You may have been hearing a lot about kombucha, or seen it on the shelf at the supermarket or health food store. But do you actually know what this tea-like drink is?  Kombucha is a fermented tea that is often marketed as a health drink.  Because it is fermented, the tea has a distinct vinegary flavor. Its key ingredient is actually a combination of yeast and bacteria, and is made by a long process of fermentation from a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast).  This fermentation process creates a final product that contains bacteria, yeast, acids, and enzymes.  Together these form a powerful probiotic that touts medicinal healing benefits.

The drink has been around for thousands of years and is believed to have originated in Asia.  Back in the Qin Dynasty (250 B.C.), it was used to aid digestion, and balance the stomach and spleen.  Today, people drink it because it is meant to detoxify the body, boost immunity and restore the body and gut to good health.

What are probiotics?

As mentioned, kombucha is a potent probiotic. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your digestive system. They are known as good bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. While they are naturally found in your body, they can also be found in the form of supplements and certain foods. They can help rebalance your levels of bacteria by restoring the good bacteria in your body that have been lost, lowering the amounts of bad bacteria in your body that can cause infections or viruses, and they can help balance both the good and bad bacteria to ensure stability within your immune system.

Probiotics are recommended because they can help improve digestion as a result of various health conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, infectious diarrhea, and anti-biotic related diarrhea.

There are two main types of probiotics: lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. Lactobacillus is the most common type of probiotic, and is found in yogurt or other fermented foods. This type can help with diarrhea or people who have trouble digesting lactose. Bifidobacterium, which is found in some dairy products, can help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. You can find probiotic supplements at any pharmacy or health food store.

Probiotics can also be found in various food sources aside from just kombucha. Good food sources of probiotics you should be adding to your diet include yogurt, miso, sauerkraut, kefir, microalgae, pickles, tempeh, kimchi, and poi.