4 Proven Health Benefits of Kombucha

Kombucha is a slightly fizzy fermented drink originating from Asia and Eastern Europe. It has quickly gained popularity in North America in the last few years, but very few people understand what kombucha is and what makes it so great. Some people may have heard of it, but aren’t sure if all its purported benefits are based on solid ground. 

Well, we’re here to tell you that there are plenty of benefits of kombucha that have been proven, and you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice by dismissing it as just another health craze. Let’s take a look at some of kombucha’s benefits that have been backed by science. 

It Could Boost Your Metabolism

A lot of people may assume that their metabolism can’t be changed, but this isn’t true. Kombucha is often made from green tea which contains a compound called EGCG. This has metabolism-boosting properties that have been widely studied. One study that was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that catechins, the class of compounds that EGCG belongs to, can boost adult metabolic rates. 

This all depends on the quality of the kombucha you buy, however. So, when you shop for kombucha in B.C., make sure that you look at the quality of the ingredients being used and their concentration to know if you’ll get a good dose of catechins.

It Can Help Relieve Gastrointestinal Issues

As with most fermented products, kombucha promotes the formation of good bacteria in the gut and could help treat or alleviate the symptoms of many gastrointestinal issues. One study that was released in the Food Microbiology Journal found that kombucha contained high populations of lactobacillus, which is a kind of probiotic. This probiotic has been shown to reduce inflammation in the gut and could help relieve things like irritable bowel syndrome and constipation, among others. 

Reduces Overall Inflammation

Kombucha may not only help with inflammation in the gut, however. Kombucha is very high in polyphenols which have strong antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can help reduce inflammation all over the body and relieve a wide variety of diseases that are triggered by it, such as arthritis, heart disease, and various allergies. Having a diet rich in polyphenols could help reduce the effects of some of these conditions.

Speaking of heart disease, animal studies have found that kombucha could help balance LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, which are two markers of heart disease. One study also found that green tea drinkers were more than 30% less likely to develop heart disease, which is a benefit that may carry over to drinking kombucha.

It Can Kill Bacteria

Kombucha produces a lot of acetic acid when it ferments. Acetic acid is found in large quantities in vinegar and this is what gives it a lot of its antibacterial properties. This is also what makes kombucha a great antimicrobial agent. One study found that kombucha that was made from black tea specifically had very high antibacterial properties and was particularly efficient against candida yeast.

These are just some of the proven benefits of kombucha. So, if you are still skeptical about it, you should give it a try and see how you feel.