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Blog | Health Benefits of Kombucha

Kombucha is a health drink that has been around for more than 2000 years, but the last few years have seen it gaining mainstream popularity.

This popular drink is traditionally made from black tea that has been sweetened with cane sugar and allowed to ferment over a periods of days or weeks with the help of a symbiotic colony of yeast and bacteria (more commonly known as a SCOBY). It is easy on the palate and depending on how it is flavoured it can taste similar to sparkling apple cider or ginger beer.

The by-products released by the SCOBY during the fermentation process include glucaric acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, glucosamine, B vitamins and enzymes. It also contains small amounts of caffeine from the tea and the fermentation process yields a minute amount of alcohol, but these are not significant enough to have an effect unless one is allergic or hypersensitive to them.

The health benefits of Kombucha are wide ranging, but one of the most significant stems from its ability to assist with detoxification due to its enzyme and acid content.

The SCOBY endows kombucha with abundant probiotic bacteria and yeast which have been well studied for their therapeutic effects on a range of health conditions. It boosts immunity, removes Candida, settles an upset stomach, heals leaky gut, reduces allergies and improves  mood, anxiety and mental focus. Kombochu is also rich in antioxidants which may improve immunity, reduce inflammation and slow aging.

Its glucosamine content makes it a wonderful remedy for those with painful arthritis. This compound is a precursor to hyaluronic acid which preserves cartilage and reduces arthritic pain. Hyaluronic acid also binds to moisture and reduces free radical damage, which makes drinking Kombucha a great way to reduce wrinkles and slow aging.

Although Kombucha contains sugar as an ingredient, the fermentation process uses up the sugar during brewing. This means that kombucha is safe for diabetics and those following a sugar-free diet. This tasty drink can be consumed daily, although it is recommended that you start off with small amounts to begin with and build up slowly to avoid any detoxification symptoms that may occur initially.

Kombucha is easy to make at home, provided you can get your hands on a SCOBY. However, those with compromised immunity, in the case of HIV, cancer and other health issues, are advised to buy it from a supplier who complies with a strict hygiene protocol. The reason for this is that it is more likely to be contaminated or go mouldy if made at home in an unregulated environment. Luckily there are many companies who now make and sell organic kombucha is a variety of delicious flavours.

See a range of companies that provide kombucha.

Sources
http://draxe.com/7-reasons-drink-kombucha-everyday/
http://www.myhealthwire.com/news/diet-nutrition/659
http://www.balancemebeautiful.com/health-benefits-of-kombucha-tea/