Kombucha 101

Kombucha! Curious about why this fermented tea is a staple for gut healing and maintenance of optimal digestive health?

Kombucha is generally made with a black or green tea. A “SCOBY” (symbiotic colony of bacteria or yeast) is added to the tea. The bacteria (SCOBY) when fed sugar will begin a fermentation process which yields various enzymes, B vitamins, and probiotics. When combined, make a nutritious powerhouse of enzymes to help support our digestion, b vitamins to help support our detox and energy pathways and probiotics, healthy bacteria to help promote gut and immune health.

Probiotics is a general term for healthy bacteria. Our gastrointestinal system is lined with billions of bacteria which are referred to as our gut micro biome. Ideally, this population of bacteria would be populated for the most part with the “good bacteria”. The good bacteria consist of specific strains which are particularly effective at contributing to the digestion of our food, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients.

When the population of bacteria in our gut becomes overpopulated with “bad” bacteria there is a tendency to have issues with indigestion of food, inadequate absorption of nutrients from our food and fermentation of food particles leading to gas, pain and bloating.

Furthermore, 80% of our immune system is generated in the gut and relies on the good bacteria to help sustain its optimal function. Therefore, in conditions where bad bacteria predominates we may see increased frequency of colds and viruses, slower time healing time, or exacerbation of allergies and food sensitivities.

Including a serving of fermented foods provides a food source of probiotics and natural enzymes that help contribute to and maintain optimal gut function. This help ensure adequate nutrient absorption for our cells, the integrity of the gut lining which is essential for preventing food sensitivities and ensuring optimal immune function. Fermented foods include sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, and kombucha.

Things to keep in mind when purchasing your kombucha.

1) It is meant to be unpasteurized, pasteurization would kill the bacteria. The bacteria is the foundational component of the drink that contributes to its gut healing properties.

2) It is meant to be fizzy! That is a natural consequence of the fermentation process.

3) Watch the SUGAR. When purchasing kombucha try to stick to products that have less than 8g of sugar per serving. Sugar is an essential ingredient in the drink as it feeds the bacteria, but any more than 8g of sugar is too much.

How much should I consume?

For optimal gut health, we recommend one to two servings of probiotic foods daily. Which translates to 1-2 cups (250-500ml) of kombucha!

Cheers,

The EASTND team