Everyone seems to be either drinking or posting about Kombucha. This super trendy tea is said to be a cure-all for everything, but how much do you really know about the brew?
To put it simply, Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that’s made by adding yeast and a culture of bacteria to a mixture of black or green tea, sugar, and sometimes additional flavouring or fruit juice.
After you blend the tea with sugar, it becomes kombucha with the help of S.C.O.B.Y., or symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. This live bacteria sets the stage for the fermentation process which is what gives kombucha its effervescence and sour flavour.
The fruity, almost vinegary flavour of kombucha is an acquired taste, so if it’s your first time tasting the brew, try a few of the flavours available, before your hate on it, because it does have some health benefits.
Kombucha For A Healthy You
Kombucha tea has several potential health benefits thanks to the fermentation process. It is packed with probiotics or “good” bacteria similar to what occurs naturally in our intestines.
Probiotics are great for overall gut-health, bloating, lowering cholesterol, and help to promote a healthy immune system. Kombucha also contains B vitamins, known to promote energy, metabolism, cell proliferation and growth, which is beneficial for the health of your hair, skin, and nails.
Kombucha only contains about one-third the amount of caffeine as a cup of black or green tea, so if you were hoping to use it to replace your regular cup of coffee, I would think twice.
Kombucha contains a small amount of alcohol as a result of fermentation, and you’ll find that bottled versions contain a range of percentages of alcohol, so if you are concerned, you should read the labels carefully, but most brands available at healthfood stores and supermarkets contain such a low amount that it is unlikely to give you a buzz.
So just how much kombucha should you drink? Too much of anything is bad and according to the Centers for Disease Control, four ounces of kombucha can be safely consumed one to three times a day for good health!
THE LIFESTYLE COLLECTIVE 