Foodies & Goodies

Is Kombucha Really What It Claims to Be? Bet’cha Didn’t Know This About the Fermented Drink

April 1, 2022

Kombucha used to be only available in hippy cafes, but since word got out that it’s worth a try, it began filling up shelves in grocery stores, food markets, and mainstream cafes. It is this wonder-drink that a lot of people are gushing about because of its supposed health benefits and even celebrities are hooked to this beverage.

It has been touted as a superfood, metabolism booster, and even an elixir of youth, but does this quirky-tasting drink really live up to the claims, or are the promises just overblown?

What is Kombucha?

For those who are still unaware, kombucha is a fermented black or green tea, sometimes both, with yeast, bacteria, and sugar. To make yours, add a SCOBY or symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast to the tea and leave it for fermentation for a couple of weeks. After which, this will turn into a slightly sweet, slightly sour beverage and will separate from the SCOBY. Those who tried it said the drink has a distinct taste, while others say it has a hint of an apple cider.

The Cheese Maker | Kombucha is a fermented green or black tea with sugar, bacteria, and yeast

During fermentation, the SCOBY changes the polyphenols, phytochemicals which are found in fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidant elements, in the tea. Along the way, it raises the acidity, prohibiting micro-organisms to grow. The process is also credited for the shelf-life of the beverage, as with other food and drinks. An example of this is wine, which becomes alcohol as it goes along the process.

Kombucha was said to have originated from China more than 2,000 years ago. It was consumed as a remedial drink. Then, it made its way to Russia and then to eastern European countries. It reached Germany during World War II and became widely known in France and North Africa in the 1950s. Scientists declared the beverage is as helpful to the tummy as yogurt in the 1960s.

Celebrity Fans of Kombucha

Hollywood Reporter | Kourtney Kardashian is a fan of kombucha

Kourtney Kardashian revealed in her app last year that she drinks kombucha and regards it as a treat. She said that it helps in giving good bacteria in the gut, which in turn is essential for healthy-looking skin. Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow was also reported to be a fan – during the wellness summit in Culver City last year, the beverage was one of those served. “Legally Blonde” actress Reese Witherspoon, singer Madonna, and “Catwoman” star Halle Berry reportedly love the drink.

Experts Finally Reveal the Truth

Florida State University’s associate director of sports sciences and medicine Michael Ormsbee debunked myths that declare kombucha boosts the metabolic process, saying there’s yet a study to back this up. The doctor further explained that whenever we eat, our metabolism increases in the digestion and absorption of food, a phenomenon called the thermic effect of food.

“The Plant-Powered Diet” author Sharon Palmer urged the public to look at the potential health risks of kombucha, citing the numerous reported side effects like digestive problems and worst, death. The incident happened in 1995 when a middle-aged woman met her demise after suffering from a heart attack after she had been drinking the beverage for two months.

Deposit Photos | Although some experts believe kombucha has probiotic properties, the claim still lacks further studies

Meanwhile, a lot of experts believe that kombucha supports good gut health because of the probiotic properties that it gained after undergoing fermentation. Because of this, it could promote a healthy gut microbiome, but nutritionists say there needs to be more research done.

More From

What’s Up with Fake Meat? Here’s Why You Should Give It a Try Earlier this year, power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z challenged their fans to join them in becoming vegan, even saying that it is of global importance. Plant-based diet champions are also encouraging the public to not eat meat, citing tons of supposed benefits. Because of the growing number of people switching their lifestyles, there is no doubt that the trend is booming more than ever. However, not all people are convinced of the practice, while others are afraid of a drastic change. But for some, the reason can be as simple as they’re unwilling to or couldn’t give up meat. Reasons to Give Up Meat Vegans have been laying out studies after studies detailing the benefits of eating plant-based food in order to urge people to switch to the other side. The number of those convinced is sharply soaring – a comparemarket.com survey saw 3.5 million Brits who admit they are vegan. The increase, according to University of Oxford’s Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network former director Carolyn Roberts, may be due to the change of attitude toward environmental issues. Photo: Cattle-raising contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=969&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=cnjCXJWgO4aGyAODv62gBQ&q=cattle+raising+&oq=cattle+raising+&gs_l=img.3..0j0i30j0i5i30j0i30j0i24l6.15631.17524..17741...0.0..0.144.1789.0j15......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i67j0i8i30.v9LRIwtoDM0#imgrc=KIgj3UA7PeR3iM: The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization revealed in a 2006 report that cattle-raising contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than cars. It makes up for 37 percent for methane induced by humans and accounts for 64 percent of ammonia. According to a study, we need to consume 90 percent less pork and 75 percent less beef all over the world just to keep the global temperature less than 2 degrees Celsius within the century. Don’t forget about the harm it does to the animals. The Rise of Fake Meat While the aforementioned facts are not enough to convince people to change their eating habits, the food industry came up with fake meats, which impressively taste like the real thing. You are forgiven if you think that meat substitutes were only made a couple of years ago, but according to Chinese food expert Fuchsia Dunlop, it originated in China. In fact, it deeply roots in the colorful and history-rich culinary culture of the Asian country. Photo: Far from most people thought, fake meat actually started in China. https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=969&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=rHjCXLXPFeDbz7sPta2RgAM&q=fake+meat+&oq=fake+meat+&gs_l=img.3..0l7j0i5i30l3.16085.16085..16242...0.0..0.121.121.0j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.FqsVKZIZRSA#imgdii=xVJh1brFl-OIoM:&imgrc=CGIX8mGLvAfDHM: The author of “Land of Fish and Rice: Recipes from the Culinary Heart of China” explained that there were meat imitations in China as early as the Medieval age, which was mostly evident in banquets. An example of which was during the Tang dynasty when imitation pork and mutton dishes were served at a banquet hosted by an official. What Makes Fake Meat Taste Like the Real Deal? Fake meat manufacturers have a competition that’s pretty hard to beat, the real thing. That’s why they must make it a point that their products copy real meat exactly, especially the taste. How do they do this? Impossible Foods, famous for their Impossible Burger that has gotten rave reviews for tasting nothing like vegetables, credits heme, a result of a bioengineering process and is a molecule that gives the patty the “slightly metallic bloody flavor,” chief science officer David Lipman explained. Photo: The Impossible Burger tastes like meat because of heme. https://www.google.com/search?q=impossible+burger&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjQm-SQ5uzhAhXMyYUKHZd8CkEQ_AUIDigB&biw=1920&bih=969#imgrc=txQM-4DN3UznbM: It’s not only the taste that companies are eyeing as the edge over real meat, but even the price point is a favorable factor to attract customers. Impossible Foods’ goal is to compete with the price tag of Safeway’s 80/20 hamburger so that consumers’ decision-making may depend on their money.

More from Foodies & Goodies category