Kombucha contains antioxidants They can help reduce inflammation, support your immune systems and reduce DNA damage. They also may help reduce your risk for diseases like cancer.
Kombucha Health Benefits
Advocates say it helps your digestion, rids your body of toxins, and boosts your energy. It's also said to boost your immune system, help you lose weight, ward off high blood pressure and heart disease, and prevent cancer.
Doing a kombucha cleanse by drinking a bottle of kombucha throughout the day, everyday, for 2 weeks can be a good way to kick start its health effects in your body, especially if you're someone who doesn't normally drink it. I would recommend a kombucha cleanse to almost everyone.
Kombucha and other fermented foods are full of antioxidants and probiotics, or live bacteria, that boost the health of intestinal cells, improve immune function and aid in food digestion. “They make the body more efficient,” said Braxton.
Kombucha benefits your body with both its cleansing and detoxification properties related to weight loss and cleansing. It detoxifies the digestive system while simultaneously cleansing the liver.
Some people may experience digestive upset when drinking kombucha, or from drinking too much. Symptoms such as gas, nausea, and vomiting may occur. These side effects may be more likely in people who drink too much kombucha.
Kombucha contains vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 & B12. All of these are known to help the body fight depression. They also improve mood and concentration. If you wonder why Kombucha makes you feel good, B vitamins are the most likely answer.
Kombucha may help with constipation by providing hydration and probiotics that promote gut health. Both may help a person pass stool more easily and regularly.
Liver & Kidney Function - Kombucha acts as a filter, detoxifying your body from the residue left behind in the organs from processed food and aiding in the removal free radicals. Most toxins are fat soluble, so it takes the liver more time to get rid of them.
There are a few populations that should never ingest kombucha. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and individuals with liver or kidney disease, HIV, impaired immune systems, and alcohol dependency should avoid kombucha.
Diarrhea: Kombucha contains caffeine. The caffeine in kombucha, especially when taken in large amounts, can worsen diarrhea. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Kombucha contains caffeine. The caffeine in kombucha, especially when taken in large amounts, can worsen diarrhea and symptoms of IBS.
Drinking kombucha on an empty stomach is the best way to maximize the potency of the living cultures found within. With your stomach clear of any food, the living cultures can pass through your stomach quicker and reach your large intestines to clear harmful bacteria and improve function.
Kombucha can help regulate the metabolism, increasing the speed at which your body burns calories. This prevents carbs from getting stored in the form of belly fat. Metabolisms that run at a consistent rate use calories as they enter the body and limit how much belly fat you have to work off later!
How Often Should You Drink Kombucha? Probiotic foods like kombucha can, and should, be consumed on a daily basis.
Digestive system - kombucha contains gastro-protective properties balancing out the good bacteria in the gut so that it can fight digestive ailments (abdominal distension, gas, gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, bloating, inflammation).
Some people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and bloating report that drinking kombucha helps ease their symptoms. While kombucha may not be a cure for IBS, it can help support a healthy gut and potentially reduce symptoms in some people.
At most, you should drink 1-2 cups of kombucha per day or a maximum of 16 oz. And like many fermented foods, your body may need time to adapt and adjust to the probiotics. Start with a small serving like one half-cup and see how your body reacts. Slowly increase your dose over time if you like!
Another quick note on “doneness” — after around 5 days in the vessel, the brew is ready to drink as-is. It'll already be inoculated with that great, live bacteria. Some people like to drink kombucha right after F1, and that's totally fine. You do not need to flavor and bottle your kombucha before you drink it.
Kombucha is a great choice for rehydrating and recharging your body after exercise. Some studies have suggested that green tea, a key ingredient of kombucha, can also help to boost your metabolism and aid fat burning, which makes kombucha a great workout partner.
Kombucha contains vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6, and B12, all of which are known to help the body fight depression, stabilize mood, and improve concentration. It also contains vitamin C, which suppresses the release of cortisol (one of the stress hormones).
After drinking kombucha, wait at least 30 minutes before eating. This will allow the enamel to harden and protect it from decay. If you would prefer to brush your teeth post kombucha-drinking, then you should also wait 30 minutes for the same reasoning above.
Because kombucha is mostly water, it has excellent hydrating properties. While alcohol is a known diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more and can dehydrate you, research shows that the amount of alcohol in even hard kombucha is so small that it won't have a significant effect on your fluid levels.
Mike mentioned that kombucha never tastes good after a cup of coffee. The theory is that pairing bitter foods with higher-acid foods isn't pleasant, and the floral and fruity notes of the kombucha are lost.