Last Updated on December 15, 2021 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD
Kombucha tea is a regular drink for many and is loved for its taste. It is a fermented form of tea that has been consumed for many years and is still popular among all.
You might have noticed the heightened popularity of Kombucha in stores and among people. This is because Kombucha has been appreciated for its many healthy and nutritious properties. It can provide you with a lot of nourishment and keep away several kinds of health ailments.
Kombucha tea is good for many health types and can have significant enhancing performance in the body. However, it is important to learn about Kombucha tea properly before including it as a healthy drink as it can also have certain side effects.
Is Kombucha good for you?
Kombucha tea is a functionally fermented drink that can have a lot of good impacts on health.
The making of Kombucha is done by using the fermentation properties of yeast fungus and bacteria. Sugared black tea or green tea is the base to form a symbiotic culture of the two microbes. This, when added to the tea, begins to ferment it.
Over time with active culturing, the bacteria develop and remove the presence of sugar from the tea. This is sold as a bottled drink in stores or can also be made at home. Other flavors like ginger, cinnamon, and fruit extracts are also added to it at times.
Kombucha is a healthy drink and can provide your body with many antioxidants that help to reduce the harms caused by rising oxidative stress in the body. The presence of antioxidants helps fight the free radicals in the body that often leads to the development of several chronic health risks and severe diseases.
Apart from the antioxidants, Kombucha tea also has probiotic properties. This is what helps in enhancing the functioning of the good bacteria that is found in the gut. It improves gut functioning, contributing to the overall betterment of the digestive system. We will have a closer look at Kombucha tea’s probiotic properties in the coming sections.
Acetic acid is a commonly available substance found in Kombucha tea. It has a very beneficial impact on health as it assists in killing harmful and infectious microbes, mainly bacteria, in the body, namely – E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and ulcer-causing H. Pylori bacteria.
There are a lot of different varieties of Kombucha available. They can range from sweet and calorific to ones that are lower in sugar and healthier. It is important to know your choices well and select one that adds to your present health conditions.
Kombucha is also credited very much for its distinct taste. It is said to taste almost like apple cider vinegar. It also has a tangy as well as a fizzy tinge to it. It is a refreshing drink that can be enjoyed at all times of the day.
Let us have a look at the effects of Kombucha tea on diabetic patients.
Is Kombucha tea good for diabetics?
Surprisingly, the effects of Kombucha tea are a lot more beneficial on diabetic health than other regular kinds of tea or beverages.
It has been observed that drinking Kombucha tea relates to lowering blood sugar levels in the body. This is a major advantage for diabetic patients as it can prevent many complications due to the rising blood glucose levels in the body.
It has several positive influences among diabetic patients because Kombucha is good for the gut and overall metabolism of the body. This assists in improving the digestion of sugars as well.
Moreover, other immunity-boosting qualities of this fermented tea help reduce excess symptoms and severe health ailments that diabetic patients experience.
The presence of antioxidants and bacteria-killing qualities of Kombucha tea also enhances health and reduces deteriorating health.
Kombucha teas have been studied and proved to be good, especially for people with Type 2 Diabetes. It has similar blood sugar-lowering benefits to green tea that is known to be excellent for diabetic individuals.
Therefore, Kombucha tea, which is made from green tea, is best for diabetic consumption. It is lower in sugar and calories and does not lead to any harmful spikes. Instead, it can control blood glucose levels.
Moreover, the good impacts of Kombucha tea on one’s heart can also add more benefits to the diabetic body as diabetics tend to be more prone to developing heart diseases and risks.
In addition to this, the antioxidants found in Kombucha also aid resolving dysfunctions of the kidney and liver. This is very helpful in keeping the diabetic body well functional and supported.
Even though Kombucha tea is good and recommended as a safe tea choice for diabetics, you must still ensure better caution by selecting healthy varieties. Go for green tea Kombucha teas and avoid the ones with added sugars, sweeteners, or extra flavoring.
This can ensure that you skip any side effects or risks. Let us have a look at what can be the risks of drinking Kombucha tea.
9 dangers of Kombucha tea
Certain side effects can be caused by drinking or the over-consumption of Kombucha tea. They are as follows:
- Caffeine in Kombucha tea can worsen prior diarrheic conditions and lead to discomfort in the body. The overuse of it can also lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
- Making Kombucha at home can be a little difficult due to the necessary fermentation needed. Improper recipes and storage can lead to a germ build-up that can lead to other infections or discomforts in the body.
- Some people can be affected by the presence of yeast and bacteria in the tea. It can give rise to infections or also hurt the body’s immune system.
- If you do not select a low-calorie and low-sugar content version of Kombucha tea, it can impact your body.
- Kombucha tea with higher sugars can hamper blood glucose levels in the body and influence the body’s weight.
- Kombucha is a carbonated drink because of which it can be risky for some health types. It can lead to bloating and stomach discomfort. Moreover, carbonated drinks tend to make you gain more weight.
- Over-sweetened unhealthy Kombucha teas are although tasty but can also affect one’s liver functioning.
- It can also hurt the heart and proper maintenance if a better, healthier Kombucha choice is neglected.
- Kombucha tea has lesser caffeine in comparison to black or other brewed teas. But having too much Kombucha or frequent consumptions of it can lead to a caffeine overdose. This can cause sleep disruptions and also headaches. If you are sensitive to these stimulants, you can be gravely affected.
Who should not drink Kombucha tea?
You must avoid having Kombucha tea if you have the following conditions:
- If you have a weak immunity system or are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, you can be severely affected by the consumption of Kombucha tea. Its microbes can weaken your immune system further and cause damage.
- If you are too sensitive to caffeine, you can avoid or stick to minimal amounts of Kombucha tea.
- It is advised to prevent having Kombucha tea if you are supposed to have surgery or just had surgery.
- If you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, having Kombucha can heighten this issue and cause inflammation.
9 health benefits of Kombucha tea
Until now, we discussed the possible side effects of having Kombucha tea and who shouldn’t be having it. But what about the appreciable factors of this tea?
Let us have a look at 9 health benefits of Kombucha tea:
- Kombucha tea can contribute to adding probiotics to the gut bacteria and enhance better digestive performance.
- Kombucha obtained from green tea has many potential benefits of green tea like its active, healthy components. It is low in calories and must be one of your go-to Kombucha choices.
- Properly selected Kombucha tea can help with reducing weight. It can be used as an alternative beverage to otherwise unhealthy and sugary drinks.
- Kombucha tea also helps to detoxify the liver. This enhances liver health and keeps away certain diseases.
- The polyphenols and acetic acid found in Kombucha can help with killing harmful bacteria and microbes that harm the body.
- Kombucha tea is also known as a cancer-reducing agent because of the plenty of antioxidants that combat cancer-causing free radicals.
- Kombucha tea can also reduce bad cholesterol and induce levels of good cholesterol in the body. Hence, it is good for heart health.
- It helps in managing Type 2 diabetes and ensures blood sugar-lowering effects.
- The presence of vitamin B, caffeine, iron, etc., helps release more energy and supply it to the body. Hence, it is a healthy source of energy as well.
Is Kombucha a good probiotic?
Yes, indeed, Kombucha tea is famous as a probiotic agent. This helps to improve the performance of gut bacteria that helps in better breakdown of food.
Kombucha tea is made by adding yeast and bacteria. This forms a SCOBY – Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast, which causes fermentation of the tea used.
This, in turn, produces acetic acid that adds fizz to Kombucha tea. These factors combined make it a probiotic drink.
The lactic acid bacteria have probiotic functions that help improve metabolism, reduce weight, decrease inflammatory effects, and keep away abdominal diseases and complications.
References
https://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/kombucha-power-drink-for-blood-sugar-and-diabetes
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12073
https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/live-well/eat-well/kombucha-it-healthy-drink-people-diabetes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814606004250
https://theorganicdiabetic.org/2018/02/health-benefits-side-effects-of-kombucha/ https://europepmc.org/article/med/14631833/reload=0
