Kombucha
Posted by January Harshe on January 3, 2008
A good friend of mine told me I need to join “KA” or “Kombucha Anonymous”! I love this stuff. I drink G.T.’s Synergy Kombucha because I am too lazy to grow it myself. I like their brand because it is organic, raw and they mix them with a little juice. Some people say it tastes too much like vinegar or wine to them, but I enjoy it very much.
Personally, I have seen some positive effects from drinking it. Before I became pregnant with my daughter, I would have very heavy and crampy menstrual cycles. I would drink 1-2 Synergy Kombuchas and it would lighten them and the pain would subside. It helps me with appetite control and cravings. Also, it has a relaxing effect, which with a 4 and 2 year old and a baby is a miracle. I also drank it during my pregnancy. This was to ensure I was getting enough probiotics and vitamins. (If you are not already drinking it, it can cause detoxing effects, so be cautious when starting while pregnant or nursing). This is also my most mellow baby. Hey, you never know.
Kombucha itself is a microorganism. People mistake it for a mushroom, but it is actually a Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast, also referred to as a SCOBY. It looks like a big pancake. It is usually always prepared with sugar and tea, then fermented. You can get cultures and starter kits to make your own. Then you can continue making it with the mother and baby cultures. There are a ton of sites containing information about where to get starters and how it’s made. As with anything, research it out for yourself and decide what is best for you!
I just want to add some health benefits that people claim they have received from adding Kombucha into their diets. I am not quoting research, but personal experiences.
-relaxation
-clearer mind and sense of wellness
-help heal their cancer
-aids in weight loss
-help with many infections and disease!
Looking on the back of my G.T.’s Synergy Strawberry Komucha, it says it contains 95% organic raw kombucha, 5% strawberry puree, and 100% pure love! It may contain less than 0.5% alcohol due to fermentation. For 1-8 oz serving (2 servings per bottle), it has 25% Folic Acid, 20% Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12. It also has a probiotic content of 1 billion organisms of Lactobatcillus Bacterium and S. Boulardil. Let’s not forget the amino acids and organic acids. 100 mg. L-Theanine, 10 mg. Glucuronic Acid, 25 mg. L(+) Lactic Acid and 30 mg. Usnic Acid.
Here is a great site I found that has more information on the health benefits of Kombucha. OK, all this talk about Kombucha makes me wanna go grab one.
