Pros and Cons of Kombucha

Kombucha is a fuzzy, fermented tea beverage that’s pumped with powerful, live probiotics. This organic and vegan drink is being marketed as a new gut cleaning health trend in 2018, but is it really good for your overall health?

Before you twist open that top, read these helpful Kombucha pros and cons below to determine if this popular health beverage is a hit or a miss for your wellness goals.

Pros

Ginger, guava, pineapple peach and even apple cider are some of many Kombucha drink flavors available at your local health store. Bursting with bubbles, Kombucha beverages are lightly carbonated and unlike soda, they often contain as little as 35 calories per bottle.

Kombucha – its key ingredient, is a live probiotic infused into the sweet tea concoction that propels many of its health properties. Simbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, or SCOBY is the yeast culture that sparks the fermentation process. Studies have proven that drinking 4 ounces of  kombucha daily can significantly improve your health, detoxify your body and reduce liver toxicity by about 70%. Like green tea, kombucha is rich in Vitamin B and packed with powerful antioxidants that boost your immune system and make it easier to ward off colds and harmful bacteria.

Cons

Now that you’re aware of the many benefits, it’s time for a dosage of reality – the cons of Kombucha. Although it is an alkaline-forming food, Kombucha is very acidic. Studies have shown that intake exceeding  4 oz daily may cause mild symptoms, like bloating and gas, or lactic acidosis – a medical condition where excessive acid builds in your bloodstream. During the fermentation process, alcohol levels in Kombucha can rise anywhere from 2-5%, which is why some brews also require a valid 21+ ID to purchase.  If you’re health goal is to expel heavy metals from your body, you should know that the beverage may contain small amount of lead, copper or chromium.

You can’t mention kombucha pros and cons without addressing the high amounts of sugar used to make this fermented sweet tea. Although the production requires large amounts of sugar, it is only used to nourish the culture found in kombucha that provides its great benefits. In fact, the longer the beverage is fermented for,  the lower the sugar levels.  Yes, kombucha is a much healthier alternative to soda and the taste will often resemble apple cider vinegar way more than cola. But is this a sacrifice you’re willing to make for a cleaner gut and a healthier lifestyle? The choice is yours.

Kombucha is one of the fastest -growing health beverages on the market and it is expected to grow into a 1.8 billion-dollar industry by year 2020. Knowing is beautiful and these helpful kombucha pros and cons will help make this health decision an easy one.