Is Kombucha Good For You?
Is Kombucha good for you? In recent years, kombucha has made waves within the health and wellness community as a drink of choice, even arguably reaching mainstream status. It’s often praised for its perceived health benefits - ranging from an impact on gut and heart health.
However, with new research into the strains and CFU counts of living organisms within off-the-shelf Kombucha products, could this fermented superdrink’s powers fold under the microscope?
In the following blog post, we’ve covered everything you need to know about Kombucha and if it’s a probiotic drink you’re after, a better alternative - take a look!
What Is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a black or green fermented tea with a similar carbonation and tangy taste to apple cider vinegar. To make this popular beverage, you start by brewing tea leaves. After this, yeast and bacteria are added. Colonies of bacteria continue to grow as it feeds on the sugar throughout the fermentation process. This fermentation process continues over a few days, while the temperature of this environment is closely monitored.
After fermentation, kombucha is then bottled and chilled to cease the fermentation process. Kombucha is typically served chilled, however there are brands that are sold ambient on shelves. What we know from studies is that living probiotics need to be kept at or below refrigerated temperatures to support survival over substantial periods of time.
So, is kombucha good for you?
On the subject of kombucha and impact on gut health, the evidence just isn’t substantial. Recent studies into kombucha brands sold in major retail found that the average serve tends to have around 100-500 million probiotics at the beginning of shelf life yet no detectable count at the end of shelf life.
Additionally, the specific strains of bacteria found in kombucha are rarely mentioned on the packaging, if at all. This makes it difficult to ascertain the associated health benefits of the probiotics you are consuming.
The impact of stomach acid
If you happen to consume some of the probiotics found in kombucha, without knowing the strain and its robustness, evidence cannot suggest that this bacteria will survive the journey through the stomach.
On their journey to the intestines, most of the naturally occurring and unprotected probiotics in kombucha can die in the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach. This means that there's a limited amount of good bacteria reaching the intestines - leaving you with little to no gut benefits.
On a more positive note, what kombucha does offer is a sugar reduced, even sugar-free alternative to sparkling sodas. However, practice cautious here, as the sugar in probiotic drinks offers up nutrients for the micro-organism. If a drink is ‘sugar free’, the probiotics inside will not have food to sustain life within the product.
So if you are looking to reduce your caloric intake from your daily beverage then kombucha does offer this advantage. It is however, due to the very nature of the product, limited by taste as well. The fermentation process leads to a sour flavour.
Consider a Sparkling Probiotic Drink instead
If you’re looking for a kombucha alternative with a serious probiotic load, check out the PERKii Sparkling Probiotic Drink range. Each serving is bottled with one billion, plant-based probiotics and is naturally flavoured, only 39 calories and under 2.6g of sugar per 100ml.
This micro-shield is also tasteless, meaning a more palatable flavour from the natural ingredients in the drink. Choose between a range of flavours, including:
- Orange, Mango, & Passionfruit
- Watermelon, Mint, & Cucumber
Head to the online store now to shop our Sparkling Probiotic Drink range!
*The information in this article is opinion only, and any advice provided is designed for those with no healthcare issues. Before adjusting your diet, speak with your healthcare professional.
