Have you ever tried kombucha? A sparkling drink full of virtues for our body! Despite some precautions to take before getting started, as with the case with everything we consume, this fermented yeast continues to please consumers, thanks to its many benefits. Filled with probiotics and anti-oxidants, it is recommended to relieve many ailments such as those related to the digestive system for example.
It can be made at home with a strain of kombucha or found in organic stores or online grocery stores. No doubt, the tangy taste and thirst-quenching side of this fermented drink will make you kombucha-vir! Would you like to learn more about Kombucha and its benefits? Here is an article to find out everything you need to know about this ancestral beverage.
Originally from Asia, the word Kombucha means Long-lived mushroom. This sparkling and slightly acidic drink has many benefits. But what are they? And who can drink Kombucha? Can you make it at home? We answer all your questions in this article.
What Is Kombucha Tea? Does It Have Any Health Benefits?
Kombucha is a lightly vinegared sparkling drink made from black tea or sweet green tea yeast, and bacteria is placed which appears in the form of a white slightly rubbery disc. This yeast culture is commonly called the mother of Kombucha, but we can also hear it referred to under the term SCOBY, an acronym for Symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.
These microorganisms feed on the sugar contained in the tea preparation and are responsible for its fermentation. The sugar is changed into alcohol, then the alcohol into various acids and carbon dioxide, which explains the effervescent side of the drink.
Benefits Of Kombucha
According to experts, there is not yet enough scientific study proving the virtues of Kombucha on the body. However, this sparkling drink has had many fans since the dawn of time, these fans in nonscientific assertion serves as enough natural evidence of the benefit of Kombucha in our body, and not only for its refreshing side, the yeast it contains makes it a probiotics drink which would have beneficial effects on the intestinal flora, and several nutrition research organizations attest to its effectiveness.
Many of the antioxidants found in Kombucha are polyphenols. One of the advantages of the latter is their power against the formation of free radicals. This important benefit will help to protect our cardiovascular system and body cells by eliminating the free radicals that can attack the body.
Here Is A Non-exhaustive List Of The Possible Benefits Of Kombucha:
- Better digestion and better intestinal comfort
- A bactericidal effects that would protect against certain harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli, responsible for urinary tract infections and gastroenteritis
- An antioxidant effect due to the polyphenols that this drink contains
- Strengthens the immune system, thanks to probiotics, vitamins, and nutrients it also contains
- An asset for losing weight, given its digestive and diuretic properties.
Is It Safe To Consume Kombucha?
Wondering if you can drink Kombucha due to its fermentation. Kombucha may contain possible traces of alcohol, just as its benefits are not yet sufficiently documented according to scientists.
The dangers of Kombucha are not either. However, there is no reason why the consumption of this drink is dangerous, which is confirmed by a study conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Moreover, the microorganisms contained in Kombucha offer protection by harming the development of certain contaminants.
If we had to avoid consuming too much, it would first be for the alcohol contents it contains, since it is a fermented drink, but which does not exceed 0.5%. It could therefore not be recommended for pregnant women. Since Kombucha contains sugar, it is better to avoid drinking it all day.
Although, it is not as sweet as soda. There is no way it could replace good hydration with water. One of the reasons it is advisable to consume this sparkling drink in moderation is Its impact on dental enamel. Indeed, Kombucha has a very low PH, which can affect the health of our teeth. What is the solution? You can sip it through a straw. However, reasonable consumption should not pose any problem just as moderation is expected to be followed in many other conventional drinks.
Kombucha: Recipe And Home Preparation
If we find more and more Kombucha drinks in stores ( and more easily in organic stores), we can also make them at home. To do this, you must first obtain what we call a “starter”, that is to say, a mother of Kombucha (or SCOBY) in its liquid.
You may know someone close to you who can offer you a piece: the mother of Kombucha if you regularly give it sugar to eat and keep it cool, never dies, and continues to grow like many mushrooms, it is a sort of immortal elixir, which is passed down between friends or family. You can also buy a SCOBY in stores or find one from a breeder.
You will find many online stores; choose SCOBY breeders who are passionate about this mushroom, and who work organically. They will explain how to take care of it and give you their Kombucha recipes.
Also Read:- Sip Your Way To Weight Loss: Top 8 Herbal Teas That Help In Weight
Sum Up
Conclusively, be careful when buying Kombucha because some brands add preservatives and pasteurize it, which can cause you to lose all of the expected benefits. Pasteurized Kombucha no longer contains microorganisms, so it no longer has any probiotic effects on our bodies. To ensure you are buying quality Kombucha, and especially without preservatives, we advise you to get it in a physical organic store and choose the most natural Kombucha possible by looking at its composition.
Are you fed up with sugary and unhealthy drinks, unless you have a medical condition that means this ancestral drink is not recommended for you? Kombucha can only have positive effects on your body. As a treatment on an empty stomach, after a hearty meal, or simply to enjoy a refreshing drink, it will become your best ally as an ancient golden drink with an enriching experience
