How can kombucha help my health --- and what can it help with?

The purported (and evidence based) health benefits of kombucha include:

1. Natural Antibiotic: Kombucha can kill bad bacteria and may function as a natural antibiotic.
2. Immune System Booster: The healthy gut bacteria obtained from drinking Kombucha can help to boost the immune system, which is now known to be strongly linked to the microbiome and healthy bacteria within the gut.  Probiotics, particularly from those in fermented foods, can reinforce our natural defences against damaging microbes and certain types of disease or pathogens.  Kombucha is also packed with amazing antioxidant components. This is primarily due to the fact that it’s produced from black tea, which contains high amounts of polyphenols, vitamin B, E, C and A, along with beta-carotene, all of which aid in the functioning of a healthy immune system.
3. Digestion & Gut Health: A healthy human body has three to five pounds of good bacteria and microbes, commonly known as the microbiome. However, stress, antibiotic and drug use, among other factors, can deplete and damage the microbiome. Kombucha is jam-packed full of healthy probiotics that aid gut health and digestion, and some research shows that the intake of Kombucha showed improvement in cases of leaky gut, stomach ulcers,  Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Crohn’s Disease.  You may be able to assist and help repopulate your microbiome with healthy bacteria by introducing Kombucha into your dietary routine.
4. Detoxification:  Glucuronic Acid is one component of Kombucha, that in recent studies, has shown to produce cancer-fighting actions and support the natural detoxification process of the body. Kombucha also contains gluconic acid, whichis known to assist in combating certain pathogens, such as those that cause food-borne diseases.
5. Metabolism, Weight Management, & Weight Loss:  Kombucha (similarly to the purported effects of apple cider vinegar) may boost and enhance metabolism.  And true believer after true believer will tell you about the benefits for weight management and weight loss when trying to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle.
6. Joint Health & Inflammation:  The SCOBY within Kombucha contains glucosamine, amino acids and hyaluronic acids, which are all known to be good for joint health.
7. Heart Disease Risk, Cholesterol, & Blood Pressure:  Kombucha may assist in maintaining heart health by reduction of bad LDL cholesterol.  A Journal of Nutrition study showed that green tea decreases the risk of heart disease by more than 30%. While the research was focused mainly on brewed green tea, Kombucha likely still offers these same health advantages.
8. Diabetes: Kombucha may help manage type 2 diabetes and lower blood sugar.  A research study released in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine investigated the impact of Kombucha in diabetic rats. Researchers discovered that in lowering blood glucose levels, Kombucha was more efficient than black tea. 
9. These findings were due to the potential of fermented tea’s action regarding the inhibiting activity of a-amylase and lipase. It’s also been recorded to repress the absorption of poor cholesterol and triglyceride.
10. Depression:  There may be a link between probiotics and depression, and there is an absolute link between B Vitamins and mental health, suggesting kombucha could help promote positive mental health.
11. Cancer:  We all hope that one day, there will be a widespread cure for cancer.  But while we wait, in research, Kombucha has demonstrated the capacity to prevent cancer cells from expanding or reproducing in controlled laboratory environments. This is positive data, and although we do not at all recommend Kombucha as a treatment method for cancer, it’s interesting to learn just how far-reaching the effects of this ancient beverage really are.
12. Athletic Boost: Some athletes report Kombucha not only provides them with energy for exercise but also helps with the workout recovery too. Combine this with the increased immune function that you obtain from the probiotic drink, and you have a high-powered performance drink that’s completely natural.
13. Hangovers:  So we can’t technically tell you that kombucha helps your hangover.  But we can tell you this: nearly everybody who’s tried it as the last drink of the night says it does!

Disclaimer

While Kombucha provides a wide variety of health benefits for plenty of people, it’s important to bear in mind that it’s only one piece of the puzzle, not a magical answer for anything and everything that may affect you. To date, there has been no long-term kombucha-specific scientific study in humans that provides the necessary data to firmly claim or categorize any specific benefits.  It’s a good idea to check with your health care specialist if you have concerns.

There you have it!  All there is to know about this yummy beverage, and all the reasons we here at Raw Brewing Co. are true believers.  And if after everything, you’re still not sold on kombucha’s place in your life, throw caution to the wind and add a little vodka or gin for a kombucha cocktail – the more you drink (especially when you wake up feeling vastly better than after a normal night out), the more likely you are to change your mind.

So grab yourself a glass of your favorite bubbly Kombucha, and let’s cheers to health and the success of the trending beverage…prost! 

Sources

[1] Dufresne, C., & Farnworth, E. (2000). Tea, Kombucha, and health: a review. Food research international, 33(6), 409-421. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?journal=Food+Res.+Intern.&title=Tea,+kombucha,+and+health:+A+review&author=C.+Dufresne&author=E.+Farnworth&volume=33&publication_year=2000&pages=409-421&doi=10.1016/S0963-9969(00)00067-3&[2] Gaggìa, F., Baffoni, L., Galiano, M., Nielsen, D. S., Jakobsen, R. R., Castro-Mejía, J. L., … Di Gioia, D. (2018). Kombucha Beverage from Green, Black and Rooibos Teas: A Comparative Study Looking at Microbiology, Chemistry and Antioxidant Activity. Nutrients, 11(1), 1. doi:10.3390/nu11010001

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356548/[3] Kim, B., Hong, V. M., Yang, J., Hyun, H., Im, J. J., Hwang, J., … Kim, J. E. (2016). A Review of Fermented Foods with Beneficial Effects on Brain and Cognitive Function. Preventive nutrition and food science, 21(4), 297–309. doi:10.3746/pnf.2016.21.4.297

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5216880/[4] Kombucha Benefits and Risks. Lana Burgess  – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319630.php