#the working title right now is “riboflavin flavored”

[lovebugism]

sorry for the lack of drabbles today everyworm. i got a very sudden idea for an eddie munson halloween fic and had to pour my heart and soul into it :P

it's a friends-to-lovers joint where eds helps his bff get revenge on her ex bf. featuring fake dating (kinda), sexy costumes, revenge sex, and fluffy confessions <3

[getoutoftheweeds-blog]

Kombucha – The Elixir of Life

You probably need to be drinking kombucha.  Our family loves it.  Heck, I think most of the world loves it.

I’m willing to bet you have at least heard of kombucha.  It is super popular these days.  So popular, in fact, Wal-Mart even carries it.

In case you don’t know what kombucha is, let me break it down for you. Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that has been dubbed “the elixir of life.”  It is not fermented like beer or wine.  It is fermented more like pickles.  The ferment changes a simple sweet-tea mixture into a concoction that contains folate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine (B1), vitamin B6, niacin (B3), vitamin B12 and organic acids.

It earned its “elixir of life” title belt because of a ton of health benefits.  What are those?  Here are just five (of many):

1) Full of antioxidants like polyphenols.  If there was a scale for antioxidants, kombucha falls in between coffee and green tea.  Antioxidants help fight aging, cardiovascular issues and even cancer. 

2) Supporting gut health by being probiotic.  The probiotics in kombucha help to grow good gut bacteria.

3) Helps support your brain with B-vitamins.  The caffeine can give you a boost as well. 

4) The organic acids in kombucha can kill off bad bacteria in your body.  Kombucha has a pH level that not only fosters the growth of good bacteria in you, but also kills off bacteria that you don’t want. 

5) Those same organic acids are great for your liver, pancreas and many other organs as well. 

As I mentioned, there is some caffeine in kombucha.  But, a lot of it is used up during the fermentation process.  Each brew is a little different, but I have heard that 16-ounces of kombucha has about as much caffeine as a quarter cup of coffee. 

Is kombucha for everyone?  I’d say that it is really good for the vast majority of folks, but some people should avoid it.  Avoid kombucha if you have a digestive disease, like Crohn’s Disease or IBS.  It’ll only irritate those issues.  Also, if you struggle with Candida (yeast infection), it is suggested you steer clear.  It appears that some dental issues are aggravated by kombucha.  Those who have HIV/AIDS are told to avoid kombucha.  And, lastly, if for whatever reason you need to totally avoid alcohol or caffeine, you probably shouldn’t drink kombucha. 

Ok, are you ready to give kombucha a shot?  Good.  It has been my soda replacement for years now.  In fact, with all those health benefits, it is like soda on steroids.  If you’ve never had it before, there are a few things you should know. 

First of all, it has a unique flavor.  It is a bit of an acquired taste.  It is kind of sour and yeasty.  For me, it was kind of like beer.  The first time I had it, it was tolerable, but not the tastiest thing.  It grew on me over time.  Now, I love the stuff. 

Next, don’t chug the bottle right out of the gate.  If you do that, you’ll feel it in your stomach and be taking a huge dump within the hour.  Instead, start out slower.  You need to see how your body is going to react to this stuff.  Work your way up to a full serving. Also, know that there are generally two servings per bottle.  (Read the label.)

Lastly, commercially available kombucha is expensive.  It usually sells in the $3-$4 per bottle range.  But it is not uncommon for it to cost more.  But, if you like it, you can make it at home for pennies on the dollar.  (More on that in a later post.)

Bonus tip: I use kombucha to replace anything that I used to use soda for.  So, not only do I drink it, but I also use it in recipes and make mixed drinks with it. 

There are a ton of kombuchas out there.  Again, this is similar to beer.  It is easy to find certain brands nation-wide yet there are a ton of locally produced, small-batch kombuchas as well.  When I travel, I try to get a local brew from the area I’m in.  (Kind of like a local microbrew.)  They are all a bit different.  Also, there are some really interesting flavors out there.  Most of them are really good.  As I write this, I’m sipping on a ‘bucha with rosemary, peppermint, sage and dandelion root.  It’s scrum-diddly-umptious. 

So, in conclusion, if you are trying to get healthier this year, kombucha is a good thing to try.  Go get yourself a kombucha and sip away.  You will be doing your body a favor. (That is, unless you can’t have it for some reason.)

I’m curious, do you drink kombucha?  Have you tried it?  What were your initial thoughts?  Do you still drink it?

Thanks and have an awesome day!