KOMBUCHA

Most of you have probably already tried Kombucha or know something about it. Kombucha has been around since 220BC where it first appeared in China as a miracle elixir. Go figure! I'm just now finding out about it. Sometimes y'all must think I live under a rock! Well, for those of you who never heard of it, here is a little introduction. And for those seasoned Kombucha drinkers, please just humor me!

Kombucha is a black tea that is sweetened with cane sugar, fruit or honey. It is then fermented with a mushroom-shaped blob which is the starter culture, symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Although it's final product may contain some of the same properties of the "mushroom tea" that we made from the cow pasture mushrooms when I was young (yeah, young cowgirls are pretty wild and will try anything once), it tastes much better and is safer to drink. Also, SCOBY is completely unrelated to fungi (or cow patties). After fermentation, it becomes a carbonated, vinegary, fizzy drink. Just like beer, the slightly sweet and tangy Kombucha is an acquired taste but very healthful for the body, with the beneficial bacteria acting as a probiotic. Some of the health claims of drinking Kombucha are:

WEIGHT LOSS (high in acetic acid)

INCREASED ENERGY (mega B12)

CANCER PREVENTION (President Reagan drank it daily when battling stomach cancer)

CLEANSING AND DETOXIFICATION

IMMUNE SUPPORT (antioxidants)

REDUCES JOINT PAIN (Glosamine)

If you are adventurous, you may want to make your own. Go here for instructions. If you are still not confident in making your own, you may be able to find a workshop at a garden nursery or health food store where an experienced instructor can guide you. The FDA cautions that home-brewed versions are at a high risk for contamination. Home brews are unpasteurized, so unless you really know what you are doing, it is better to buy a commercially prepared and pasteurized product like the one above. Kombucha is no longer only found in health food stores, I found this brand at Target and on sale! Even then, don't go crazy, the final product contains lactic acid and too much could cause lactic acidosis.

If you choose not to partake in Kombucha, here are some other ways to get beneficial probiotics:

SAUERKRAUT

BEET KVASS

PICKLES

HOMEMADE GINGERALE

KIMCHI

TEMPEH

But if you have a craving for Kombucha, pick up a bottle or two the next time you see it in the store and give your tummy a healthy treat.

Sources: WellnessMama, Dr. Axe Food is Medicine, WebMD

Keep Dreaming,

COLEEN