{"id":18428,"date":"2024-05-10T11:24:25","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T16:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=18428"},"modified":"2024-05-10T11:24:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T16:24:25","slug":"is-kombucha-good-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/is-kombucha-good-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Is kombucha good for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kombucha is a drink that you can find in the refrigerated section of the grocery stores. Many brands market the health benefits, but how can you be sure if kombucha is good for you? Lexi Fitzgerald, a clinical dietitian at OSF HealthCare, shared information on the health benefits of kombucha.<\/p>\n

What is kombucha?<\/h2>\n

Kombucha is a fermented tea. It has a tangy flavor thanks to going through a fermentation process. Some people really like the unique flavor of kombucha while others \u00a0really don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n

How is kombucha made?<\/h2>\n

\u201cKombucha is made of tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast,\u201d Lexi said.<\/p>\n

Black or green tea is added to a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), which is what sets kombucha apart from regular tea.<\/p>\n

When brewing it, the mix needs to be kept at a temperature of less than 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This is when the drink is fermenting.<\/p>\n

After fermentation (usually between one week to one month, depending on how strong you want it), you need to pasteurize it to kill off any bad bacteria and make it safe to drink. To pasteurize, boil the mix to a temperature of at least 180 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 seconds. Once it reaches that high temperature, let it cool immediately.<\/p>\n

The pH level needs to be less than 4.2 to ensure it isn\u2019t too acidic or too basic for the body.<\/p>\n

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Know the best things to eat and drink<\/p>\n

Find a primary care provider<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

After that, the tea needs to be sealed in a clean glass jar and kept in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n

Kombucha benefits<\/h2>\n

One of the main benefits of kombucha is that it contains probiotics, which are healthy bacteria that support your gut health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you drink it in moderation, kombucha can help make you poop if you\u2019re experiencing constipation and support the immune system.<\/p>\n

Some people have said that drinking kombucha has helped them to lose weight. There\u2019s no research to support this yet. But Lexi suggested if you\u2019re trying to lose weight, start with a healthy diet and exercise rather than relying on a drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no miracle drink that\u2019s going to help you lose weight fast,\u201d Lexi said.<\/p>\n

Kombucha dangers<\/h2>\n

Like many drinks you can buy in the grocery store, kombucha often has added sugars.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdded sugars can increase your risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,\u201d Lexi said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRead the nutrition facts label before drinking it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added sugars may be listed on the nutrition facts label<\/a> as any of the following:<\/p>\n