Kombucha, the effervescent brew, is on everyone’s lips. This tangy tea beverage reportedly not only satisfies your taste buds with its sweet and sour goodness but also nourishes your gut with its probiotic powers. So, is it as good as everyone claims?
According to registered Dietitian Nhluvuko Ngobeni from Limpopo, kombucha tea is a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, bacteria, and yeast. To make the drink, bacteria and yeast must first grow together to form a culture.
“The culture is then added to the sugar and tea. Then the mixture is allowed to ferment,” he says.
‘I see and feel the benefits’
Connie Mokoena, from Bloemfontein in the Free State, is a fan of kombucha for its health benefits. As a health enthusiast, she has always wanted something that she can drink to feel energised and enjoy, and it became the beverage of choice for her.
“The main thing that caught my attention was its ability to aid in weight loss.”
Connie Mokoena
She says she enjoys its flavourful taste and the energy it provides after drinking it, as well as the physical and mental results she has noticed.
“Physically, I have seen weight loss taking place, as it’s believed to boost weight loss, and I feel very light and energetic.”
She adds, “Mentally, I used to be exhausted every day, even from small tasks, sometimes experiencing frequent headaches. But kombucha has reversed all that and I feel mentally boosted.”
Family favourite
Motsei Moeketsi from Tshwane tells Health for Mzansi that kombucha is quite refreshing and a healthier option to fizzy drinks because it offers health benefits too.
“Kombucha is really good for someone who has digestive issues; it is also an immune booster. Some people claim that it has anti-cancer properties too,” says Moeketsi.
She shares that she grew up drinking kombucha that her grandmother would make, which helped with stomach reflux, stomach-ache, and provided energy.
“I have seen the available ones in shops, and they’re quite similar to what my grandmother used to make when I was growing up.”
Motsei Moeketsi
Moeketsi notes that they offer similar health benefits, and this drink has been passed down from generation to generation; even her kids now enjoy it.
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Nutrition and medicinal benefits
According to Ngobeni, kombucha can improve your health in the following ways:
May aid constipation: As a potential source of probiotics, one of the health benefits of kombucha is its ability to balance good bacteria in the gut and relieve some gastrointestinal issues.
May reduce inflammation: Chronic inflammation is involved in just about every health condition, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, and respiratory illnesses. While kombucha isn’t a first-line treatment for any chronic disease, the drink may complement one’s healthy diet, lifestyle choices, and medication regimen. This is because the tea used to make kombucha contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can lessen inflammation.
May play a role in preventing cancers: This claim is based on tea having antioxidant properties, which helps rid the body of free radicals and other harmful substances that promote the growth of cancerous cells. Kombucha is often made from green tea, which is known for its antioxidant properties.
May help strengthen the immune system: The fermenting bacteria in kombucha can boost immunity.
May boost cardiovascular health: Healthy lifestyle changes can improve one’s cardiovascular health. The potential benefit of kombucha lies in its possible ability to positively influence cholesterol levels, according to some researchers, since high cholesterol is one factor for heart disease.
May promote liver health: Kombucha may improve liver health due to its potential ability to detoxify the body.
May play a role in lowering blood sugar: Drinking kombucha might also benefit those who have insulin resistance or diabetes. The tea can inhibit α-amylase, a protein in the pancreas responsible for higher postprandial (after-meal) glucose levels.
May help maintain healthy weight: Kombucha can be an alternative drink to soda or juices since it is a beverage with fewer calories and less sugar, which may help with weight loss or maintenance.
Enjoy with care
However, there are also downsides, Ngobeni cautions.
He explains that some people may experience digestive upset when drinking kombucha, particularly if consumed in excess. Symptoms such as gas, nausea, and vomiting may occur, and these side effects may be more likely in individuals who consume too much of the drink.
“Drinking too much kombucha may not be good for the teeth.”
Nhluvuko Ngobeni
He further explains, “Kombucha may not be suitable for people with sensitive immune systems in certain situations; for instance, home-brewed kombucha may not have undergone the pasteurisation process.”
Ngobeni emphasises that since kombucha is a result of natural fermentation, improper handling or an unsuitable environment may lead to contamination.
He warns, “Kombucha contaminated with other bacteria or yeast may not be as healthy or may even be dangerous to drink.”
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