Kombucha is really having a moment as a widely used ‘health food’.
Most supermarkets and corner stores usually stock not just one, but several brands of this fermented beverage.
But does kombucha actually provide health benefits? Is it worth all of the hype it is receiving?
As a dietitian, kombucha is not a food that I would go out of my way to recommend to everyone. However, I do see it as a great option when water won’t quite quench that thirst.
I’m really enjoying the taste of kombucha, especially with all the new flavours that have popped up recently.
Most kombucha options are low-calorie, contain very little sugar, and are generally a good option when it comes to beverages.
Although, there are a lot more health claims linked to kombucha online, so let’s explore these.
What Is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a beverage that originated in China & Japan.
It is made by adding specific bacteria, yeast, and sugar to tea. It is then fermented which is a process that uses up the majority of the added sugar. This adds an almost beer or cider-like flavour to the tea.
The bacteria added to the tea comes in the form of a colony of bacteria & yeast which is referred to as a SCOBY.
For anyone who hasn’t seen a SCOBY before, they are not the most appetizing looking but they are not included in the end product.
The fermentation process produces trace amounts of alcohol, gases that make the beverage carbonated, and acetic acid which provides a vinegar-like taste.
Is Kombucha Gut Friendly?
Kombucha is a fermented product made with live bacteria. Because of this, it is often touted as a probiotic-rich option for gut health.
At this point in time, human studies on kombucha consumption and the impact on the gut microbiota are unavailable.
However, preliminary studies in mice have shown some beneficial effects on the gut microbiome from kombucha consumption.
While kombucha likely offers similar gut health benefits to other fermented foods like yoghurt and kimchi, there’s not enough evidence to say for sure.
It is also possible that the probiotics contained in kombucha differ from brand to brand due to the type of SCOBY used in the fermentation process.
I wouldn’t be writing off kombucha’s proposed gut-friendly properties just yet but there are a lot more sure-fire ways to improve the health of your gut microbiome.
Check out our article on improving gut health for more on this topic.
Kombucha & Its Antioxidant Properties
Being produced from black or green tea, most kombuchas boast a fairly good content of polyphenols.
Polyphenols are a type of phytochemical with antioxidant properties. Other sources of this in our diets include fruits, vegetables, legumes, and coffee.
The antioxidant action of these foods plays a role in preventing several diseases related to oxidative stress such as cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Plus, the fermentation process that kombucha undergoes actually increases the total polyphenol content in the end product.
Kombucha is a great source of antioxidants. For most of the population, consuming enough fruits and vegetables would be an even better option than having kombucha daily though.
Key Take-Away
Kombucha is a great beverage option for those who enjoy the taste.
It likely shares many of the same benefits as tea, including being a good source of polyphenols.
In addition, its probiotic content is likely going to be somewhat beneficial for gut health. Although more human studies are needed to verify this.
Kombuchas antioxidant and probiotic content also ranges vastly between the different types of tea used as well as the SCOBY and fermentation process.
So if you enjoy kombucha, absolutely go for it. If you are not the biggest fan, that is also fine. There are many other ways to improve the probiotic and antioxidant content of your diet.
