How Kombucha Has Improved My Overall Health

I was visiting my family in New Zealand when I came across this peculiar drink that tasted a little weird at first- it was tangy and fizzy, but I enjoyed it. Turns out, my family brews it at home, and I was intrigued so I asked my father how they make it, and I started my own research at the same time. I was so delighted when I saw a myriad of health benefits that this wonder drink boasts.

What in the world is Kombucha? Well, kombucha is basically fermented black or green tea made healthy with the help of a living symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast or SCOBY. The first recorded use of kombucha goes way back 221 BC in China where it was known as "The Tea of Immortality".

It offers a wide range of health benefits like probiotics (for gut and mental health), cancer risk prevention, lowering risk of infection, lowering cholesterol, liver health, weight loss, type 2 diabetes management and clearing of acne and pimples. There are other benefits claimed by kombucha drinkers, but some do not have sufficient scientific back ups and I think it's about time we fund it so that more people can benefit from this magic elixir.

When I started incorporating kombucha to my diet, I noticed a significant improvement to my overall health. I used to be severely constipated, but that has changed; it's strengthened my immune system coz I used to get sick a lot (allergic and non-allergic rhinitis and flu) but ever since I made kombucha a part of my life, I only caught the flu once in a span of three months which is a huge deal for me and I recovered within two days; it also helps curb my soda cravings because it's fizzy and most of all, I rarely get zits and pimples which I attribute to its high Vitamin C content.

What about sugar content? I know there's a lot of people concerned about this very misunderstood substance, but I'm happy to be the bearer of good news! The sugar added in kombucha is consumed by the SCOBY during fermentation so all you sugar haters don't need to worry about that. Isn't it amazing?!

So then, I flew with my very own SCOBY back to Manila and started taking up a new hobby of homebrewing. It's the age of fermentation, henny! Maybe next time I'll be posting about making my own sauerkraut and kimchi too, who knows?!