10 Incredible Health Benefits Of Kombucha

Improvements in gut health. Boosts in immune system functioning.

Disease prevention. Increased energy.

These benefits and more are linked to a beverage that began gaining popularity in the 1990’s.

Of course, this is Lifeboost, so I must be referring to coffee, right?

For once, no.

Today we’re talking about a different, though also powerfully beneficial, beverage: kombucha!

And, though this fizzy, fermented drink has gained attention and popularity in these last 20-30 years, it’s certainly nothing new. In fact, kombucha has been consumed for its magnificent health powers for nearly 2000 years, originally having been termed a health elixir!

So, pull up a chair, pour a cup of coffee…or kombucha…and journey with me now to learn of this brew’s origins, taste, contents, powerful health boosts, and more.

Kombucha Basics

If you’re like me, upon first hearing about kombucha or seeing it in the grocery aisle, the drink can invite a bit of curiosity. I mean, even the name sparks interest.

Personally, I think I’d only randomly seen kombucha on a list of probiotic-rich foods/beverages, so when I saw it at my local grocery store, I thought I’d give it a try.

And, upon my first sip, I was unsure.

It was vinegar-y (that’s a word, right?). It had just enough fizz, not a heavily carbonated taste/feel, but just enough to pleasantly notice it.

It had only a faint hint of sweetness. And, though I was still deciding on whether I really liked it (taste-wise), I couldn’t put it down.

Now, years later, full disclosure…I absolutely love it! In fact, I may have a kombucha problem!

I’ve become a bit of a kombucha snob nowadays, scouring ingredient labels, researching to find the cleanest kombucha available, inquiring where it’s served on tap, and in true snob fashion, passing on various kombucha offerings when they don’t meet my standards.

Yes, kombucha is likely the most refreshing rabbit hole I’ve dove into since coffee!

So then, what is it?

Though it's only recently regaining popularity, kombucha has been around for a very long time.

Considered an ancient food, dating back to as far as 220 BC, kombucha has been used to boost, or should I say ‘booch,’ health as this concoction contains B vitamins, probiotics, and other highly beneficial compounds.

Kombucha is a slightly fizzy beverage made through fermentation. And, it begins by combining tea (black, green, oolong, or white tea), sugar, bacteria, and yeast.

The bacteria and yeast in kombucha is referred to as a SCOBY, or a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast, which is a gelatinous film that will thicken as the drink ferments.

Throughout the fermentation process, the yeast in the SCOBY work to break down the sugar, and in turn produce, or release, good/needed probiotic bacteria. I say ‘needed’ there because this good bacteria is the type your gut needs for healthy balance.

Due to its gut-health supporting powers (because of the good, probiotic-rich, bacteria), kombucha was referred to as the “Immortal Health Elixir” by the Ancient Chinese, who consumed the beverage to treat disease and fight infection.

But, before we get to those benefits and others we’ve learned of in the last 2000 years since kombucha’s initial popularity, let’s answer a few questions about this brew.

First, yes, kombucha is essentially brewed.

The strains of yeast used in making kombucha break down the sugars into alcohol.

A common strain used in this process is Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which produces acetic acid from the alcohol through fermentation. This process, in particular, causes the alcohol content of kombucha to decrease while instead increasing the amount of probiotic agents in the beverage.

At the end of the fermentation process, most store-bought kombucha does contain trace amounts of alcohol, roughly .5% by volume. But by comparison, most beers contain 5% alcohol by volume.

In other words, drinking a bottle of kombucha will not get you drunk. In fact, you’d have to drink 10 bottles of kombucha to reach the alcohol content of one beer.

Most kombucha also contains some kind of flavoring. Though, thankfully we’re not referring to added artificial flavors here.

Adding other flavors to kombucha is accomplished by adding real fruits, spices like ginger or cayenne, or herbs such as rosemary, mint, and sage, to the fermentation process.

These additions can not only enhance the flavor of kombucha, but they may bring added health benefits. For instance, a ginger-infused kombucha is often my go-to for any tummy troubles as the kombucha itself provides my gut with needed probiotics, and the ginger naturally calms my stomach.

Kombucha selections which incorporate fruit in their making can be especially refreshing, and these varieties can also tame the vinegar taste if this is off-putting to you.

Kombucha can be home-brewed, though some experts don’t recommend this as kombucha does contain live, active bacteria cultures, increasing the risk of food poisoning if not handled, stored, and consumed safely.

The alcohol content of homemade kombuchas can also vary greatly, which is why many health professionals recommend purchasing quality kombucha from a trusted source.

And, for those wondering, what about the sugar content of kombucha? While the SCOBY does turn the sugar into useful bacteria through the fermentation process, there is some sugar that remains, giving the final product a hint of sweetness.

However, the sugar content of kombucha is relatively low, and those varieties containing slightly more sugar often incorporate real, whole, fruits in the fermentation process, accounting for this extra bit of sweetness.

Many folks choose kombucha as a healthy, low-calorie, reduced-sugar option instead of reaching for a soda, essentially providing a faint bit of sweetness and some fizz to satisfy this common craving.

And, of course, many people choose kombucha for its many benefits to the body!

10 Magnificent Health Benefits Of Kombucha

1- Reduces Inflammation

Both the teas used in the making of kombucha as well as the probiotics produced within this beverage through its unique fermentation process provide benefits to your body by fighting inflammation.

The teas used in kombucha contain polyphenols, antioxidants which are proven to reduce inflammation all throughout the body.

But, the probiotics in kombucha are likely the biggest benefit aiding your body as it fights inflammation.

Inflammation can occur through injury and illness, but this can also happen upon any damage to your tissues from trauma, toxins, exposure to heat, etc.

As the beneficial bacteria in kombucha help to restore or provide balance in your gut microbiome, this stimulates healthy immune function and decreases the amount of harmful bacteria within your gut which reduces inflammation.

A healthy gut is the most powerful way to fight inflammation throughout your entire body, but some kombucha varieties also contain other beneficial ingredients that aid in this area as well.

Ginger, for instance, is a common kombucha ingredient that contains compounds that inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators, thereby reducing inflammation and your risk of developing the diseases associated with it.

2- Disease And Illness Prevention

Since we just touched on disease prevention as it relates to inflammation, let’s pick up there and go into a bit more detail.

We’ll get more specific regarding these individual benefits in a moment, but the disease prevention qualities of kombucha stem from multiple things, the most prominent being this beverage’s detoxification, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune boosting components.

Most of your immune system is housed in your gut or your digestive tract. Therefore, as the good bacteria in kombucha aid in keeping your gut healthy, your immune system benefits as well. And, when your immune system functions properly you can fight off disease, bacteria, infection, and illness more effectively.

The lactic acid in kombucha also aids in stimulating your immune system, providing antimicrobial protection to your gut.

Other strains of beneficial bacteria found in kombucha boost both antibacterial and antioxidant activity which strengthens your immune system while also preventing infection, specifically those infections associated with the growth of candida.

While kombuchas containing green tea possess the disease-fighting antioxidant benefits associated with this brew already, it’s also noteworthy to point out the the black teas used in making kombucha also gain antioxidant powers as the fermentation process (specifically when using black tea) creates antioxidants like glucaric acid, which is known to aid in the liver’s detoxifying abilities, crucial to your body’s ability to prevent disease.

3- Aids In Diabetes Management

While kombucha does contain sugar, the majority of what is used in concocting this beverage will be metabolized into organic acids. These acids then work to help your body stabilize blood sugar levels.

This is why kombucha is listed as low glycemic, and this same element also aids in the beverage's ability to reduce inflammation, another aid in diabetes management.

Those suffering with diabetes are also prone to liver and kidney troubles, and the antioxidants in kombucha may help to support proper function in these organs.

Animal studies have also given insight into kombucha’s ability to reduce overall symptoms of diabetes.

And, some researchers believe kombucha made with green tea offers the same benefits as this antioxidant-rich beverage (sans fermentation), here linked to a reduced risk of developing diabetes.

4- Increases Energy Levels

We mentioned above that kombucha is a low glycemic index beverage, and this means while kombucha is sweetened, the drink provides energy without giving you the typical sugar high that comes from a spike in your insulin levels.

Kombucha also contains B vitamins, enzymes, and other nutrients which increase oxygen flow, aid in biological functions, and in turn provide your body with energy.

In relation to energy levels, kombucha made with green tea contains EGCG, a catechin, which is a compound found in this antioxidant-rich tea. These compounds have been found to increase metabolism in adults, and as your metabolic rate increases, your body more efficiently converts foods and drinks into energy.

5- Potential Heart Health Aid

An animal study conducted in 2015 potentially links kombucha consumption to the reduction of high cholesterol levels, a contributing factor in heart disease.

In this study, those rats who were given kombucha showed lower levels of “bad” cholesterol and higher levels of “good” cholesterol.

And, while this research was conducted in animals, it is proven in humans that probiotics (abundant in kombucha) do offer the benefit of a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

6- Gut Health, Gut Health, Gut Health

Why the redundancy there? Because while we’ve already touched on kombucha’s benefits to the health of your gut, these rewards deserve a category of their own.

Kombucha’s beneficial acids, probiotics, enzymes, and amino acids make this beverage a gut health super star.

The bacteria found in kombucha are certainly not the bad guys, instead providing good bacteria for your gut which helps to keep bad bacteria from multiplying there as well as maintaining a crucially needed balance between both good and bad bacteria.

This, in turn, helps to fight against free radical damage. And, it also improves immune functioning, aids in nutrient absorption, and even improves the health of your brain.

7- Promotes Mental Clarity

There is a clear connection between your brain and your gut, and kombucha’s gut-health boosts certainly contribute to this beverage’s link to improvements regarding mental clarity and depression.

But, kombucha also contains B vitamins. And, these combined with kombucha’s probiotic content are thought to promote overall mental wellbeing as well as potential treatments for depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

The anti-inflammatory effects of kombucha may also be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of depression as inflammation is strongly linked to this condition.

This is why some supplements used for improving mental health may contain dry kombucha powders/products.

8- May Enhance Joint Function

Kombucha also contains high levels of glucosamines which prompt the release of hyaluronic acid within your joints, providing needed cushioning.

Glucosamines support healthy joints and cartilage by also providing moisture, lubrication, and flexibility in joint tissues while combating free radical damage to your connective tissues as well.

9- Promotes Healthy Detoxification

Kombucha contains enzymes and organic acids which help your body naturally detox, a job largely designated to your liver and kidneys.

These enzymes and acids, namely glucaric acid, aid your pancreas, liver, and kidneys, helping these organs to function optimally and remove waste and toxic build up.

10- May Reduce The Risk Of Cancer

Aside from kombucha’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, both of which are powerful in the fight against cancer, this beverage is also thought to be anticarcinogenic.

The glucaric acid content of kombucha has been shown, in recent studies, to have powerful chemotherapeutic effects, even offering cancer treatment without conventional medicines.

Author, and nobel prize winner, Alexander Solzhenitsyn credited his daily kombucha consumption to treating stomach cancer during his time spent in soviet labor camps. And, even former president Ronald Reagan is said to have used kombucha as a partial means in treating his cancer in 1987.

Lifeboocha Quick Kombucha Powder

For all the amazing health benefits of kombucha, this beverage does have a few drawbacks.

For instance, not all kombuchas are created equally, and this means some kombuchas don’t contain quality ingredients such as organic fruits and teas. And, some don’t use high quality or natural sugars like honey or organic evaporated cane juice.

Then, there’s also a cause for concern when it comes to kombucha packaging, namely that you don’t want sunlight (or artificial indoor light) to taint your kombucha bottle contents. Therefore, dark bottles are a must if you want the best boocha for the best health benefits.

And, since it’s fermented, kombucha must remain refrigerated, which can be inconvenient if you’re traveling and want to have some gut-boosting booch!

And, that’s where Lifeboocha comes in…

Lifeboocha is a kombucha powder that you can add to other beverages or prepare as a stand alone beverage that contains the powerful benefits of kombucha, in a quick and easy mix.

Our kombucha powder is a specialized formula that uses the power of probiotics to create a kombucha that isn’t only gut friendly and all around good for your health but also refreshingly pleasing to your palate.

Lifeboocha is free of any harmful additives, instead being filled with health-promoting nutrients which provide potential benefits to your gut, brain and digestive health, immune system, energy levels, and more.

Our Fizzy Watermelon Mint kombucha powder is alcohol free, dissolves in seconds, and makes the perfect refreshing summertime (or anytime) drink, one that not only tastes amazing but provides boosts to your health as well!!

Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Lifeboocha Kombucha Powder.

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