What Is Kombucha? And Why Should I Drink It?

Kombucha originated in the Far East around 2,000 years ago, and this beverage is a super food with tremendous health benefits extending to your heart, your brain and (especially) your gut.

Because it is fermented, it contains a large number of living healthy bacteria known as probiotics. These bacteria line your digestive tract and support your immune system, as they absorb nutrients and fight infection and illness. Since 80 percent of your immune system is located in your gut, and the digestive system is the second largest part of your neurological system, it’s no surprise that the gut is considered the “second brain.”

I still have a lot to learn about kombucha, and making it at home, but I want to share what I do know. I hope to inspire you to just start where you are and release your inner wild child to make your own batch of kombucha.

The Quick Story of Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented beverage consisting of black tea and sugar that’s used as a functional, probiotic food. It contains a colony of bacteria and yeast that is responsible for initiating the fermentation process, once combined with sugar.

Following fermentation kombucha becomes carbonated and contains vinegar, B vitamins, enzymes, probiotics and a high concentration of acid. The sugar-tea solution is fermented by bacteria and yeast commonly known as a SCOBY, which stands for “symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.”

So what does kombucha taste like? There are a number of different flavors available, but it’s generally fizzy, tart and slightly sweet. Some people find it a healthier substitute for sodas, which can help satisfy that craving for a fizzy drink.

Kombucha is great way to get the benefits of fermentation, and it is delicious. If you enjoy carbonated drinks such as Lacroix or Waterloo, or if you have a coke habit you would like to kick, kombucha might be something to try. While you can buy it in most stores, it is something really fun to brew at home. And, you can make sure only the purest ingredients are included. I love to brew kombucha in the summer when I can use the fruits and veggies from my garden for flavor. It doesn't get any more organic than that.

Why Should You Should Drink It

Kombucha is Full Of Antioxidants

Kombucha contains a ton of antioxidants that will help to detoxify the body and can help protect your body against disease. Those anti-oxidants can help reduce inflammation, and inflammation is a big precursor for many chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. While normal black tea does contain antioxidants, research shows that the fermentation process of kombucha creates antioxidants that are not naturally found in black tea.

Your Gut Needs It

Kombucha supports digestion is because of its high levels of beneficial acid, probiotics, amino acids, and enzymes, which are so important to the health of your gut. And it contains good bacteria, known as probiotics, which are critical to everything from immune function to mental health and nutrient absorption. By balancing out the digestive system, kombucha is aiding so many other systems in your body as well.

It Is Anti-Bacterial

In our guts we have both good and bad bacteria. We see bad things happen when the bad bacteria overpowers and outnumbers the good bacteria. While it may seem weird to drink bacteria to get rid of bacteria, that is exactly what happens. The bacteria in our digestive systems are like an army, working around the clock to defeat the bad bacteria. The more good bacteria you have, the easier it is to eliminate the bad like staph, E. coli, and salmonella.

Every Wednesday in June, I will post a video to the Wild Child Farms Facebook page, sharing the process of making my own kombucha. I will be sharing a step each week, and by the end of June we will have our own home brewed kombucha to enjoy. I hope to inspire you to make your own as well. It is so good and so good for you, and it is fun to make. Join me on Wednesdays and get to brewing your own. This is one way to release your inner wild child right where you are. Using fruits, veggies, and herbs from the garden in your home brewed kombucha is as organic as it gets. I hope you are inspired to stay well by being wild.