The Power of Kombucha

The Power of Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage with great health benefits for your heart, brain and especially your gut.  Due to the fermenting process in making kombucha, it contains a large amount 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.  Originating in the Far East over 2000 years ago, it is known as the "Immortal Health Elixir".  Since 80% of our immune system is located in our gut and the digestive system is the second largest part of our neurological system, it is no surprise that the gut is considered the "second brain"  Just a "gut feeling"?  Regularly drinking Kombucha is a great addition to maintaining peak immune health in addition to eating a whole foods based diet.

From FOOD REVOLUTION:

While we lack certainty, an impressive body of studies do suggest that kombucha tea could have antimicrobial, energizing, and detoxification effects. And it may even help prevent disease, including cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

For example:

• Kombucha could potentially help prevent a broad range of diseases. A 2014 review of animal studies published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that kombucha tea contains properties that could help prevent many diseases, particularly “broad-spectrum metabolic and infective disorders.” They concluded that it may be able to help with detoxification, antioxidation, and healthy immune function.
• Kombucha could slow or kill harmful microorganisms. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Food Chemistry reported that kombucha made from both black and green tea had antimicrobial potential. Researchers also found that the green fermented tea had the most antimicrobial potential. Other studies have shown that kombucha could kill bacteria that commonly cause food poisoning.
• Kombucha may have cancer-fighting power. A 2013 study published in Biomedicine & Preventive Nutrition showed that kombucha had remarkable potential to inhibit angiogenesis. (Angiogenesis is the process by which cancers lock in a steady supply of blood and become dangerous.)
• Kombucha may help protect the liver. A 2009 study on some very unfortunate rats publishedin the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology revealed that kombucha tea was effective in improving liver function and lowering the side effects of toxins.
• Kombucha may reduce heart disease risk. In other studies also done on rats, kombucha improved two markers of heart disease in as few as 30 days. A 2015 study published in Pharmaceutical Biology found that kombucha lowered “bad” LDL. It also led to higher levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
• Kombucha may help manage diabetes. A 2012 study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine on diabetic rats found that kombucha slowed down the digestion of carbohydrates, reducing blood sugar levels. Kombucha also improved liver and kidney function.
• Kombucha is a rich source of probiotics. Kombucha is a fermented food and carries a large number of probiotic bacteria that may be beneficial to your digestive health. A 2014 study published in Food Microbiology identified a prominent Lactobacillus population and numerous beneficial yeast species that were abundant in kombucha.

You can purchase Kombucha at just about any grocery store.  You can also make it yourself very easily in about a two-three week period.

STEP #1
From: Cultures For Health

1. Purchase a bottle of raw, unflavored kombucha.

OPTIONAL STEP: Make 1 cup of black or green tea.  While the water is hot, add 1-2 tablespoons white sugar. Mix until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved, then cool completely to room temperature.  While this step is not critical to the process, adding a cup of sweet tea to the bottle of ready-made kombucha gives the yeast and bacteria additional food to consume during the process of growing a new culture.  Learn more about choosing the best ingredients for making kombucha tea.

2. Pour the raw kombucha and the cooled tea into a glass jar.
3. Cover the jar with a tight-weave dish towel or a paper coffee filter. Secure the covering with a tight rubber band.
4. Ferment the tea in a warm spot, 68-85ºF, out of direct sunlight, for about 7 days.  
5. After a week, it is common to see a baby SCOBY developing across the surface of the liquid. A new SCOBY starts off as a clear film or blob and then slowly become less translucent, more white, and thicker as time goes on. If no signs of SCOBY development appear after 3 weeks, discard the batch and start over. We recommend waiting until the SCOBY is at least ¼-inch thick before using it to brew the first batch of kombucha tea. Reaching that thickness may take up to 30 days.
6. Retain the kombucha tea and the new SCOBY for making your first batch of kombucha and then follow our instructions on kombucha tea at home.

STEP #2

You will need a large 2 quart glass jar, never use metal or plastic.

Bring 8 cups of filtered water to a boil.

Steep 3-4 tea bags of unflavored black(preferable), green or white tea for appr 10 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup sugar, for the scoby to consume as food.

Let cool to body temperature, add your scoby and 1 cup kombucha from scoby farm.

Cover jar with a coffee filter or paper towel and secure with a rubber band to keep flies, etc out while brewing.

Place tea in a warm, dark place.

STEP #3

Your scoby will now go to work turning that sweet tea into Kombucha.  The process can take 5-30 days depending on the temperature and other factors.  After a few days you should notice a new "baby" scoby forming.  A few more days later you may notice a faint vinegar smell, signaling that your brew is fermenting.  After a couple of weeks you can sample with straw or wooden spoon, but remember to be patient, good things are happening in there.

STEP #4

When you are satisfied with the flavor, you can now transfer the "booch" to sanitized smaller individual bottles with caps to enhance the fizz.  With clean hands, carefully remove your scoby and 1 -1/2 cup kombucha to original scoby container.  Cover with cloth and your ready for your next batch.  This where you can have the option of flavoring your booch.  Just add 20% of your favorite flavored organic juice.  Set your sealed, filled bottles out at room temp for a few days to promote carbonation and flavor.  You can leave them for a few days or week, then refrigerate them and enjoy!

Kombucha can also be used as a base for salad dressings and sauces.

For more information on Gut Health see my series here: Gut Health: Part 1

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Judd

Gut Bomb!

Change your gut, change your life.

Did you know we have about ten trillion cells in our bodies.  But our microbiome, which consists of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live in and on our bodies, outnumber those cells by ten times!  Almost 100 trillion cells.  The bacteria that live in our "gut" breaks down our food so that the body can access the nutrients it needs.  But the microbes don't do it because they love us and want us to be healthy.  They are pretty selfish, it's how they survive also.  There are over five hundred different species of microbes living in our guts.  Each has its own agenda, specific function and nutritional needs.  Our gut flora makeup is directly influenced by our dietary choices.  These microbes actually influence our brains and suggest what we crave in our food choices!  We decide which microbes to feed or starve and by doing so we create the ecosystem for them. The decisions we make alter everything about us, from health, emotion and disease.  If we eat healthy, fiber rich nutrient dense foods, the microbes that thrive on them will be strong.  If we feed ourselves sugary, processed foods then those microbes will flourish and dominate our digestive system.  Which in turns creates weak immune systems and opens the door for disease. Remember the 2004 documentary called "Super Size Me" by Morgan Spurlock?  It showed how strengthening the "bad" microbes by diet change his overall health very quickly.  I did a 5-part series on  Gut Heath a few years ago which might be helpful in learning more about our digestive health. It talks about both probiotics and prebiotics that are needed for a strong healthy digestive system. 
One of the most common foods known by all for probiotics is yogurt.  But if you are consuming a plant-based diet you know that yogurt is dairy.  "Milk Doesn't Do A Body Good"  There are many foods that are rich in probiotics such as sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, etc.  Kris and I came across a product called "Coconut Cult", it is an awesome coconut yogurt that one serving contains 25 BILLION of 15 different strains of probiotics and 1 gram of sugar.  I take one spoonful in the morning and Kris puts a spoonful on her fresh fruit and nut bowl.  You can buy it online or if your lucky at a nearby health food store.  Check their website for availability.  The closest store to us was in Palm Beach Gardens (180 miles south) at Nutrition Smart.  I have been working in that area for the past several weeks and they held a jar for me until I was able to pick it up(it flies off the selves)  Shout out to Joseph, Thank you! 

A healthy gut is the most important part of living a healthy life.

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Judd