Kombucha is a type of fermented tea that originated in Asia and has been consumed for many centuries. It offers all the same benefits for your health as regular tea, along with being very high in probiotics. Kombucha is also a rich source of antioxidants, and some of the main health benefits of drinking this tea include fighting several diseases and killing off harmful bacteria. If you’re considering a new beverage to improve your health, here are some of the main benefits of kombucha tea.
Source of Probiotics
Kombucha tea is thought to have originated in Japan or China. It is made by adding yeast, sugar, and certain strains of bacteria to green or black tea before allowing it to ferment for at least one week. Fermented beverages like kombucha go through a process where the yeast and bacteria form a mushroom-like film on the liquid’s surface; this is a living symbiotic colony of yeast and bacteria and can be used to ferment more kombucha tea. A large number of bacteria grow in the mixture, including several species of lactic-acid bacteria that are thought to have probiotic function. This can the improve various aspects of your health by providing healthy bacteria to your gut, including aiding with weight loss, better digestion, and reducing inflammation.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals in the body. Experts believe that the antioxidants that you get from food and beverages are more effective for improving your health compared to taking them in supplement form. When it is made with green tea in particular, kombucha tea has an antioxidant effect in the liver. Studies have shown that drinking kombucha tea can reduce the toxicity in the liver caused by chemicals, in some cases by more than seventy percent.
Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death around the world. So far, studies conducted with rats have found that consuming kombucha can significantly improve two heart disease markers, ‘bad’ LDL and ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels, in a short period of time. Green tea in particular will prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol particles, which reduces the risk of heart disease.
Reduced Risk of Cancer
Another leading cause of death around the world is cancer, a disease that causes cell mutation and uncontrolled cell growth. Test-tube studies have found that kombucha was effective in preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells due to its high concentration of antioxidants and tea polyphenols. While scientists do not yet fully understand the anti-cancer properties of tea polyphenols, it is believed that they promote cancer cell death while blocking the gene mutation and growth of these cells. Because of this, you might not be surprised to hear that tea drinkers are less likely to develop cancer.
If you’re looking for a healthy beverage that can have a range of positive impacts on your health, kombucha might be ideal for you. While there is still more work to be done to find out exactly how it can improve health, studies so far have been very promising.
