Everyone seems to be drinking Kombucha now days. This tart wonder tea has recently gained extreme popularity and is drunk in every corner of the world. So what is all the buzz about and is there research to back up the beneficial health claims?
Kombucha, pronounced (com-boo-cha) is a live culture made up of yeast and beneficial bacteria that is fermented in tea for 30 days. During this period, essential nutrients form like active enzymes, viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants and polyphenols. All of these combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality. Kombucha has been used for hundreds of years throughout the world as a daily health tonic. The culture resembles a light brown, tough, gelatinous disk and because it’s a living, growing entity, it can regenerate and create new cultures with every batch. Basically an other worldy blob!!! Ahhhhh…run for your lives!! Kidding…
According to Millenium Products, a company that bottles Kombucha commercially:
“Kombucha is not a supplement, drug, or medicine… it is simply a super healthy food that helps the body to find (or regain) its natural balance in the body, which promotes overall well being. Just like regular exercise, Kombucha is something that supports a healthy lifestyle. When the body is healthier, its natural defenses are stronger.
Kombucha has an �adaptogenic� ability that gives it a reputation for its widespread health properties. Its adaptogen effect is seen mostly through its influence on the liver, the blood and the digestive system, where it normalizes the acidity or pH. Metabolic balancing and detoxification is perhaps the most important function of Kombucha.”
So what are some of the claimed benefits?
Kombucha supports:
-Digestion
-Metabolism
-Immune System
-Appetite Control
-Weight Control
-Liver Function
-Body Alkalinity
-Anti-Aging
-Cell Integrity
-Healthy Skin and Hair
Yeah right! The Kombucha companies could just be claiming all of this stuff. Is there any research to back up this lengthy list? Apparently, There IS an extensive literature (some 300 books and research papers) dealing with the analysis of Kombucha Tea and its therapeutic effects. A few of the most proven benefits include Kombuchas ability to detox and invigorate the metabolism. One of the reasons a lot of people drink the tea after a long night out partying.
I drink Kombucha a least every week and definitely when I feel the need to detox. I have felt the way it improves digestion and always feel better after drinking it. Although I do think that you should always be cautious about where you are getting your Kombucha. Since anybody can buy a culture of Kombucha and grow, ferment and then pass on their exilir, things can go awry during the process. For more information on some things to be aware of when drinking Kombucha click here. I just fork over the three bucks for the commercially made stuff just to be sure I don’t drink from a bad batch.
To learn more about Kombucha’s ancient origins and pretty much everything else known about this wonder tea, check out Wikipedia.
Oh ya…If you try Kombucha, realize it’s a taste you’ll either love or hate!
