A sweet, fizzy fermented tea, known as Kombucha. A lot of people use it as a drink for their wellbeing but does it actually has any health benefits.
Kombucha contains probiotic bacteria, or friendly ones. It is understood that these microorganisms improve the health of a human.
There is some evidence that kombucha has a variety of health effects, including benefits for gut health, mental health, risk of infection, and liver function, as a result of this. That said, to validate these advantages, further study is required.
The scientific proof behind some of the potential health benefits of kombucha will be presented in this article.
What’s kombucha?
Kombucha is made from bacteria, yeast, sugar, and tea and is a sweet, fizzy drink. Typically, it is yellow-orange in colour and tastes mildly bitter.
To make kombucha, a person with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast may ferment sweetened green or black tea (SCOBY). The yeast in the SCOBY breaks down the sugar in the tea during the fermentation procedure and releases pleasant probiotic bacteria.
Since fermentation, kombucha becomes carbonated, which is why the drink is fizzy.
Possible medical advantages
As a healthier alternative to traditional fizzy drinks and sodas, people have started using kombucha in recent years. Some reports indicate that there are numerous health benefits from probiotic bacteria, such as those in kombucha such as:
1. Health of the gut
Many findings show that kombucha is abundant in probiotics, like other fermented foods. The helpful bacteria that are found in the intestine are similar to probiotic bacteria. Eating a healthy diet containing probiotics can help improve the overall gut health of an individual. By helping the body sustain a balanced population of microorganisms, probiotics will function.
There is some evidence to suggest that probiotics may help with the following, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
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Diarrheaassociated with the use of antibiotics
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Inflammatory disorder in the intestines
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Syndrome of the Irritable Intestinal
There is a need for more study into how kombucha benefits gut wellbeing, although the correlation between the two shows that it can benefit the digestive system.
There is a strong link between gut wellbeing and the role of the immune system. Analysis shows that it will improve immune health and provide a good mix of gut bacteria.
2. Risks of contamination
The process produces a form of acid called acetic acid as kombucha ferments, which is also present in vinegar. Acetic acid has antimicrobial effects, as much research suggests. Other reports also show that kombucha is an antimicrobial, suggesting it can kill microbes and help fight a variety of bacteria.
This implies that by destroying the bacteria that cause them until the body absorbs them, it can help prevent infections. However, Studies has not confirmed this effect in humans.
3. Mental healthcare
It may help foster good mental health by consuming probiotic-rich kombucha. Indeed, a link may exist between probiotics and depression, according to some reports.
Depression and inflammation are closely related, so kombucha’s anti-inflammatory effect can help to relieve certain symptoms of depression.
A 2017 study looked at a variety of recent trials and found that there is strong evidence to show that stress can be reduced by probiotic supplements. That said, to show how successful they are for this reason, more study is required.
However, while some evidence indicates that mental wellbeing can benefit from the ingestion of probiotic-rich foods and drinks, no studies have yet demonstrated that drinking kombucha can directly actually improve mood, reduce depressive symptoms, or benefit some other type of mental health.
4. Cardiac disease
Having elevated cholesterol levels of low-density lipoprotein can increase the risk of heart disease. A 2015 study indicates that kombucha can help decrease heart disease-related cholesterol levels in rats, and other research suggests that probiotic supplements may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
It should be remembered that effects in rats do not generally constitute human effects. More study is required to confirm whether or not kombucha could decrease the risk of human heart disease.
Cholesterol levels and heart disease risk are also affected by food, exercise, weight, behavioural patterns, and inflammation.
How to prepare kombucha at home
People will make their own SCOBY to make this beverage at home by heating and combining water, sugar, black or green tea, and premade kombucha together.
If the SCOBY is ready, let it sit for a week or more in sweetened tea, at room temperature. To allow the SCOBY to breathe, tie a cloth over the top of the jar with elastic, instead of a lid.
Depending on the taste preference of a person, the kombucha will be ready for consumption in 6-12 days; the longer it remains, the less sweet it will get.
Conclusion:
There are indeed possible health advantages of Kombucha. It is important to note, though, that experiments are underway and not all advantages have been confirmed in studies of human volunteers. Although some research indicates that drinking kombucha may help with other causes, including the risk of cancer and weight loss, there is currently inadequate evidence to support these potential benefits.
Kombucha is a probiotic-rich tea that is good to drink as part of a balanced diet whether a person makes it correctly or buys it in-store.
