Do you want to know more about the benefits of kombucha?
The Many Benefits of Kombucha
What is kombucha? Kombucha is a fermented drink that comes from a bacterial culture of the same name. It has so many purported health benefits that it's difficult to list them all. For thousands of years people have consumed kombucha and experienced an overall improvement in their health, starting in China. According to Chinese medicine, kombucha helps regulate your qi, or overall life force, which in turn allows your body to heal itself. There are many different cultures in the world that sing the praises of kombucha for healing a host of ailments, such as:
- Cleanses toxins from the system
- Improves eyesight
- Boosts energy, both in the long and short-term
- Regulates digestion by replenishing intestinal flora
- Improves circulation
- Reduces systemic inflammation
- Heals bladder infections
- Reduces high blood pressure
- Detoxifies the liver
- Helps ease fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
- Clears up skin problems including acne and eczema
- Improves overall feeling of well being
- Much, much more
Wow, that's a tall order! Can kombucha really heal all of these health problems and more? Well, it depends on who you talk to.
What's Been Proven?
Millions of people swear by the many health benefits of drinking kombucha and have been enjoying its healing abilities for thousands of years. That said, medical science has no conclusive evidence that kombucha will actually cure, or even help, health conditions. Just like any other natural supplement, the FDA requires that commercial kombucha retailers clearly mark on their bottles that any health claims are currently unproven.
A Word of Caution
Just like with any nutritional supplement, you should exercise caution when adding something new to your diet or health regimen. Natural remedies are powerful things, and just like any other medicinal substance, they can cause as much harm as they can good. It's important that you talk to your naturopathic doctor or other health care provider before taking any new supplement, especially if you are already seeking treatment for other conditions. Just like pharmaceuticals, there can be conflicts between a supplement and a medication you're already taking.
In other words, please do your homework before starting a new course of natural therapy. Always be aware of exactly what you're putting in your body. It could save you a lot of trouble in the future!
Where Can I Get Kombucha?
If you're looking to try kombucha, you have two options: either buy the liquid that is produced by the kombucha culture, or grow your own. Growing your own is actually very simple, as long as you make sure everything that comes in contact with your kombucha culture is very clean. The culture itself is a combination of beneficial bacteria and yeasts, but it can easily become contaminated if you are careless while handling it. Remember that kombucha juice is a fermented product, meaning that if you aren't mindful of hygiene, other things can grow in your kombucha as well.
But never fear! Kombuchas are actually simple to take care of. All you need to do it keep your culture in a large jar, then feed it black tea and sugar (preferably organic). Once the juice is at an intensity that you like (it grow more intense the longer you let it ferment) you simply drain off the liquid to drink, then "feed" it more tea and sugar.
If you're interested in buying a kombucha, these brands can be found in health food stores:
More Links
If you still want to know more about the benefits of kombucha, there are many resources available on the internet that can help in your research. Here are a few links to get you started:
- HerbalRemedies.com has a great kombucha primer.
- Here is a long list of the benefits of kombucha.
- It's very easy to care for a kombucha yourself, and it's much cheaper than buying the juice bottled!
- You can get a starter kit from here.
