How Much Kombucha Should I Drink – The 9 Best Reasons
Have you ever tried kombucha?
No?... you should.
This fizzy fermented tea drink offers a plethora of health benefits.
And now, you’re thinking…
How much kombucha should I drink?
First things first.
First of all...
...you get the benefits of tea.
Depending on the exact type, this can include a high level of antioxidants.
Aside from the power of antioxidants, kombucha is a great source of probiotics.
Probiotics can help with a range of issues from acne to hormonal imbalance to depression.
Who will love kombucha?
If you love the benefits of raw apple cider vinegar with the mother, don’t hesitate to try it.
It has those good bacteria and enzymes, yet it goes down easier with less burning.
In fact, you can use them together.
So what’s the catch?
There’s at least one key difference between the two.
I’ll run through that first so you know exactly what a high-quality kombucha contains.
It gets better…
Then, we’ll dive into the 9 biggest benefits you’ll see when you drink kombucha regularly.
Don’t stop reading now…
If kombucha sounds right for you, I’ll share some resources that will help you make your own.
Now let’s dive right in and explore this tangy, nutritious wonder.
What Makes Kombucha... Kombucha?
Here’s the interesting part…
If you’ve found a way to enjoy ACV, good for you.
Personally, I still like to take it in the afternoon.
Years ago, I’d reach for an espresso, but now I like the quick, clean shot of energy ACV gives.
No jitters or dehydration!
Lately though, I find myself periodically searching for a cold bottle of homemade kombucha.
The magic of kombucha is in part found within its SCOBY.
“uh, what?”
A SCOBY refers to a symbiotic colony (or culture) of bacteria and yeast.
So how is this different from the Mother found in ACV?
There are a lot of similarities on sight, but it all comes down to sugar.
Apple cider vinegar comes from fermented apples, so the sugar is often strictly fructose.
Kombucha contains fructose and glucose.
Let me break this down for you…
During fermentation, the glucose becomes gluconic and glucuronic acids, among others. These acids are responsible for some of the benefits we’re going to look at in just a minute.
The fact that SCOBYs are like huge snowflakes makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact content of each batch.
Stick with me here, because…
No two kombuchas will be the same.
Therefore, you may not know precisely which probiotic strains and compounds are in your drink.
However, kombucha is typically shown to contain B vitamins, a range of amino acids, and more.
You’ll almost certainly get tea polyphenols, many minerals, and some vitamin C.
As to the bacteria and yeast, there are a few strains you will only find in kombucha.
For example...
Zygosaccharomyces kombuchaensis is a yeast specific to kombucha.
Gluconacetobacter kombuchae is a bacteria exclusive to kombucha.
But what does that mean?
If you’re a fan of the familiar Lactobacillus, commonly found in yogurt, you will find it in many kinds of kombucha.
So there... that’s a little bit of what makes kombucha different.
Next...
We’ll learn much more about how it works as we explore 9 reasons why we should be drinking it.
I know that’s a lot to take in, but bear with me…
9 Best Reasons for Drinking Kombucha
1. Better Digestion. Improving digestion is the number one reason why people look into probiotics.
If you’re suspicious of probiotic supplements, drink kombucha every day to ensure you’re getting live, active bacteria.
The good bacteria in kombucha, much like yogurt, encourages good bacterial colonies to reproduce.
Despite the presence of yeast, kombucha is also a good pick for those looking to clear up candida overgrowth.
Actually, some believe that poor digestion can cause candida in the first place.
Either way, indigestion is one of its main symptoms.
How does kombucha help?
First, the propagation of good bacteria can suppress the harmful yeast population by outnumbering it. But the other secret is the tea itself.
Green and black teas commonly used to make kombucha have antifungal and antibacterial properties.
These teas have been shown to fight a range of nasties in the candida species.
If you’re going this route, you should know that green tea performs better against certain candida strains.
2. Stabilize Blood Sugar. Sugar is an essential ingredient in kombucha.
Some kombucha-lovers will tell you that all sugar disappears during fermentation.
I’m skeptical on that point.
Kombucha brewed for a few weeks to a month will certainly contain less, but some remains all the same.
I mention that for people who are on strict no-sugar diets. Please consult your doctor before drinking kombucha for blood sugar benefits.
If you’re good to go, kombucha has a multi-pronged positive effect on blood sugar.
To begin with, the bacteria and yeast create acetic acid. Acetic acid slows down the absorption of carbohydrates which turn to sugar.
This reduces glucose levels.
Beyond that, there’s evidence concerning the impacts of green tea on blood sugar.
Green tea improves your glucose metabolism and reduces your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Polyphenols and polysaccharides specific to green tea are shown to lower blood sugar.
Take for example the notorious EGCG, one such polyphenol.
It acts like insulin in such a way that it discourages the liver from pumping out glucose.
3. Joint Pain and Workout Recovery. Maybe you’ve heard about the benefits of glucosamine and hyaluronic acid on joints.
In fact, these two are often packaged together - click for price, along with chondroitin, in many supplements.
There isn’t any hard evidence stating that kombucha contains glucosamine.
However, kombucha does have the building blocks of various joint-lovers inside.
This is where glucuronic acid comes in.
Glucuronic acid converts to glucosamine and chondroitin in the body.
It can even stimulate collagen production.
Now that’s something that really excites me and anyone else with an interest in aging gracefully!
On the day-to-day side of things, this conversion is great for active people.
It repairs connective tissue, making that next-day burn less intense.
Also, kombucha can be effective against all kinds of inflammation.
4. Better Moods. Among probiotics’ most marvelous benefits is the effect it has on our mental state.
Additionally, there’s a possible link between candida overgrowth and depression.
But even those with other gut disorders can come down with the blah’s.
Mood disorders can occur when bad bacteria in the digestive tract trigger an inflammatory response.
These can manifest as depression, anxiety, anger, and impatience.
Feeling testier or sadder in a way you can’t explain?
Get more probiotics in.
One study found that animals who eat a strain of Lactobacillus produce less cortisol. Cortisol is, of course, the stress hormone.
There’s still a ton more research being done on this link.
I tend to agree with what’s known so far.
Drinking some kombucha every day is one way I like to chill out and unwind.
5. Wake up and Lose Weight. While researching kombucha - click for price, I was fascinated to discover that it was the unofficial beverage of Japanese Samurai warriors. Zen practitioners also said that it would increase your life force.
While probiotics keep me from feeling too edgy, I still get energy from kombucha.
This is energy we all need to get moving!
It has iron and B vitamins, the amount of which vary among brands and batches.
But specifically, black tea kombucha seems to have a noticeable effect on energy levels.
Obviously, this is in part because black tea has a fair amount of caffeine in it.
But on the other hand, there’s some truth to the notion that black and green teas are excellent for weight loss.
Especially for runners and joggers: studies on black tea indicate that it can improve cardiovascular function.
Primarily it’s the catechins, a type of flavonoid found in tea, that can help you lose weight.
Drinking black or green kombucha every day can lead to a decrease in calorie consumption.
If you do consume a fair amount of unhealthy fat, these can additionally prevent the absorption and storage of excess fat.
Finally, there’s the hormonal issue that we are attempting to counter with our SCOBYs.
With respect to women, hormonal imbalances are frequently the cause of stubborn, excess abdominal fat.
6. How Much Kombucha Should I Drink a Day ... to… Detox!
Such a controversial little word, but this may be the most exciting of all 9 reasons.
Our good pal glucuronic acid can convert toxins into soluble materials. This way, they can exit the body much more easily.
If you’re iffy about the word toxin, let’s look at it from another angle.
The liver is your body’s detoxifier.
Kombucha protects your liver from overloading on toxins from medications and alcohol. It’s able to do so due to the high amount of antioxidants.
Regular use of any kind of drug or alcohol can stress the liver until it scars.
Reduce oxidative stress with clean, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as kombucha - every day.
7. Prevent Certain Cancers. My inner skeptic really wakes up when we are talking cancer.
Despite the fact that 1.6 million are diagnosed every year, we still haven’t come up with a cure.
That’s why prevention is in focus.
But can kombucha really help there?
Aren’t we better off hiding out in nature, doing yoga, and subsisting solely on cruciferous veggies?
Modern life doesn’t allow for that!
As it turns out, there are a lot of ways to reduce your risk, and kombucha is one of them.
This study finds that glucaric acid (don’t confuse this with glucuronic) can prevent cancer risk.
Populations that consume a lot of it have less cancer. Glucaric acid is, of course, present in kombucha.
Maybe that’s why former president Ronald Reagan drank it following a cancer diagnosis in the 1980s.
If you remember correctly, he did not succumb to cancer.
And he was healthy for many more years.
But that’s anecdotal, I know.
Still, I can’t ignore the studies that suggest there’s some truth to this.
Kombucha, as well as green tea by itself, may well be a legit cancer preventative.
8. Lower Cholesterol. Do you remember the first time your doctor brought up cholesterol?
It’s a true milestone in aging that often brings with it dietary restrictions and, to much chagrin, medications.
Therefore, it’s handy to know that kombucha is effective in reducing your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
It just may be the thing that prevents you from taking more drastic measures.
This healing, balancing process begins once again in the gut.
This is where kombucha prevents LDL from being absorbed.
Interestingly enough, it can simultaneously increase our HDL (good) cholesterol.
9. Fewer Colds and Flus. So we know that kombucha contains a ton of antioxidants, and this helps us stay well.
To be clear, the big antioxidant we’re paying attention to is DSL (D-saccharic acid-1, 4-lactone).
DSL only comes about during fermentation.
When you factor in the vitamin C content, you have a real one-two punch for any nasty germs that want to take hold.
The exact amount of vitamin C will vary, of course, but that brings us to my final point.
You will notice that we are discussing drinking kombucha every day.
Kombucha, just like our smoothies and salads and water intake, is not a supplement.
These are habits that we commit to in the interest of avoiding excessive supplementation and constant medical intervention.
There’s temptation to do extra, more, the most - anything for better health.
In reality, it’s the sum of all the small actions you take that makes that big difference you’re working toward.
How Much Kombucha Should I Drink Daily
As an unusual, fizzy beverage full of bacteria, there’s plenty more to know about kombucha.
The end-all-be-all of kombucha guides would have to be The Big Book of Kombucha - click for price.
This best-seller has it all!
A description of the benefits, information on the history of kombucha, and a comprehensive guide on how to making your own.
I also love Kombucha Revolution - click for price, a book that shares many hacks and recipes.
It’s highly creative and very inspiring.
Have reservations about growing your own SCOBY?
It gets even easier when you try a home brewing kit -click for price.
Bottles of ready-made raw kombucha typically cost 3 bucks a pop.
You can save a ton of money in the long run by learning how to brew it yourself.
Home brewing kits are a great way to get more comfortable with the process.
BONUS Tip: If you decide to purchase the home brewing kit, you can also purchase extra 100% Organic Kombucha SCOBY - click for price.
Click the video below to help you understand the many health benefits of kombucha.
My final word on...
How Much Kombucha Should I Drink
Maybe kombucha only recently came to your grocery store. Still, it most certainly is not a fad.
There’s evidence that drinking kombucha every day can:
- Improve digestion and clear up candida overgrowth
- Help stabilize blood glucose levels
- Relieve joint pain and improve muscle recovery
- Alleviate depression, anxiety, and mood swings
- Give you extra energy and increase fat loss
- Detoxify the body and protect the liver
- Help reduce the risk of getting cancer in your lifetime
- Lower cholesterol
- Boost the immune system
-
Drinking one kombucha a day can lead to a healthier gut.
Best of all, you don’t have to pay big bucks or search far and wide to get it.
With a little study and prep, you’ll be making your own in no time.
For just pennies a serving!
I’m dying to know what you think of How Much Kombucha Should I Drink?
Have you ever grown a SCOBY?
What’s your favorite kind of kombucha?
Or, is this all brand-new information to you?
Which one of my reasons to drink kombucha is most appealing to you?
Leave a comment and share your input today.