While kombucha may have only recently become popular on mainstream health blogs and the like, people have actually been drinking this healthy fermented beverage for thousands of years.
Not only does kombucha have the same health benefits as regular tea, but it’s also rich in probiotics that are beneficial to your overall well-being. It contains antioxidants that can kill harmful bacteria and has the potential to fight disease.
Plenty of scientific research into the benefits of kombucha has been conducted.
Take a look at a few of them below.
Similar Properties to Green Tea
Green tea is arguably one of the healthiest drinks known to man. This is for a number of reasons, but particularly because it contains bioactive compounds that function as powerful antioxidants. Some kombucha is made from green tea, which means that it contains many of the same plant compounds and benefits.
By drinking green tea regularly, or even by taking supplements that contain it, we can increase the number of calories we burn, improve our cholesterol levels, reduce belly fat, and better control our blood sugar. In addition to this, there have also been studies that suggest that drinking green tea could help reduce the risk of cancers of the breast, colon, and prostate.
Fewer Bacteria
One of the main by-products of kombucha’s fermentation process is acetic acid, which is most commonly found in vinegar. Just like the polyphenols found in tea, acetic acid has the power to kill several potentially harmful micro-organisms.
Kombucha which is made from green and black teas also has strong antibacterial properties that fight infection-causing bacteria and candida yeasts. With these antimicrobial properties, the growth of undesirable bacteria and yeasts is suppressed.
Could Help Manage Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes affects an estimated 450 million people worldwide. The disease is characterised by insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels.
A study conducted on diabetic rats found that kombucha slowed down their digestion of carbohydrates, which helped to reduce their blood sugar levels. It also helped to improve liver and kidney function. Kombucha that is made from green tea is likely to be even more beneficial, given that green tea itself is known to reduce blood sugar levels.
May Help Prevent Cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The disease is characterised by the mutation of cells and of uncontrolled growth of these cells. In studies conducted in test tubes, kombucha was able to help prevent the growth and spread of cancerous cells because of its high concentration of tea polyphenols and antioxidants.
While tea polyphenols’ anti-cancer properties aren’t yet widely understood, it is believed that they are able to prevent the mutation of genes and the growth of cancer cells, as well as promote the death of cancer cells.
Because of this, it has been observed that tea drinkers are less likely to develop certain types of cancers. However, at this stage, whether kombucha has anti-cancer effects on its drinkers has yet to be confirmed. Further studies are needed, but this doesn’t mean you should ever pass up an opportunity to sip on this drink while enjoying your time like looking for betting apps in Australia. You’ll be giving your health a boost regardless.