Hey, guys I recently read this post by @greenerz and it inspired me to make a post of my own about one of the best natural sources of good gut bacteria I know.
Kombucha, first discovered in China over 2,000 years ago, has begun to see popularity in the Western World due to its amazing health benefits.
Kombucha is a fermented beverage. Black tea and sugar are used as food for the *bacterial AND yeast colonies that actually live and grow within the drink, initiating the fermentation process. After fermentation is complete kombucha becomes carbonated and contains vinegar, B vitamins as well as a plethora of good stomach bacteria! and a high concentration of acid (acetic, gluconic and lactic).
In the 2014 edition of The Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers from the University of Latvia say the following about the health benefits of kombucha:
It is shown that [kombucha] can efficiently act in health preservation and recovery due to four main properties: detoxification, anti-oxidation, energizing potencies, and promotion of boosting immunity.
It is this combination of goodness that lends itself to providing such amazing health benefits!
- Improved digestion
- Weightlost
- Increased energy
- Cleansing and detoxification (especially the liver)
- Reduced joint pain
- Boosted immune function
- Cancer prevention
The sugar-tea solution is fermented by bacteria and yeast commonly known as a “SCOBY” (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). Although it’s usually made with black tea, kombucha can also be made with green tea too. You can see the SCOBY floating near the top of this mature jar of Kombucha.
The SCOBY can look gross but don't forget the amazing help benefits it offers. Plus it tastes DELICIOUS!
Kombucha is incredibly easy to make at home and I'm sure you could find fermentation kits online or at your local health food store with all the things you need to whip up a batch.
I Hope this has inspired some of you out there to give kombucha a try, and if you're extra brave maybe try and make some yourself!
All the best, HarryNewman