Check out the beverage aisle of your favorite grocer’s health food section and you’ll see kombucha in every flavor you can imagine. This beverage has remarkable kombucha health benefits, earning it a coveted shelf space.  

It turns out that this ancient beverage is chock-full of health benefits. It provides many of the same perks as tea, plus a few extras. 

Why should you add this beverage to your weekly menu? Here are five kombucha health benefits that will make you drink up. 

1. Rich Source of Probiotics 

Kombucha’s most impressive quality is probably the megadose of juicy probiotics it delivers to your intestines. What are probiotics, and why are they so beneficial? 

Probiotics refer to beneficial bacteria that live in your body and perform multiple functions, including fighting off bad bacteria. The probiotics in kombucha come from a combination of ingredients known as “mother” or SCOBY, short for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. 

Such healthy bacteria make up your intestinal microbiome. Researchers have discovered that these colonies communicate with your brain via your vagus nerve and influence multiple facets of your health: 

• Reduces obesity and Type 2 diabetes risk: An imbalance in your microbiome leads your gut to misfire hunger signals to your brain, prompting cravings and weight gain. Furthermore, researchers have associated certain strains of gut bacteria with increased or decreased Type 2 diabetes risk. 
• Influences cancer risk: Alterations in your intestinal microbiome can increase your colorectal cancer risk. Furthermore, certain types of bacteria can help or hinder chemotherapy treatments. 
• Affects the presentation of intestinal diseases: People with inflammatory bowel disease often have dysregulated intestinal microbiomes. 
• Alters your mood and behavior: Your gut manufactures most of your body’s serotonin. This neurotransmitter plays a crucial role in mood. 

Getting more probiotics in your diet is essential to health. Kombucha offers one of the tastiest ways to increase your intake. 

2. Loaded With Antioxidants

One of kombucha’s main ingredients is green or black tea. Tea is loaded with antioxidants, substances that bind with damaging free radicals, removing them from your body before they can mutate and damage your cells. 

Antioxidants have the power to prevent cancer, ease your heart disease risks and maintain a more youthful appearance. Different plant colors typically correlate to various antioxidants — for example, red and blue veggies and fruits are rich in anthocyanins. That’s why eating the rainbow is beneficial — but you can drink it, too. 

How? You can find kombucha that contains nearly any fruit and the goodness of the Camellia Sinensis plant, the source of all tea. You’ll find every hue from blueberries to mango — vary your intake to get more of the good stuff your body’s cells need to fight disease. 

3. Kills Bacteria and Yeast 

It may seem counterintuitive to say that kombucha kills bacteria and yeast. After all, isn’t each bottle full of the stuff? 

However, remember all things in your body exist in a delicate balance. You need good bacteria to wage war against the bad. Kombucha from green or black tea contains a potent form with strong antibacterial properties against infection-causing species. It also reduces Candida yeast levels, a name you might be familiar with if you’ve ever had a yeast infection. 

Furthermore, the fermentation process creates a byproduct called acetic acid. This substance also abounds in vinegar, which makes the white stuff so potent for killing bacteria when housecleaning. It has similar effects inside your body. 

4. Improves Cholesterol Levels 

Did your doctor advise you to reduce your cholesterol levels the last time you had an annual blood test? If so, you might want to add more kombucha to your diet. Why? One study showed that this stuff may reduce your numbers by as much as half. 

Furthermore, kombucha lowers LDL or “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of waxy fat that can clog your arteries. It does so while raising HDL or “good” cholesterol, which protects your heart. Kombucha also increases niacin levels, slowing cholesterol production in the liver and glucuronic acid, which helps your body eliminate excess cholesterol as waste. 

5. Reduces Liver Toxicity 

Perhaps one of the best kombucha benefits is that it can help detox your liver and improve overall function. Here, though, it’s crucial to tread lightly. There are two types of this beverage: 

• Commercial kombucha: Anyone can buy this brew. Although fermentation produces some alcohol, most brands’ levels are lower than 0.5%, making them classifiable as non-alcoholic. 
• Hard kombucha: Hard kombucha uses extra sugar and yeast and takes longer to ferment. The higher alcohol content reduces many of the probiotic benefits, although you still get some with a hefty dose of antioxidants. However, you must be 21 and consume more calories overall. 

Hard kombucha won’t do your liver any favors — please don’t think the benefits cancel out and make it safe. It’s as risky as any other adult libation. However, the commercial kind has shown hepatoprotective effects in animal studies. 

Kombucha Health Benefits

Kombucha is a delicious fermented tea beverage found in many health food stores. It’s chock-full of benefits to support positive health. 

Consider the five kombucha health benefits listed here. Then, head to the store and find your favorite new healthy brew.