Kombucha is a beverage that remained controversial for hundreds of years. This is because when made, it typically ends up containing different levels of alcohol in it. It's created with a fermentation process, causing different levels of alcohol depending on the process used by the brewer. Kombucha is now becoming mainstream because of its health benefits. Companies like Reed’s and KeVita, have created a non-alcoholic version to distribute to grocery and convenience stores. They were officially licensed to release their drinks in the open market.
Today, you can find various types of Kombucha from different brands at most popular stores as it is now considered one of the healthiest commercial beverages available. At present Kombucha is marketed as a good alternative to both, energy drinks as well as sugary soda. This organic and naturally fizzy drink is available in various flavors including lavender, blackberry, hibiscus and raspberry. By the end of 2018 we believe this drink will be coming in almost any flavor imaginable as its popularity will erupt.
What is Kombucha exactly?
Today, instead of considering Kombucha as an alcoholic beverage it's producers market it as a healthy drink that contains the health benefits of probiotics. It is a fermented tea and has a signature flavor of vinegar. People who have drank unflavored Kombucha, with a pungent and vinegary taste have reported that is has helped with their digestion and boosts their energy due to its antioxidant and probiotic properties.
Where does the name originate from?
The name of this drink originates from "Kombu" - A type of japanese seaweed. Also, Cha meaning tea. The drink does not contain any seaweed.
Kombucha's Probiotic Properties
This fermented beverage contains tea and sugar derived from various natural sources like fruits, honey, or cane sugar can be used as an effective probiotic. A colony of yeast and bacteria which are formed within the drink are responsible for starting the process of fermentation in combination with sugar. Kombucha becomes a fizzy carbonated beverage after fermentation that contains vitamin B, vinegar, high concentration of acids like gluconic, lactic and acetic acid, enzymes. For this reason these bacteria are also referred to as cellulose-producing bacteria as the cellulose produced by them help in protecting your cells.
Do you know what probiotics are?
The human body contains various types of bacteria. Some of them can cause health problems but all of them are not dangerous. The immune system of the body removes harmful bacteria from it and retains good bacteria. The good bacteria in the body that help in keeping it healthy are known as Probiotics. They boost the immune system of the body. They are normally found in one’s digestive system. In order to improve the body's Probiotic makeup, various types of fermented foods and drinks are consumed like yogurts and beverages like Kombucha.
Probiotics found in foods and beverages are normally known as friendly bacteria as they are similar to the probiotics found in your body naturally. According to various studies the number of these microorganisms is more than human cells in the body of an adult. In fact the lower part of the digestive tract of your body contains colonies of various types of bacteria including probiotics. According to a survey; some parents give probiotics to their children as a natural way to keep them healthy and fit. (Please see your pediatrician/family doctor before giving anything to children!)
Some of the Probiotic beverages
Mainly dairy based drinks with milk like consistency such as drinkable yogurts are among the probiotic drinks popular today. These drinks are available in various flavours on the dairy shelves of the stores. They contain strains of various types of probiotics like bifidobacterium and lactobacillus commonly used in the United States. Usually a probiotic drink contains 8-10 billion live cultures. Wow!
Health benefits of probiotic foods
👍 Probiotic foods help in maintaining the health of your intestines
👍 Probiotic drinks are known to keep your digestive system healthy
👍Consuming friendly bacteria probiotics help in controlling the growth of harmful bacteria and help in maintaining you gastrointestinal health
👍 Probiotic foods are generally consumed to promote digestion as they can help in relieving symptoms from various digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease etc.
👍Probiotic foods can also help in preventing as well as treating yeast infections in women.
Risks involved with probiotic foods
❗️But before using probiotic products and foods you must talk to your health care provider as there can be certain risk factors also.
Mild gastrointestinal side effects like gas can be experienced after consuming probiotic drinks
You may not need to consume probiotic products if you are healthy as, according to various reports, a normal body contains nearly 100 trillion microorganisms to take care of your digestive system already.
Dairy based probiotics such as yogurt could cause lactose intolerance sufferers discomfort. Certain non-dairy probiotic drinks and foods are also available in the market for those who are intolerant to lactose probiotics.
More about Kombucha
The main ingredient after Kombucha is brewed is what is called a "mushroom". This "mushroom" floats on the top of the drink, it looks like a mushroom but it is actually the live culture of bacteria and yeast. It is referred to as a mushroom as it looks similar to a mushroom cap floating within the drink. The best part of these mushrooms is that they have no fungus properties. These "mushrooms" are actually the combination of bacteria and yeasts that help in boosting your immune system along with providing the benefits of medicinal healing in the form of probiotics.
It is believed that originally Kombucha was popularly used by the health enthusiasts in Asia for thousands of years as a health drink as well as health food. It was restricted in the United States due to higher levels of alcoholic properties.
Reasons of increasing popularity of Kombucha
Recently Kombucha is going mainstream when some of its brewing companies decided to keep its alcohol level in legal limits of non-alcoholic drinks and became licensed to sell their beverage in the open market. Today you can find Kombucha in several different flavors at a number of food stores and health shops in N. America, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, South Africa, The UK and Sweden. According to the reports of industry experts, the estimated sales of Kombucha during last year were nearly $600 million.
We believe Kombucha is going to become much more popular in 2018. The main reason is that people are starting to understand the health risks associate with drinking soda and sugary drinks(including energy drinks). It is exciting to think that with more awareness over the next decade that we could see the demise of the harmful soft drink epidemic placed upon our world.
❗️Please ask your doctor if Kombucha is safe for you. Make sure you are not allergic. Also, it is not advised to drink if you are pregnant or nursing. Don't give to children or infants. Also, don't drink if you have a weakened immune system from HIV/or AIDS. Always ask your doctor before consuming any new fermented beverage.❗️