Kombucha: A Quandary

What the heck is it?

Choose From One of the Following:

a.)  Rubber hose___ b.)  Persian coffee___c.) Romanian beer___ d.) Fermented tea___

If you guessed a fermented tea, you are absolutely correct and win my utmost admiration.  I only happened across this strange concoction while shopping for groceries at our local Safeway.

 Located on the top shelf of a cooler, above the packaged produce items, in an odd brown bottle, appeared to be a beer of sorts.  Strange place for liquor so I took a closer look.  On the label and much to my surprise, was written: Townshend’s Tea Company Lemon Ginger Cayenne to the left and in bigger letters to the right of it, Brew Dr. Kombucha.

It sounded exotic and a bit risky, but purchased the odd brew anyway; opening it on my way to the car.  I nearly choked on the spot after only one tiny sip.  It was nasty!  However, since I’d paid nearly $4 for the poison, thought gulping it down quickly would help.  Suddenly I started to feel euphoric, light-headed and a bit giddy.  It really was a beer!  Just kidding.

I buy Brew Dr. Kombucha occasionally hoping some of the benefits will counterbalance the taste, but never as a substitute for any other beverage.  And because my curiosity swirling around Kombucha needed closure;  another investigative post spot-lighting on health foods claiming to have miraculous benefits, was challenged.

 A Brief History

Kombucha tea, first thought to have evolved from China*, has been in existence for centuries.  During the Qin Dynasty,  Kombucha was known as Divine Tea and highly regarded for its energy and detoxifying benefits.  Folklore has it spreading to Japan in 414 AD  where the Kombucha elixir, proclaiming digestive relief, was administered to the ailing Emperor Inkyo . (1) From there Kombucha weaved its way throughout Korea and the eastern world.   Kombacha, however, did not become a commercialized small batch beverage in North America until the late 1990’s. (1)

Kombucha refers to any of a variety of fermented, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea.  It is considered a functional drink in that it is non-alcoholic and includes a formulation of  ingredients such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids or raw fruit and vegetables.  It is produced by fermenting tea using a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast combination called SCOBY.  Kombucha tea can be made at home but warnings have been issued regarding contamination in the fermentation process, so proceed with caution and exactitude when attempting to create.

 The Benefits and Spoiler Alerts

Benefit #1  

Detoxification:  Kombuka has been hailed as important agent in the detoxification process, detoxification helps produce healthy livers by reversing cell toxicity caused by oxidative stress, and supports the digestive system with its high levels of, beneficial acids, probiotic and enzymes. (2)

Spoiler Alert

There is no scientific evidence produced in the United States to support this claim.  As of 2014 no controlled human trials have been conducted to confirm  Benefit #1.

Benefit #2

Energy — Kombucha’s ability to holistically energize people is credited to the formation of iron that is released from black tea during the fermentation process. It also contains some caffeine and B vitamins, known to invigorate the body.  Through the natural process known as chelation, the “iron released helps boost blood hemoglobin, improving oxygen supply to tissues and stimulating the energy-producing process at the cellular level.”(2)

Spoiler Alert

There is no scientific evidence produced in the United States to support this claim.  As of 2014 no controlled human trials have been conducted to confirm Benefit #2.

Benefit #3

Immune Health — Kombucha is especially favorable in its ability to manage free radicals through antioxidants.  The powerful antioxidant “D-saccharic acid-1, 4-lactone “(DSL),  has been clinically proven to decrease oxidative stress and related immunosuppression and is found in Kombucha subsequent to the fermentation process.  Kombucha also contains vitamin C which is known to protect “against cell damage, inflammatory diseases, body tumors and failing immune system“. (2)

Spoiler Alert

There is no scientific evidence produced in the United States to support this claim.  As of 2014 no controlled human trials have been conducted to confirm Benefit #3.

Benefit #4

 Joint Care — Kombucha may help prevent joint damage.  Kombucha contains glucosamines.   Glucosamines help preserve collagen in the body and may alleviate arthritic discomfort when used in a daily regimen. (2)

Benefit #5

 Cancer Prevention — Kombucha may be beneficial for cancer prevention or recovery.  “Consuming the glucaric acid in kombucha may help reduce the onslaught of cancer in a recent study.” (2)  Russia has been conducting studies and tests for years on the effects of Kombucha on cancer patients and in its prevention and have produced positive results.   Even our President Reagan used Kombucha with hope it would help in his battle with stomach cancer. (2)

Spoiler Alert

There is no scientific evidence produced in the United States to support this claim.  As of 2014 no controlled human trials have been conducted to confirm Benefit #4.

Benefit #6

Weight Loss- As with green tea, Kombucha tea helps a body’s metabolism reduce fat storage encouraging weight loss.

Spoiler Alert

 Tread carefully.  Everybody wants to get on the weight loss band wagon. Reducing food intake and exercise is the only sure way to earn weight loss permanently. (5)