Health Benefits of Kombucha

   I have been drinking kombucha for years. Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been consumed for thousands of years, its origins are cloudy. Through any quick on-line search, you'll see consumers praising this bacteria-laden fermented tea for its incredible health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, increased gut health, and even playing a part in preventing cancer. The heart of kombucha is its "SCOBY" -a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. The slimy, living disc is also called "mushroom" or "mother". The interaction of yeast and bacteria results in highly acidic, slightly carbonated, tart drink.

Kombucha which many believe is a home remedy, appears to have transformed into a popular commercial health product. Can we trace this sweet-sour fungus tea's historical lineage to understand its current phenomenon?

In my research people in China drank kombucha tea during the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE, when it was referred to as "The Divine Tsche". In 414 BCE, a Korean Doctor named Kombu brought the tea to Japan to cure the emperor Inkyo. Another report says it comes from the area of East Asia and came into Germany via Russia. During World War I, Russian and Germany POWs drank it. Pharmacists sold it as Mo-Gu".  Drinking fermented tea became popular in Europe in the middle to the 20th century. It reported that priests in Italy were dismayed to find parishioners mixing it with holy water to assist its healing properties.  So, you can see Kombucha, a fermented health tonic, has been consumed thousands of years, its origins either China or Japan.

It's rich in beneficial probiotics and contains antioxidants, that can kill harmful bacteria and helps fight several diseases. It's made by adding specific strains of bacteria called a Scoby to sugar and black or green tea, then allowed to ferment for 7-10 days. 

The fermentation process produces acetic acid (also found in vinegar) and several other acidic compounds, trace levels of alcohol and gases that make it carbonated. A large number of probiotic bacteria is also produced during fermentation. Probiotics provide your gut with healthy bacteria. These bacteria can improve many aspects of health, including digestion. Kombucha, rich in antioxidants, and adding probiotics foods like kombucha to your diet might improve your health.  Kombucha made from green tea is likely to be even more beneficial, as green tea itself has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels.

Kombucha has been shown to improve "bad" LDL and "good" HDL cholesterol levels. Type 2 diabetes affects over 300 million people worldwide. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. A study in diabetic rats found that kombucha slowed down the digestion of carbs, which reduced blood sugar levels. It also improved liver and kidney function.

Kombucha can be expensive compared to sodas and making your own can be fun and cost saving. 

To learn more about fermentations there is a course you can take at the  Herbal Academy