The Kombucha Kraze

Today’s post is inspired by one of my employees, who came in this morning with a bottle of this drink called Kombucha as a gift for me. While I have heard of this drink, I’ve never tried it and I’ve also never taken the time to look into the current research on its health benefits. I have to say, it’s VERY tasty. This one specifically is slightly sweet, slightly sour, and slightly carbonated AKA my perfect beverage. After reading through some of the literature, here’s what you need to know about Kombucha:

1. In a nutshell, Kombucha is a fermented form of black tea. Don’t worry if you’re like me and you have a caffeine sensitivity, kombucha is naturally decaffeinated and contains only slightly more caffeine than a cup of decaf coffee. Woohoo!

2. EVERY study that I found (a total of 17) used rats/mice/hamsters so the beneficial effects that are reported are not proven in humans. Everything you hear about Kombucha preventing cancer, liver disease, diabetes, or making you live longer should be taken with a grain of salt.

3. In my opinion, the most notable study showed that Kombucha has antioxidant capabilities. Antioxidants kill free radicals in the body that can cause a variety of problems such as inflammation, cancer, and atherosclerosis (all of which are undesirable). This does not mean, though, that Kombucha prevents cancer, it is simply a correlation. Also note that antioxidants are found abundantly in most fruits and vegetables…just saying

4. The one thing that is indisputable is that Kombucha contains probiotics, of which there is an abundance of research linking its consumption to improved digestion and immune support. Note that probiotics are also found in other fermented products such as yogurt.

To sum it all up, Kombucha can be a great to drink if you want a daily boost to your immune system and to sustain or improve gut health. On the other hand, it is not a miracle drink that is going to cure any diseases. While Kombucha may have health benefits, these benefits can also be found in other readily available foods. I will say that if you are craving a carbonated drink, this is a MUCH better choice than soda and, for that reason, I will continue to indulge. Salud!