Kombucha is a fermented tea drink made with a culture called the SCOBY, and because it's a ferment, it carries a range of benefits.
In these lines we'll talk a little about the benefits of kombucha, drawing on our experience and knowledge in crafting this living drink.
Recently, the importance of fermented drinks has been highlighted worldwide for their high properties and benefits. Among these drinks is kombucha — a fermented tea that brings many benefits with it.
In recent years, there has been an alarming global rise in illnesses and deficiencies, caused mainly by poor diet.
Excesses of sugar, saturated fats, canned products, and hyper-processed foods, among other things, have alarmingly affected many people's health.
A new — and very ancient — alternative.
Many years ago, the benefits of kombucha were discovered, and this drink was used, among other things, to give energy to whoever drank it.
In short, we can say that kombucha is a tea fermented by a living culture of beneficial bacteria and yeast.
Although there are several legends and studies about the origin of kombucha, its exact origin isn't known.
Some claim kombucha has existed since 200 BC and originated in China, during the Qin dynasty (220 BC), created for Emperor Qinshi Huangdi by a witch of health.
Others suggest its origin more than 4,500 years ago in Egypt, where a witch of health crafted this healing drink in the era of Pharaoh Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid.
Benefits of Kombucha
The list of kombucha benefits is genuinely long — we could mention reduced cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced spread of cancer cells, improved liver, digestive, and immune function, and more.
However, in this article we'll focus on the benefits with scientific backing, to avoid falling into "miracle product" territory.
1.- Kombucha is a powerful antioxidant
The first key compound in making kombucha is tea. The most common antioxidant in tea is catechin. This compound can donate hydrogen atoms or electrons to stop the oxidation activity caused by the natural presence of metals such as iron and copper in the body.
Oxidation can damage proteins or lipid molecules, which translates into accelerated cellular wear. Without a doubt, one of the main benefits of kombucha is its antioxidant power.
2.- Liver detoxification
Another of tea's components — less well known, but no less important — are other polyphenols that have proven effective at inhibiting the spread of cancer cells, helping the liver detoxify and eliminate carcinogenic agents.
3.- A high concentration of probiotics
One of the best-known benefits of fermented foods is their high probiotic content.
The fermentation process involves exposing the food to a culture of microorganisms that transforms the sugars into acids and alcohols; the resulting fermented food contains a high volume of these when consumed.
In this way, we can say that strengthening the gut flora is another great benefit of kombucha.
4.- Strengthens the immune system
When it comes to immune function, the most important organ in the human body is the gut. That's right — it's responsible for regulating the response against pathogenic agents and microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and so on.
Regular probiotic consumption helps keep the immune system alert and active, making its response against those harmful agents more effective.
This translates into a considerable reduction in illnesses, both stomach-related and many others. This is undoubtedly one of the most interesting benefits of kombucha.
And many more
These are just 4 of the main benefits of kombucha, but we could list a great many more.
It's important to mention that kombucha is NOT a medicine — it's a living, natural drink that can be enjoyed by young people, adults, and even children without a problem.