Benefits Of Drinking Kombucha
There is a reason why kombucha is known as the "elixir of life". Furthermore, our kombucha is enhanced with extra probiotics and antioxidants. Those who consume it will experience wonderful and promising benefits.
Improves Immunity
Kombucha has been proven to be effective in improving immunity of all age groups. [REF01]. Kombucha consists of billions of complex multi-species microbial ecosystem (REF02) and these microbes are strong enough to kill many harmful gram negative pathogens such as Salmonella enterica thypi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (REF03). Kombucha enhances immunity via different routes or mechanism of actions (REF04):
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White cells - studies found that different doses of kombucha could enhance white blood cell counts, such as granulocyte, lymphocyte and single cells.
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Spleen and thymus - spleen and thymus index can directly reflect the level of immune functions in the body. Study has indicated that kombucha could protect thymus and spleen thus enhances the function of body's immune.
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Macrophages - macrophages become active to engulf pathogen during an infection. Study has shown that kombucha could enhance the phagocytic activity of these macrophages (REF05).
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Natural killer cells - one of the most efficient immune defense system in the body. Studies has shown that different doses of kombucha increases the ability of natural killer cells against hepatocellular carcinoma in a dose-dependently manner (REF06).
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Super antioxidants - GSH-Px (REF07), SOD (REF08), AKP, CAT are all increased during the consumption of kombucha, thus activity of antioxidant enzymes are greatly enhanced.
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Cleanses Liver & Detox
Damaged and inflamed liver can be detected via raised serum levels of alanine and aspartate transaminases (ALT & AST), as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Study has shown that all 3 indicators can be lowered down (REF01) by consuming kombucha. It is found that such improvement is due to the presence of vitamin C (REF02) in kombucha, as well as another byproduct known as the beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is a potent free radical scavenger and a non-specific stimulator of immune response (REF03). Further more, the protective mechanism is also related to the presence of hyaluronic acid, which reduces free radical-induced damage (REF04). On top of that, glucuronic acid, a powerful substance that protects liver from oxidative stress is also presented in kombucha (REF05). Glucuronic acid also enables to bind up toxins both environmental and metabolically in the liver via UDP-glucuronyl transferase, bringing them to the excretory system, flushing them out from the body.
Improves Brain Health
Kombucha improves brain function through two different routes: the route of "nourishment" and another route of "protection".
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Nourishment route - kombucha tea is rich in probiotics, and these probiotics are able to equip the gut microbes, constantly interact with the brain through gut-brain axis (REF01). When kombucha is consumed, these probiotics will travel down the gut and reside in the guts. Upon residing, these probiotics consume the available prebiotics, turning them into butyric acid, a short chain fatty acids (REF02). These SCFA can be transported to the brain via the gut-brain axis, thus the brain will be nourished with good fats.
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Protection route - kombucha tea produces many compounds with antioxidant power (REF03). A damaged brain is usually determined by dry-wet methods, measuring a few parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) are measured (REF04). In the end of the findings, study shows that The pre-treatment of kombucha tea reduces brain ischemia-induced damage, maybe via anti-lipid peroxidative, free radical scavenging, and antioxidant properties in the blood and brain.
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Improves Stomach
Gastric or gastric ulceration is one painful experience that haunts many people especially the elderly. Kombucha is found to be able to relieve or even heal the stomach via 3 routes:
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Antioxidants route - antioxidants effective not only in protecting gastric mucosal injury, but also inhibiting progression of gastric ulcer. It helps the release of preformed mucus, promoting epithelial recovery after acute injury (REF01). Furthermore, it is found that kombucha is able to retain active vitamin C thus giving the best healing outcome to the damaged mucosal (REF02).
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Biocellulose route - SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) is a three-dimensional cellulosic zoogleal mat with the presence of a symbiotic relationship between acetic acid bacteria and the osmophilic yeast species (REF03 & REF04). This biocellulose possess the ability to promote healing effect through speeding up of cross-linking process (REF05).
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Stomach lining route - probiotics in the kombucha are able to quicken the rate of clearing gastric juices from the stomach (REF06). Not only that, these probiotics are also able to improve the mucous production, improve mucosal blood flow, making the stomach cells healthy, as well as reducing gastric acidity (REF07).
Enhances Colon Performance
Kombucha has great positive effect on colon health, especially in solving constipation problem, as well as preventing colon cancer. There are 3 mechanisms involved:
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Colon energy - probiotics in kombucha will consume prebiotics in the colon, turning them into butyrate, a kind of short chain fatty acid (SCFA). These SCFA serves as the primary fuel source for colonocytes and facilitates the maintenance of the epithelial barrier as well (REF01).
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Rich food for probiotics - kombucha is rich in inulin, and these inulin are a form of prebiotic, one of the food sources for the probiotics (REF02). With these available prebiotics, probiotic effects can be more sustainable and consistent.
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Great antioxidants and compounds - healthy compounds found in kombucha include acetic acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, nucleic acid, folic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, butyric acid, amino acids and glucuronic acid (REF03). Such combination of compounds will help to greatly preventing the risk of colon cancer, ensuring the colon is in a good health.
Weight Loss & Increases Metabolism
While kombucha can be a part of a healthy weight-loss journey, there's no magic solution for losing belly fat. Kombucha may support overall weight management by supporting digestion and gut health, but it's not a stand-alone solution for targeting belly fat. However, it is worth understanding how kombucha helps along the process.
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Kombucha's effect on weight loss is not a direct effect. It basically start with improving body's glucose tolerance by improving insulin sensitivity (REF01). The improvement in glucose tolerance was accompanied by the recovery of acute insulin-induced liver AKT serine phosphorylation. Thus, it is possible to conclude that this probiotic drink has a beneficial effect in reducing the metabolic alterations associated with diet-induced obesity. The presence of caffeine in kombucha also promotes weight loss through increasing body metabolism (REF02). In one specific human study on acetic acid and weight loss over 12 weeks, it was found that the subjects averaged 1.5 kg weight loss, 0.9% decreased body fat, 0.75 inch waist circumference reduction, and a whopping 26% decrease in dangerous triglycerides (REF03).
Promotes Positive Mood
Stay tune! More researches are coming!
Improves Skin Health
Stay tune! More researches are coming!