Hey Kombucha drinkers! This fizzy drink has been trendy for quite sometime, so let’s take a look at the health benefits.
Kombucha is a fermented tea that contains probiotic bacteria. Due to the hype of probiotics and fermented food in the health world, Kombucha has become very popular and many are willing to spend the $5 on a little bottle.
While it does have some (not many) beneficial probiotics, it shouldn’t be for everyday consumption. The best fermented foods are those in which the bacteria eat the naturally occurring sugars present in the food. Kombucha is different because there isn’t any naturally occurring sugar in brewed tea. This means that sugar needs to be added in order for the bacteria to have something to ferment.
It depends on the company, but generally kombucha is fermented once with a cup of sugar and then a second time with more than a cup of fruit juice. The end product may contain excess sugar, alcohol, candida, yeast, and acetaldehyde (a toxic by-product).
If drinking kombucha leaves you craving carbs a couple hours later, it’s not a great morning or midday option for you. I would instead use it as an occasional treat – like for movie nights or dinners when you want to socially enjoy a non alcoholic beverage.
