Are you in love with all those carbonated and caffeinated beverages readily available in the market? Stop ruining your health, right now! In fact, why should you consume a fizzy drink stacked with harmful chemicals when you have something much better than that? Yes, we are talking about ‘Kombucha’, the Chinese ‘elixir of life’. Originated around 2,000 years ago in China, this delicious health tonic has made its way to other countries gradually.
What is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a naturally carbonated sugar-tea solution in which sugar (honey or cane sugar can be used) is fermented by ‘SCOBY’ (a colony of bacteria and yeast) in the presence of black tea (green tea can also be used sometimes). The end product of this fermentation contains a ton of probiotics or good bacteria (gluconacetobacter, acetobactes, lactobacillus, zygosaccharomyces, etc.), B-vitamins, several beneficial acids (acetic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, etc.), enzymes, vinegar and a very small percentage of alcohol.
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10 Health Benefits of Kombucha
From detoxification to immunization, kombucha can do a lot to our physical health. We’ve listed down 10 best of them:
- Improves Overall Health
Kombucha is an amazing source of vitamins, especially vitamin B. Being one of the most important nutrients for our body, B vitamin provides great support to all our bodily functions. Hence, daily intake of kombucha can keep us hale and hearty by reducing stress, anxiety and depression; boosting memory, maintaining cardiovascular health, and so on. It is also helpful in making our skin, hair and nails healthy.
- Aids In Metabolism
As said before, kombucha is full of beneficial bacteria, which facilitate our metabolic functions substantially. Apart from that, it is also enriched with lots of digestive enzymes, which also help in enhancing our metabolic functions to a great extent by breaking down the foods easily and making the absorption of nutrients faster into the bloodstream.
- Makes Digestion Smoother
According to experts, kombucha is one of the best natural antioxidants that play key roles in keeping our digestive system healthy. It contains very high level of probiotics along with plenty of beneficial acids and enzymes, which are extremely helpful in counteracting the free radicals present in our body. If consumed every day, it can cure some of the most common gut problems like stomach ulcer, heartburn, leaky gut, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and so forth.
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- Promotes Weight Loss
Several studies have found that kombucha is rich in acetic acid and polyphenols, which are known to be very effective for shedding off those extra pounds. However, this needs to be backed by some more data-driven studies.
- Detoxifies Body Naturally
The antioxidant properties of kombucha make it one of the best natural detoxifiers. The presence of good bacteria in it contributes to this quality to a great extent. Regular intake of kombucha is found to have immense positive effects on our liver. It offsets liver cell toxicity by preventing oxidative injury. In other words, the concoction helps in cleansing the liver cells and supports normal functions of the organ.
- Strengthens Immune System
A cup of kombucha every day can help you build up immunity naturally. It comprises of D-saccharic acid-1, 4-lactone (DSL), a potent antioxidant that averts cell damage and decreases oxidative stress. As a result, we can stay away from immune-suppression related to it and steer clear of allergies, flu, infections, inflammatory diseases, tumors, etc.
- Prevents Cancerous Growth
A number of researches have shown that kombucha is capable of preventing the growth of cancerous cells. It contains certain ingredient named glucaric acid, which has proven record of reducing the risk of cancer in human beings. Hence, consuming this concoction daily can help you keep malignancy away.
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- Great for Joint Care
When it comes to taking good care of your joints, kombucha can help you in a number of ways. It is loaded with a type of amino sugar called glucosamines, which gives relief from arthritis and acute joint pain by promoting the synthesis of synovial hyaluronic acid and supporting the preservation of collagen in our body.
- Boosts Energy Level
Kombucha works as an amazing natural energy booster. The drink is very high in iron that increases the production of energy at the cellular level and invigorates our body. It also holds caffeine in moderate amount, which boosts our energy naturally.
- Gives Relief from PMS
The B vitamin content of kombucha is very effective in relieving Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). It breaks down excessive estrogen and flushes that out from our body in order to reduce estrogen dominance. This eventually helps us get rid of PMS symptoms.
Words of Caution…
When consumed carefully, kombucha offers plenty of health benefits as mentioned above. However, one must be aware of its potential side effects, such as upset stomach, allergies, minor infections, etc. People with weak immune systems, chronic digestive issues, leaky gut syndrome, anxiety disorders, and pregnant women should stay away from it. If you are planning to brew it yourself, make sure that you are taking all sorts of precautions to avoid contamination. Also, do not drink up more than 8 oz. a day initially to be on the safe side.
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