Kombucha The Mystery Brew

Kombucha The Mystery Brew

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What do Lindsay Lohan and free living Naturopaths across the world have in common? Not much, except that they both love (for the most part) an ancient medicinal remedy which has been subject to much controversy lately: Kombucha, a fermented tea said to originate in China over 2,000 years ago, has become a staple in Lohan's diet. The actor has purportedly been drinking it for over four years, with no sign of stoppage, despite recent confusion as to the alcohol content of the brew.

Kombucha is simply a tea that has had a Kombucha culture introduced to it and has then aged for a short period of time, usually one or two weeks. While aging, the tea itself begins to develop a bacterial mat which settles atop the brewing Kombucha. This is often referred to as a "SCOBY," or a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. This leathery, pancake-like organism is what produces bacteria known as Gluconacetobacter xylinus, as well as varying strains of lactobacillus bacteria, the components which Kombucha lovers claim give the tea its medicinal qualities. The end result is a carbonated, slightly sour and undeniably odd flavor. Tina Fey has lovingly described the flavor as being like "a wine cooler left in a hot car". Despite the harsh claims of some, many use Kombucha solely to improve their health, not an unwise venture for a remedy with a chemical background as rich as Kombucha.

The supposed health benefits of the brew are abundant, ranging from anti-oxidative qualities, anticancer , and antimicrobial among many others. Many, including the popular blog Well + Good NYC even claim that Kombucha can act as a beauty potion of sorts, as it supposedly does wonders for the skin, bringing about clarity and helping fight acne with its body-alkalizing properties. In addition to this, Kombucha has been known to contain various amino acids, as well as B-vitamins, making it a near perfect beverage for athletes of all types.

The first recorded cases of Kombucha usage come from Russia during the 19th century; however, many Chinese claim that the tea originated in their country, thousands of years earlier. While evidence could point in either direction, the fact remains that Kombucha has exploded in popularity in the past 15 years. Kombucha has gone from being practically unattainable in the 1990's to being a health essential in many circles, and is now flying off the shelves in every store wise enough to stock the product. "The sales are so remarkable that the first time I saw {the numbers}, I thought it was a mistake," says Perry Abbenante, senior global grocery coordinator for Whole Foods.

While very few medical studies exist at the moment to prove Kombucha's effectiveness, one can clearly see from the record sales of the product, as well as from testimonials given by the celebrities who choose to drink Kombucha, that the hype exists for a reason. Kombucha is a final frontier for the growing community of health-conscious individuals across the world. The revered status it holds, despite its lack of human medical studies make Kombucha a true mystery brew. Consumers seem to be the only "scientists" studying it for the most part, and as a result, the only way to judge the brew's effectiveness is for people to try it themselves.

So, what are you waiting for?

Drink up.

About the Author:
Cinergy Health & Life Insurance Agency is dedicated to providing quality health and life insurance plans for people in a variety of life situations. For more information on a selection of health and insurance topics, visit the Cinergy Health & Life Learning Center at www.cinergyhealth.com .



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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