Top 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Kombucha

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a sweetened fermented tea made with a specific culture called SCOBY. The fermentation process is what gives kombucha its distinctive sour taste. kombucha has been around for thousands of years originating in China where it was used for its detoxifying and energising properties.

Kombucha can be made using either a black or green tea base. Sugar is added to the tea along with the special kombucha SCOBY culture. Detailed instructions on how to make kombucha can be found here and kombucha starter kits can be found here.

What is Kombucha SCOBY?

SCOBY stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. It’s a rubbery substance that floats on the surface of kombucha protecting it from the outside air and any bad bacteria while fermentation is in process. The bacteria and yeast in SCOBY break down the sugar in the kombucha and release probiotics.

What Are the Health Benefits of Kombucha?

1. Probiotics

Kombucha Australia is a fermented product, and like other fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt and kerfir, kombucha contains live microorganisms. At certain concentrations, probiotics can benefit the gut microbiome and may help with digestion.

Our gut microbiome is responsible for a wide range of important tasks which keep us healthy. Some of these functions include the breakdown of dietary fibre, boosting immunity and synthesising vitamin B7 and vitamin K.

2. Gut Health

The human gut contains trillions of beneficial bacteria called the microbiome. Your microbiome can be affected by many factors including: stress, diet, antibiotics, alcohol and other harmful organisms. However, there are ways you can help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

Kombucha contains a wide range of nutrients that may be beneficial for gut health. With a combination of probiotics, enzymes, organic acids and polyphenols, kombucha may help to promote healthy digestion. The probiotics in kombucha may also be beneficial in relieving conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and diarrhea.

3. Antioxidants

Antioxidants help to protect the body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage if they overload the body. Free radicals cause oxidation leading to damage and disease. Oxidation can be accelerated by many components such as alcohol, smoking, pollution and sunlight.

Antioxidants are found in many healthy foods and may prevent this damage by neutralising free radicals. Some nutrient antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, zinc, copper and selenium. There are other dietary sources which also have antioxidant effects, possibly even greater than vitamins and minerals. These are referred to as non-nutrient antioxidants which include phytochemicals such as anthocyanins and lycopenes.

Antioxidant phytochemicals are found in many foods and can play an important role in treating and preventing chronic disease that is caused by oxidative stress. Phytochemicals not only have antioxidant effects; they also possess anti-inflammatory benefits. Antioxidant phytochemicals are found in a wide variety of plant foods, as well as green tea, one of the main ingredients in kombucha.

4. Immunity

It’s widely known that the gut microbiome plays an essential role in immunity. The human microbiome is involved in many conditions related to the immune system such as, asthma, allergies and autoimmune disease. Serious disruptions of the microbiome affect the immune response, making a person more susceptible to disease.

A healthy gut is essential for a healthy immune system. Drinking kombucha may assist with boosting immunity by providing a good source of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics from fermented foods and beverages may be helpful in strengthening the natural defence system against some illnesses and harmful microbes.

5. Mental Health

You have probably heard about the gut-brain connection. The brain has a direct effect on the gut and vice versa. As a result, gut problems can be the cause or the result of conditions such as depression, stress and anxiety. This is most relevant in cases where there is no obvious physical cause of gastrointestinal distress. This shows how important a healthy gut is to good mental health.

A healthy gut is an important component in reducing symptoms related to stress, anxiety or depression and kombucha provides a source of probiotics which may contribute to gut health. Kombucha also contains a good source of B vitamins. B vitamins may help to reduce the symptoms of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Kombucha may also help with stabilising mood and enhancing concentration.

6. Antimicrobial Effects

Kombucha may have antibacterial and antimicrobial effects due to the good bacteria naturally present. This could provide protection against food poisoning, having the ability to kill certain bacteria such as salmonella, E. colli and shigella.

Kombucha also contains acetic acid, also found in vinegar. Acetic acid has the ability to kill many harmful types of bacteria including salmonella, E. coli, staphylococcus and H. pylori.

7. Diabetes

Several studies have found that fermented foods help to reduce diabetic-associated health complications through the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However not all fermented products provide these benefits, it will depend on bacterial strains used, the fermentation process and raw materials used. Studies have shown that phenolic and antioxidant compounds (both found in kombucha), may be what’s responsible for the antidiabetic effects.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316541/

8. Green Tea

When kombucha is made with green tea, you can also enjoy some of its health benefits. Green tea may help with lowering blood glucose and cholesterol. It may also help to improve insulin sensitivity.

9. Heart Disease

High cholesterol, heart disease and hypertension are common health problems. Kombucha may provide some benefits to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. In one study Kombucha was shown to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL). This study however was performed on rats, so more evidence is needed to determine the effects on humans.

10. Cancer

There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiome influences the predisposition to cancer, and possibly the cause. Probiotics help to support the immune system which may help with detecting and killing cancer cells before they cause disease. Some studies that focus on colon cancer have shown that patients had unhealthy gut bacteria prior to the cancer developing. There is still a lot more research to be done, however a healthy gut is one of the major factors in maintaining a strong immune system and reducing the risk of many chronic diseases.

Australia's Leading Range of Fermented Foods and Gut Health Supplements, https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au