Kombucha: What It Is, and Why You Should Drink It
By: Jane Ross
When I was in Middle School, I went on a family trip to Portland, Oregon. We went out to lunch, and my Mom got a very unusual beverage, I thought, to accompany our meal. ‘Kombucha,’ I read on the label. I thought it was a weird name, so I asked my Mom for a sip. I subsequently made a sour face, as it tasted like vinegar to me. ‘Never having that again,’ I thought. Little did I know that I would be buying kombucha every week in college from my local Trader Joe’s.
Trader Joe’s Organic Kombucha
Kombucha’s rise to popularity has been a long time coming. Wellness fiends have long praised its’ health benefits, but it’s specific taste (and interesting name) have kept people away for quite some time. However, as people have begun to learn about the health benefits this fermented beverage provides, it has made itself a fixture on supermarket shelves. We know it’s ‘good’ to drink it… but why?
Well, let’s start off with what it is. Kombucha is a fermented (slightly alcoholic) beverage created by combining black or green tea, sugar, and cultures. These live bacterial and yeast cultures provide kombucha with its unique taste. This process produces acetic acid and other acidic compounds, trace levels of alcohol, and gasses that make it carbonated. The cultures found in kombucha, probiotic cultures, are what is said to give kombucha it’s health benefits.
There are broad, unfounded claims that kombucha can prevent heart disease or cancer, but most of the existing research points to the fact that drinking kombucha is much like taking a probiotic supplement. Probiotic supplements are very important in our health regimens, as they provide health benefits to gut function and beyond.
Our guts contain bacteria which are considered “friendly” or beneficial bacteria. We are often exposed to this notion that bacteria is bad, when in reality, good bacteria is crucial in helping out bodies function. Some of this bacterias functions include aiding digestion, reducing inflammation, synthesizing certain vitamins or supporting our general immune system. Taking probiotics, then, helps to boost the numbers of healthy bacteria.
Keep in mind, however, that our bodies all differ in how we may react to such supplements. If you find yourself trying to chug some kombucha, make sure you take it slow to see how your body reacts! Some people have reported stomach pain or allergic reactions after drinking kombucha, so test the water first.
I have read one book on the importance of gut health, and it has truly opened my eyes to a huge part of my body that I never really paid attention to. I recommend you all take some time to learn more about the significance of your microbiome and learn some ways you can support it.
