Kombucha: Part 2 - Health Benefits
I was originally introduced to kombucha and told of its beneficial properties about 15 years ago by my mother. During one of my visits, she reached into a cabinet and pulled out a glass gallon jar full of brownish tea, and what to me resembled a jellyfish floating on the surface. Not too many things that my mother shows me surprise me anymore, but I was a bit taken aback by this brew. When I asked what it was she replied “mushroom tea”. I was skeptical to say the least but with the trust only a son can have in his mother, I took a drink. I was pleasantly surprised by the tangy yet slightly sweet effervescent tea. I was hooked and have been ever since.
In Part 1 – What, When, Why and How of this 3 part series I explained what kombucha is, told some of the convoluted history, what some of the reasons for drinking it are and touched on how it is made. Today I would like to delve deeper into the health claims associated with this “Elixir of Life”. They range from the subjective feelings some have after consuming the tonic to scientific based properties.
Kombucha falls into the category I like to call Live Foods. Yes, it is a drink and not a “food” but like kefir which is also a drink, it is teeming with live probiotics. Consuming probiotics helps keep the balance of good and bad bacteria in your digestive track in balance. This balance is essential for proper digestion of food and assimilation of the nutrients those foods carry with them. Some of the most common ailments that the consumption of live probiotics can help alleviate are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Infectious diarrhea (viruses, bacteria, or parasites)
- Antibiotic-related diarrhea
As more research is done in regards to a “healthy gut” and the effects that has on other systems of the body, there is more supportive evidence that introducing probiotics into your intestinal track can also help with:
- Skin conditions, like eczema
- Urinary and vaginal health
- Preventing allergies and colds
- Oral health
Kombucha also contains Polyphenols (antioxidant micronutrients) and Electrolytes, which help the body regulate hydration and blood pH, and proper muscle and nerve function. As was also shown in Part 1 here is a nutritional label and list of the Probiotics, Polyphenols and Electrolytes that are contained in a commercially produced kombucha – GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha –
In addition to the scientific backed health benefits listed above there is a long list of claims that range from euphoria to treatment for those suffering from radiation exposure. As written in the book - Kombucha Revolution by Stephen Lee and Ken Koopman – “…there’s the tale told about the Russians who lived through the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in the late 1980s; a common thread among those who survived the radiation exposure was that they regularly consumed kombucha.” There is a detoxification effect from drinking kombucha as it has a similar pH as vinegar, in fact, if allowed to ferment for too long it will turn into vinegar. A quick internet search will provide you with hundreds of claims of all the benefits; are these claims exaggerated or is there more to this "tea of immortality" than our medical community can currently validate?
If you missed Part 1 – What, When, Why and How click on the highlighted title which will bring you to the post. In Part 3 I will provided a step by step picture tutorial of how to make your own kombucha at home. As always - Thank you for reading!
Learn more about me by reading my Introduction Post
I love living food. I drive 25 minutes away to buy raw milk for that reason. Fermented foods and yogurt are always on the menu, and I can't do without raw honey.
I'm pretty excited to have access to kombucha in my own kitchen. Holding out for episode three.
Is Kombucha good for weight loss?
These good gut bugs also aid in proper digestion, as do the enzymes present in kombucha as well. ... By helping to rebalance proper gut bacteria, this in turn aids in digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall metabolism. When our body can function optimally, it is more efficient at burning fat and weight loss efforts.
Beautiful scobys you have! Crazy how good for you kombucha is!! I cannot wait to brew some at home, I am going to read part one to this now! Thank you:)
Thank you for the comment! I hope you enjoyed Part 1 :) I will get to work on the tutorial soon!
i had mad crazy eczema when i was little & still have a couple of weird patches on me that flare up in the winter, when it's extra dry. they haven't been that bad this year, and i do credit it to drinking more of this in addition to having less alcohol and less sugar.
are you flavoring your batches? or will that be revealed in part three?
I like keeping my home-brew unflavored. Don't get me wrong, I love many of the flavored ones that are sold, but have found that I enjoy the taste of my "pure" kombucha better when unflavored. The rare occassions I do flavor I like to put freshly grated ginger in during botteling :)
oh good grief - ginger again?! i'm going to end up liking that too, if i'm not careful. that & the daily garlic are going to get me through winter without getting sick again, damnit!
We Love our kombucha! We gathered a scoby from my papa's home brew, but I've got to admit-- ours has turned out quite quality in comparison.
Very informative article, will be checking out your other posts!
Kombucha is the best!!
I started making it myself 10+ years ago when the US government wanted to regulate it, treating it like an alcoholic beverage. (After working at a health food co-op grocery store for 7 years, not much surprises me anymore.)
Besides the probiotic health benefits, I notice that kombucha helps me regulate my blood sugar levels. Delicious and good for you!!
Thanks @jonpetrich for spreading the word about kombucha!
Enjoyed this article. There are so many benefits to mushrooms and every homesteader should be growing these! Thanks! Upvoted!
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