Benefits of Kombucha Tea

I've been learning so much about bacteria in our bodies—how important it is to our health and ways to get more good bacteria into our system. In What's the Scoop on Probiotics and Prebiotics? I mentioned Kombucha tea as a great way to enrich your microbiome. That post followed What's Bugging You?—a serious discussion about the state of an unhealthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to an imbalance of good vs bad bacteria.

Kombucha is a fermented tea consumed for over 2000 years all around the world. It has been extensively studied and applied to several medical issues in Russia, Germany, China and other places. Many make their own Kombucha tea, but I'm happy to see it offered in the grocery stores by several companies. Its natural carbonation makes it a refreshing drink and perfect replacement for sugar-laden soft drinks that can ravage your health.

Why is drinking Kombucha tea, an all natural health beverage teeming with healthy bacteria and amino acids, a good thing? There are a host of healing properties* attributed to Kombucha tea:

• Probiotics—healthy bacteria
• Alkalize the body—balances internal pH
• Detoxify the liver—happy liver = happy mood
• Increase metabolism—rev-up your internal engine
• Improve digestion—keep your system moving
• Rebuild connective tissue—helps with arthritis, gout, asthma, rheumatism
• Cancer prevention
• Alleviate constipation
• Boost energy—helps with chronic fatigue
  
• Reduce blood pressure
• Relieve headaches & migraines
• Reduce kidney stones
• High in antioxidants—destroys free-radicals
• High in polyphenols
• Improve eyesight
• Heal eczema—apply topically to soften skin
• Prevent atherosclerosis
• Heal ulcers—kills h.pylori on contact
• Help clear up candida & yeast infections
• Aid healthy cell regeneration
• Reduce gray hair
• Lower glucose levels—prevents spikes

The probiotics in Kombucha tea re-establish the natural ecology of the gut (GI tract). Since the majority of your immune system exists in the gut, it's important to keep it healthy. That requires a rich diversity of healthy, good-for-you bacteria that you can get from eating fermented foods and drink. The body is equipped to heal itself, but only if it is treated well and given the proper nutrients.

What new healthy food did you try this week?

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*Source: Down Dog Kombucha