The kombucha market is gaining popularity in all parts of the world. Here’s all you need to know about it.
Basics Of Kombucha
Fermented food and drinks are taking the world by storm. Fermented foods have a considerable amount of probiotics known to be good for your intestines. Some of the well known fermented foods include kimchi, sauerkraut, cheese and the trendy kombucha.
This is a carbonated drink made up of live bacterias. It is made by brewing sugar, black or green tea, and a leftover liquid from the previous batch and Scoby – it is a symbiotic culture consisting of bacteria and yeast.
This leading agent sparks the fermentation process. Kombucha, otherwise known as the “tea of immortality”, is a drink used for medicinal purposes. The history of kombucha dates back to 2,000 years, reported to have originated from China.
The market of this drink has recently witnessed growth, especially in the U.S, where it is reported to be worth $475 million, said to have quadrupled in the last four years.
Kombucha is promoted as a health drink that improves digestion, strengthens the immune system, detoxifies the body, and reduces blood pressure. Kombucha fans also add that the glass helps in combating diabetes, nervousness, cancer, to name a few.
What’s in A Kombucha?
As people widely begin to practice healthy living, probiotics have become the talk of the town.
Some regard probiotics as essential elements to increasing the “good” bacteria in your body– the ones that help in the efficient functioning of your gut- and simultaneously help in balancing out the bad ones.
In the journal, Annals of Epidemiology, the study reported that the adults who drank kombucha had their sugar levels stabilized to normal ranges.
However, the study also issued a caveat that the supposed benefits of kombucha, like curing cancer and nervousness, are unverified facts and do not have any evidence to support it.
It is also interesting to mention that, unlike yoghurts that are confirmed to have good bacteria, kombucha is not entirely guaranteed to have probiotics.
However, kombucha brands have begun to add probiotics to their products to ensure that their consumers get the maximum benefit.
Kombucha can also be considered an alcoholic drink. Though sold as a non-alcoholic drink in the market, it does have a minimum percentage of alcohol.
The fermented nature of the drink results in it having a small amount of ethanol, and the rate varies from brand to brand. The longer the drink is fermented, the higher the alcohol content will be.
To Drink Or Not To Drink Kombuchas
Kombucha should not be drunk in regular amounts like water. It is not a hydration drink like water and fruit juices that can be consumed in large quantities. Kombucha must be drunk in moderation to prevent any extreme side effects from taking place.
People prone to gastritis must also keep an eye on their consumption, as the acidity content of the drink may induce gastritis. Due to the presence of sugar, diabetic patients are advised to refrain from consuming kombucha.
The bottom line is that kombucha is a health drink like any other kind we find in the market. It may work incredibly well for some, while others may experience painful side effects.
Therefore, though the benefits offered by kombucha cannot be entirely guaranteed, the fermented tea is nevertheless gaining popularity as a drink that can serve as a better alternative to the other soft drinks available in the stores.
