A mug of kombucha tea for your health? (2024)

FAQs

What does kombucha do to your body? ›

Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea that may have many health benefits, such as improving digestion, boosting the immune system, lowering cholesterol levels, and supporting cardiovascular health.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that four ounces of kombucha can be safely consumed one to three times a day. Overconsumption can lead to headache, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, or ketoacidosis.

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have weakened immune systems should avoid kombucha tea. Others may drink the tea if they like the taste, but only if it comes from a trusted source. Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

Improves your intestinal flora and facilitates weight loss by keeping your digestive system in shape, improving digestion and regulating trips to the bathroom. Kombucha, rich in natural probiotics, balances the bacteria in your intestines, better processing nutrients and filtering waste efficiently.

Boosting your gut health

“Good” bacteria are essential for your gut microbiome to thrive — and fermented foods such as kombucha contain probiotics to help keep those levels high. “Kombucha can really help feed and increase that good, healthy gut bacteria, which can help decrease any bad bacteria,” says Zumpano.

Kombucha may help manage type 2 diabetes

It's characterized by high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. A 2012 study in diabetic rats found that kombucha slowed down the digestion of carbs, which reduced blood sugar levels. It also improved liver and kidney function.

To give your digestive system a kickstart, some health professionals advise drinking kombucha on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. Consuming on an empty stomach means that the living cultures can reach the large intestine more efficiently and better aid with digestion throughout the day.

Does kombucha help you lose belly fat? 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.

Liver Health

While liver detoxification effects have not been proven regarding kombucha, it may offer some form of protection for the liver (hepatoprotection).

While kombucha is safe for most people, it can cause severe side effects in some. Because kombucha is unpasteurized and contains a mix of different types of bacteria and yeasts, it can promote the growth of opportunistic bacteria that can lead to infections in certain people.

Is kombucha bad for blood pressure? ›

Drinking kombucha can, in many cases, help ward off high blood pressure and maintain cardiovascular health. In fact, studies suggest that kombucha may decrease bad cholesterol and improve good cholesterol, perhaps due to the high probiotic content of the popular beverage.

Research posted to the Journal of Chemistry notes that the probiotics and antioxidants in kombucha may have a number of therapeutic benefits, such as helping support a healthy gut microbiome, as well as supporting other organs and body systems such as the liver, heart, and nervous system.

Kombucha is a fermented, fizzy, slightly sweet form of black tea. Some praise the drink for having several possible health benefits, such as constipation relief and prevention. While it is unlikely to substitute medical laxatives, kombucha may help the frequency and consistency of stools.

It detoxifies the digestive system while simultaneously cleansing the liver. The cultured kombucha contains glucuronic acid, an organic acid that binds with toxins in the body and safely eliminates them.

In addition to its antioxidant and probiotic properties, kombucha also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to calm and soothe irritated skin. Its high levels of organic acids also make it an effective natural exfoliant, helping to slough away dead skin cells and reveal a brighter, more even complexion.

Most commercially available kombucha products contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

Kombucha contains vitamins B₁ (thiamine), B₆, and B₁₂, all of which are known to help the body fight depression, stabilize mood, and improve concentration. It also contains vitamin C, which suppresses the release of cortisol (one of the stress hormones).