If you’ve dived into your October {re}box already (if not, what have you been doing?!), you will have found a bottle of delicious ginger & lemon kombucha from Loving Foods.
If you’ve never tried kombucha before, this is a great place to start – Light, refreshing, sparkling with warm citrus hints and a gingery kick – the Champagne of kombucha.
Light, refreshing and oh-so-good. Organic green tea, honey and a SCOBY (a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast – don’t worry, they take that out) are combined with double-filtered water and natural ingredients to create a vitamin and enzyme rich, amazing drink, full of beneficial live bacteria.
But what is the big deal about Kombucha? Well firstly it’s a potential source of some pretty powerful probiotics. Fermented foods such as some yoghurts, sauerkraut and kefir contain live micro-organisms. As kombucha is also the product of fermentation, probiotic microbes are also produced. These probiotics can help to balance levels of bacteria in the gut and improve digestion.
There is also evidence to suggest that kombucha may be a source of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from oxidative damage (damage to cells, proteins and DNA that can contribute to ageing). Certain teas, especially green teas, are high in antioxidants, so depending on what variety of tea your kombucha is made from, it could be high in these beneficial antioxidants.
Also, kombucha may contain small amounts of important minerals and vitamins including Vitamin C and several B vitamins although levels of the above are likely to vary between products. On a similar thread, kombucha could also be anti-fungal thanks to one of the by-products of fermentation, acetic acid. It is thought that this may supress the growth of less desirable bacteria whilst promoting more beneficial varieties.
Whilst much more research is needed into the health benefits of kombucha, early studies suggest it is a good addition to your diet. And when it tastes as good as this Loving Foods one, it’s hardly a hassle to include it.
Are you planning to give kombucha a try? I’d love to know!
Love Andrea xx
