KOMBUCHA REDEFINED.
What is Kombucha
Kombucha is a fizzy sweet-and-sour drink made with tea. Many people say it helps relieve or prevent a variety of health problems, everything from hair loss to cancer and auto immune disorders. Kombucha has been around for nearly 2,000 years. It was first brewed in China and then spread to Japan and Russia. It became popular in Europe in the early 20th century. Sales in the United States are on the rise because of its reputation as a health and energy drink.
What is it made of?
The basic ingredients in kombucha are yeast, sugar, and black tea.
The mix is set aside for a week or more. During that time, bacteria and acids form in the drink, as well as a small amount of alcohol. This process is known as fermentation, and it’s similar to how cabbage is preserved as sauerkraut or kimchi, or how milk is turned into yogurt. These beneficial bacteria and acids, form a film on top of the liquid called a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). You can use a SCOBY to ferment more kombucha.
Kombucha bacteria includes, lactic-acid bacteria, which can work as a probiotic. Kombucha also contains a healthy dose of B vitamins.
What’re the benefits of drinking it?
It is said kombucha helps with digestion, rids your body of toxins, and boosts your energy. It is also said to boost your immune system, assist in weight loss, ward off high blood pressure and heart disease.
When kombucha is made from green tea, you get its benefits, too. This includes bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your cells from damage.
Green tea may also help you burn fat and protect you from heart disease. Studies in animals show that the drink lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels, among other things.