There was a time when I use to enjoy a cold refreshing glass of soda but later decided to stop drinking soda because I wanted to improve my health. When I stop drinking soda I had to find something more beneficial to my health. That’s when I was introduced to Kombucha. Kombucha originated in the northeast of China centuries ago known as the “Immortal health elixir”. Some call it kombucha mushroom because of the SCOBY (a culture of bacteria) it resembles a mushroom but there is no mushroom associated with kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented sweetened black or green tea that is used as a functional drink that aid in improving your health. The culture (SCOBY) is the sugar tea fermented solution. Harvard Medical School states that a healthy gut will have 100 trillion + microorganisms from 500 different identified species. So bacterium makes up most of the body. Kombucha contains a colony of bacteria and yeast that are responsible for the fermentation process when combined with sugar. The drink that’s fermented becomes carbonated which produces, vinegar, B-vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and organic acid. To make the drink more desirable juice is added to the base brew. The fermented process takes 7-12 days, depending on the temperature and strength of the SCOBY. The taste is tangy and lightly sweetened kind of like a soda, but not as sweet. There are claims that Kombucha has health benefits such as:
*Detoxification
*Reduce belly fat
*Increase Energy Weight loss
*Improve Digestion and Gut Health
* Immune Support
*Improves liver function
Drinks like kombucha, milk kefir, and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, sourdough, and other fermented foods contain billions of beneficial bacteria (probiotics), enzymes, and acids that help keep your gut balanced, which aids in weight loss. When you have healthy digestion your body can eliminate toxins and food properly and provides you more energy. Vitamin B provides support to the body’s metabolic functions which provide overall energy. Kombucha is high in antioxidants which are anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that support your immune system, which is your body's defense against various bacterial and viral infections. Where can you get Kombucha? You can get Kombucha at your local health food store, or grocery store, in different flavors for about $3-5 dollars or just make it at home. There is a different website that has the recipes, and kits that you can purchase, but be very careful there is “bacteria” involved, it can be dangerous if not made correctly.
“Drink to Your Health”