Kombucha: Miracle Tea or Another Bogus Claim?

Kombucha: Miracle Tea or Another Bogus Claim?

Written By: Samantha McCarthy, MS, RD/LDN

Over the past decade, a special drink has become the new health-conscious favorite: kombucha tea. You may have seen it in Whole Foods or even your local grocer recently. It is popping up everywhere. The reason is that distributors claim it can help many things like arthritis, high blood pressure, immune function, and even cure cancer.

So what is it? Kombucha is made from tea, sugar, and yeast. It is a fermented beverage which means the yeast is combined with a bacteria (kombucha mushroom) to ferment for at least a week. This is a similar process to how yogurt and kimchi are made. The end product is a sweet, fizzy, and tart beverage. It has been consumed for centuries in countries like China, Russia, and Germany.

The health benefits of kombucha, as listed above, have not been proven in research. If you are sensitive to caffeine, beware as kombucha is a tea and does naturally have caffeine present. It is also required to have sugar in it to react with the yeast. It is not particularly high in sugar or caffeine though so it can be part of a well-balanced diet. It is a high acidic product so if you are sensitive to acidity, you want to stay away.

Some research has shown that kombucha can actually be harmful if not prepared properly. Because there are bacteria involved, the risk of contamination is high. Individuals at high risk for food-borne illness should stay away from kombucha, especially if it is prepared at home. Store bought kombucha may be safer as it can be more sterile than a homemade version.

In summary, kombucha has not been shown to be beneficial in any way. More risks have been shown in research than benefits. My recommendation: don�t waste your money, as it can be very expensive!

Sources:

Journal of Food Protection. http://jfoodprotection.org/doi/pdf/10.4315/0362-028X-63.7.976

Consumer Reports. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/02/does-kombucha-tea-have-any-health-benefits/index.htm