There’s been a lot of excitement about kumbucha tea lately. You may even have heard some of the buzz and wondered what it exactly is, and what all the excitement is about.
A natural probiotic, hearty kombucha is a sweet, tea type of beverage. Fermented with yeast and bacteria it has a strong, pleasing flavor and an impressive list of health benefits.
Let’s take a look at the top six ways kombucha can benefit your health…
1. Better gut health:
Kombucha is a terrific source of live probiotics, including one you may have heard of before, Lactobacillus.1 We’re finding out more and more every day about the role Lactobacillus, and other good gut bugs, play in our health. One day soon we may be able to confirm their role in reducing your risk for a long list of health complaints. And of course we already know that probiotics play an important role in normalizing digestion, promoting healthy bowel movements and supporting your immune system (more on that in a moment).
2. Fights free radical damage:
Your body regularly uses oxygen to carry out a variety of normal metabolic functions, and damaging free-radicals are a byproduct of those processes. Those free radicals cause oxidative stress and can damage cells.2 Kombucha tea is a good source of free-radical-fighting antioxidants.3
3. Supports your immune system:
When your immune system isn’t firing on all cylinders it can make it more difficult to fight off illnesses, and harder to heal when you do get sick. Probiotic and nutrient-rich kombucha could help support normal immune system function.4
4. Helps ulcers heal:
Gastric or peptic ulcers are sores that pop up in the lining of your digestive tract. And if you or someone you care about has experienced them you certainly don’t need me to tell you they can be quite painful.5 Studies have shown that kombucha may be able to help heal ulcers.6
5. Promising candidate for support against cancer:
Research is in the very early stages, and there’s a lot more to learn, but scientists have uncovered some exciting hints about the potential of kombucha to offer nutritional support in the resistance against cancer.7 To be clear, kombucha isn’t a treatment or preventative measure for cancer, but this potent tea could potentially have something to offer in the fight.
6. Supports healthy body weight:
For many folks maintaining a healthy body weight can be a struggle. In fact, it’s estimated that close to 70 percent of Americans are fighting the battle of the bulge. And, of course, that extra weight puts them at risk for all kinds of health issues including heart diseases and diabetes. Kombucha isn’t a magic bullet weight loss remedy, but research has found this robust tea could help promote a healthy body weight.8
When picking out a kombucha tea be sure to read labels. Some store-bought brands add extra sugars and artificial flavors, which you should avoid. Are you already a fan of kombucha? What has it done for you? Leave a comment below and share your experience with us.
References:
1. “Sequence-based analysis of the bacterial and fungal compositions of multiple kombucha (tea fungus) samples,”Food Microbiology 2014 Apr;38:171-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2013.09.003
2. “Environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyle influence oxidative stress in humans—an overview,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research International. 2013 Jul;20(7):4356-69
3. “Effects of Kombucha on oxidative stress induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Chinese Medicine. 2009; 4: 23
4. “Current evidence on physiological activity and expected health effects of kombucha fermented beverage,” Journal of Medicinal Food. 2014 Feb;17(2):179-88
5. Peptic Ulcers. Medline Plus.
6. “Comparative healing property of kombucha tea and black tea against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in mice: possible mechanism of action,” Food and Function. 2010 Dec;1(3):284-93
7. “Tea, kombucha health: a review,” Food Res Int. 2000;336:409–421
8. “Kombucha: Healthy Beverage and Natural Remedy from the Far East— Its Correct Preparation and Use. Steyr, Austria: Wilhem Ennsthaler; 1991. (Translation by A. Tyndale). A-4402
Dr. Edward F. Group III has his Naturopathic Doctorate, Clinical Herbalist, Holistic Health Practitioner, Clinical Nutritionist certifications, and is a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition and the American Board of Functional Medicine. He founded Global Healing Center Inc. in 1998 which has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the Internet.
A dynamic author and speaker, Dr. Group focuses solely on spreading the message of health and wellness to the global community with the philosophy of full body cleansing, most importantly colon cleansing, consuming pure clean organic food, water, air, exercise and nutritional supplementation. Visit GlobalHealingCenter.com to learn more about living green and healthy!
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