, look no more. Buying kombucha off the shelf at the market can add up quickly so the most cost effective and healthy way to have your daily kombucha drink consumption is to make it yourself. Not many people are aware of the many health benefits of Kombucha Tea. There are many names of Kombucha tea, such as Russian tea, Manchurian mushroom tea, Tea Cider, Spumante, Tea Kvass, KargasokTea, and Tea Beer. The reason it is called a beer is that it is a lightly fizzy, fermented sweetened tea. It is a fantastic concoction for controlling diabetes, protecting the liver, and improving heart health.

Want to know more about Kombucha Tea, let’s find out all the amazing benefits it has.

How is Kombucha Tea Made?

Kombucha Tea is a very refreshing beverage made by fermenting sweetened tea and introducing yeast cultures, bacteria, and acetic acid. A colony of yeast and bacteria called SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) is mixed with black or green tea and sugar. It is left to ferment in suitable conditions. Fermenting enhances the life of the tea as it stays fresh even when stored for months. It originated in the third century BC in the north-eastern regions of China. Kombucha Tea is available in various flavors, depending on whether it is made from green or black tea. Its taste is similar to champagne and apple cider.

Nutritional Information:

According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, Kombucha tea is an excellent source of carbohydrates, energy, sodium, and sugar. Furthermore, it contains a wide range of bacterial species and yeast cultures and organic acids, polyphenols, and amino acids. Once it is fermented, it becomes a powerhouse of nutritional bursting with the goodness of beneficial enzymes, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, and B12, sodium, and vital chemical constituents such as oxalic acid, gluconic acid, glucuronic acid, lactic acid, fructose, and usnic acid.

Kombucha Tea Health Benefits

Kombucha tea has miraculous therapeutic properties and is known worldwide for its unique taste apart from the long list of its medicinal benefits. You’ll be surprised to know that Kombucha tea was referred to as the “Immortal Health Elixir in ancient Chinese literature.” Kombucha tea offers many health benefits, including alleviating digestion-related issues, promoting weight loss, performing body cleanse, and lowering blood cholesterol levels. Let’s find out more about Kombucha Tea benefits.

Protects Against Environmental Pollutants:

Kombucha tea contains powerful antioxidants and a large number of organic acids. These create a shield to protect our body from oxidative damage. Research suggests that Kombucha tea has certain antioxidants that neutralize free radicals’ effect to repair and protect our body from inflammation and chronic diseases. That’s not all! It is particularly beneficial for people experiencing kidney problems as it offers optimal protection from harmful environmental pollutants caused by plastics, petroleum-based products, heavy metals, resins, and pesticides.

Improves Gut Health and Digestion:

Kombucha tea is fermented using yeast and a live bacterial colony, so it is a potent probiotic. Hence, it has incredible healing benefits to improve gut health and relieve various abdominal issues or disorders such as diarrhea and chronic constipation. Digestive enzymes in the tea enhance glucuronic acid’s effectiveness and help in the breakdown of saccharides and proteins to make the digestive system robust. Kombucha tea contains probiotic compounds that can improve several gastrointestinal diseases such as IBS, gastric ulcers, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disorders, and celiac disease.

Encourages Weight Loss:

Kombucha tea is an ancient healing tea that can improve the gut’s bacterial balance and enhance our overall well-being. In his book Kombucha Rediscovered, Dr. Klaus Kauffman wrote that healthy gut bacteria could help treat obesity by improving metabolic rate. Moreover, this fermented tea has up to five times less sugar and calorie content than sugary beverages and fizzy drinks.

Improves Liver Function:

Kombucha is an amazing detoxifier and remarkably impacts liver health. It contains glucuronic acid, a potent detoxifying agent that collects and flushes out the harmful substances present in the liver via urine. This positively impacts liver functioning. According to research published in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, Kombucha tea prevents the glutathione levels from decreasing. It is an important antioxidant that effectively reduces hepatotoxicity induced by medication.

Maintains Healthy Cholesterol Levels:

Kombucha tea is effective in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels in our body. Qualitative researches on this aspect concluded that Kombucha tea has cholesterol-reducing anti-lipidemic properties, which delays the absorption of LDL or bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and elevates the HDL or good cholesterol levels.

Improves Heart Health:

Several animal studies revealed that Kombucha tea is beneficial for the heart and prevents heart diseases by reducing bad cholesterol and triglycerides level in the blood. Moreover, this tea’s fermentation process induces such changes that improve its antioxidant performance and protects the heart against damages caused by free radicals.

Prevents Diabetes:

Kombucha tea helps in suppressing elevated blood sugar levels. A year 2012 study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal revealed that Kombucha tea has superior inhibiting properties compared to black tea. It can effectively protect the pancreas, kidneys, and liver, improving blood sugar regulation and digestion. The study concluded that Kombucha tea is a strong candidate for the treatment and prevention of diabetes.

Anti-Cancer Tea:

Kombucha tea is considered a potent anti-cancer medication as it is rich in antioxidants and possesses anti-microbial properties, which collectively help prevent cancerous cells’ development. Additionally, Kombucha tea can maintain cellular health as well as strengthen immune defense. A report by Anderson Cancer Center, USA, published in Cancer Letters Journal revealed that D-glucaric acid present in this tea could prevent different types of cancers effectively, including breast cancer.

Treats Arthritis Pain:

Kombucha tea is rich in antioxidant compounds, and according to a study published in the Clinica Chimica Acta journal, it can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis pain. It contains high glucosamines levels, which can help manage all kinds of arthritis by stimulating hyaluronic acid production and maintaining cartilage structure. Hyaluronic acid reduces free radicals damage and joints lubrication and elasticity by strengthening the connective tissue for moisture binding. Hence, Kambucha tea can potentially provide relief to those who have arthritis.

Potent Mood Enhancer:

As per a research published in Nutritional Neuroscience journal, depression and anxiety often occur due to gut problems such as inflammation or dietary deficiencies. Fermented foods like Kombucha tea can relieve perturbed gut function and reduce depression and anxiety. Kombucha contains vital vitamins like the B Vitamins (B1, B6, B9, and B12), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), amino acids, and methylxanthines such as theophylline, caffeine, and theobromine, which are essential for a healthy nervous system. Hence, the tea inhibits the release of cortisol- the stress hormone and can enhance mood, concentration, and eliminate depressive feelings.

Immunity Booster:

Kombucha tea contains various essential antioxidants that strengthen the body’s immune defense and boost energy levels. This tea has impressive anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that fight viral and bacterial infections. Research published in the Biomedical and Environmental Sciences Journal revealed that Kombucha Tea’s immunomodulating properties help boost the body’s immune system and relieve oxidative stress.

Protection against Viral Diseases and Pathogens:

Due to its anti-microbial properties, Kombucha tea proves to be an effective medication against a majority of pathogens. Several studies in this regard demonstrated that Kombucha tea could protect against microorganisms like Staphylococcus epidermis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Helicobacter pylori, and Listeria monocytes. It happens because of the presence of numerous anti-microbial components in the tea, including acetic acid.

Potent Asthma Treatment:

Kombucha tea contains theophylline, which is a potent bronchodilator. Hence, regular use of Kombucha tea can significantly help in controlling chronic asthma. The presence of bronchodilator makes the tea anti-inflammatory, bronchoprotective, and immunomodulatory. A 2014 review study issued in the Journal of Medicinal Foods confirmed that Kombucha’s daily use could have positive impacts on asthma patients.

Cures Gastric Ulcers

Kombucha tea can offer relief from the discomfort people experience with gastric ulcerations. Research published in the Food & Function Journal revealed that phenols and antioxidants present in Kombucha tea protect the gastric tissue’s mucin content and reduce excess gastric acid secretion. The same study concluded that this tea effectively treats gastric ulcers as the commercially available medication Omeprazole.

Improvement in Cellular Health:

Cellular health is directly associated with the healthy functioning of our bodies. Kombucha tea can help in maintaining cellular health. A study on animal subjects published in the Journal of Environmental Biology revealed that the Kombucha tea was effective against induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, the tea showed promising results in reducing cellular toxins that led to a decrease in tissue lesions in animals.

Source: ClevelandClinic.org / www.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-kombuchas-health-benefits-and-how-much-can-you-safely-drink/