2876: What are the Benefits and Risks with Kombucha

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[00:00:30] It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily, and I'm Dr. Neal, your host of the show. Welcome back to another special Friday edition of Optimal Health Daily, where I answer your questions. On the other days, I read health and fitness blogs to you, kind of like an audio book, but from a bunch of different authors. Alright, let's jump right to today's question and start optimizing your life.

[00:00:55] Hi, this is Jo. I live in Michigan, and I was wondering, what are the effects of drinking kombucha? And how many should you drink in a day? Thank you for your question, Jo. I still remember the very first nutrition class I took as an undergraduate student. My, how things have changed. That was where I was told that drinking tea was bad for you because it contained caffeine.

[00:01:20] I was actually thrilled at the time because I couldn't stand tea. So by avoiding tea, I felt like I wasn't missing out on anything. But again, my, how things have changed. First, my tastes have matured, and I'm proud to say that I have come to appreciate tea and enjoy all varieties. But, we've also learned a lot more about caffeine and tea and their potential health benefits. So back to your question, Jo, about kombucha.

[00:01:45] In case you were wondering about where I was going with my drawn-out story about tea, I promise I did have a point. Kombucha is often consumed as tea. So, when you're walking up and down the aisle at your favorite supermarket, you might find they carry kombucha tea. What's interesting about kombucha is that it's often referred to as kombucha mushroom or Manchurian mushroom. This is ironic because the word kombucha translates to tea made from kombu seaweed.

[00:02:14] What's even more ironic is that kombucha is not made from mushrooms or seaweed. It's actually made by combining black tea, sugar, and yeast together and then letting it sit for about a week or so. By the end of that week, the hope is that you end up with this blob of gelatinous goo. So, why those ingredients and why let it sit till it forms this not-so-appetizing gelatinous goo?

[00:02:38] Well, combining these ingredients and letting it sit for an extended period of time allows it to grow fungi and bacteria, which is basically what that gelatinous blob is made of. Now, that might sound disgusting, but there are supposed to be beneficial bacteria, bacteria that will promote health, not harm it, in that gelatinous blob. So, what you're doing is creating essentially a fermented food. If you've ever had yogurt, sourdough bread, kimchi, or sauerkraut,

[00:03:05] you've consumed a food that has gone through a similar fermentation process. So, after a week of letting this mixture sit and form its gelatin-like blob, you drink it. And again, by doing so, you're hoping to consume those beneficial bacteria found in that gelatinous blob. Supposedly, kombucha tea has been around for at least 2,000 years. It was believed that drinking it would cure illnesses, but actual scientific analysis of these claims didn't start happening until the 1930s.

[00:03:33] Today, some claim that kombucha tea improves digestion, boosts immunity, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and lots more. Unfortunately, human studies have not found this to be true. Part of the problem is, each kombucha tea contains different organisms. So, how can we possibly get an accurate picture of what's going on when we really don't know what we're comparing? And it's for this very reason, we can't really say how much kombucha tea we should or can safely consume.

[00:04:03] We don't have a safe dosage. But my perspective is always this. If it's not causing harm, then don't stress about it. So then the question is, does kombucha cause harm? There have been reported cases of illness, like liver problems and allergic reactions, and at least one reported death. How could this happen? Well, here are some potential problems with kombucha tea. Let's say you were to make a homemade version.

[00:04:30] The type of bacteria and fungi that you'll end up with in your version of the tea is really dependent on what bacteria and fungi are lying around your kitchen. So there may be good bacteria and fungi in your kitchen, or not so good. When drinking store-bought kombucha tea, the same rule applies. Are they making this stuff in a fairly clean environment? Or are they a little loose with their hygiene? So I'm basically saying that the type of kombucha tea you end up with

[00:04:57] is really a product of the environment in which you grow it. You also need to be careful about where you store your kombucha tea. There have been reported cases of lead poisoning because folks stored their tea in a ceramic pot, which contained a lead-based glaze. Glass is probably the safest vessel to grow and store kombucha tea. So the bottom line is this. Kombucha tea is probably not going to provide many health benefits, if any at all.

[00:05:25] But if it's not harming you, enjoy it. Just be sure to monitor how you feel after consuming it. To lower your risk of any unintentional side effects, if you're consuming store-bought kombucha tea, be sure it's from a reputable company. It may not be a bad idea to do a little bit of research and find out what the company does to ensure the safety of its product. If you're making it at home, be sure your kitchen is clean at the very least.

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[00:06:39] to get personalized auto, homeowners, protect what matters most. Insurance has never been this easy. Texting RATES means you will receive information and occasional promotional messages. Message and data rates may apply. You can reply STOP to opt out at any time. Thank you again for the question, Joe. Now, if you want to submit a question to be answered right here on the show, plus get a copy of our workbook for free, you can email a question to health at oldpodcast.com.

[00:07:08] You can also call in your question. The number is country code 1-61-ILOVE-OHD. That's 1-614-568-3643. Or you can submit your audio question at oldpodcast.com slash ask. Right there on that page, it's really easy to send in your audio question and you can even do retakes before sending it in.

[00:07:35] Again, that's oldpodcast.com slash ask. All right, that's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily. Thank you so much for listening every day and all the way through. And I'll see you back here over the weekend where your optimal life awaits.