The fermented tea drink called kombucha has been used for centuries as a health drink. It has recently come to the West via Japan, from which the tea gets its name. Its first recorded use was in China in 221 BC, and it is used regularly in China, Japan, Russia, and Eastern Europe. The name, roughly translated, means, “The Tea of Immortality.”
Why has it earned such a name? Because of its many reported health benefits. Here are just a few:
It Aids Digestion
All fermented foods, such as kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt with active cultures, and Korean pickled vegetables (kimchi) are probiotic in nature. This means they can help with the overall balance of healthy bacteria in your digestive tract.
The body contains both helpful and harmful bacteria. The trouble is that if a person takes a course of antibiotics, those pills will usually kill off both, causing serious damage to what is termed the gut flora that enables your digestive system to break down the food you eat into the useful nutrients that keep the body healthy. Studies have shown that a single course of antibiotics for 1 week can still have an impact on the level of healthy gut flora more than 2 years after the pills were taken.
This being the case, many people are now more interested in adding probiotics to their diet to restore the balance of their gut flora and improve digestion and nutrition.
It Can Help with Leaky Gut Syndrome
It has also been shown to be helpful in reference to “leaky gut syndrome.” As the name suggests, some medications, and certain foods, such as gluten in grains like wheat and rye, affect what is known as the permeability of the small intestine. The small intestine is where 90% of your digestion takes place, with the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients being removed from your food and then transported to all the parts of the body that need those nutrients.
But if the small intestine becomes more permeable, it can leak, meaning small particles of food can get into your abdominal cavity and the nutrients won’t be transported where they need to go. Leaky gut has been linked with a range of autoimmune disorders, in which the body starts to attack itself. Rheumatoid arthritis, MS, and various thyroid conditions are just a few of the autoimmune disorders that many people suffer from, with no cure at present.
Kombucha has been linked to improved intestinal permeability, and thus less leakage and better health.
It Soothes Stomach Ulcers and GERD
Kombucha is mild and soothing, so it reduces stomach inflammation that can result in ulcers, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), in which the stomach acid can churn so much, it can double back on itself and up going into the esophagus.
Help with Arthritis Pain
Because kombucha helps reduce inflammation in the body, it can relieve arthritis pain as part of what it called an anti-inflammatory diet. Kombucha contains glucosamine, which has been used for centuries to improve bone and joint health, helping with hyaluronic acid production, which keeps your joints lubricated and working smoothly. It also boosts collagen, which is the building block of tendons and even your skin, keeping it firm, supple and strong.
There are many more health claims in relation to kombucha, but these are the main ones that have been supported by modern research.