What are the effects and benefits of kombucha?

Generally speaking, as a common fermented beverage, kombucha offers various functions and benefits, including promoting digestion, supplementing nutrition, assisting in metabolic regulation, relieving physical discomfort, and hydrating the body. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Promoting Digestion: Kombucha contains abundant probiotics and organic acids after fermentation. Probiotics help regulate the balance of intestinal flora, while organic acids can stimulate gastrointestinal motility, alleviating bloating, constipation, and other issues caused by imbalanced gut bacteria or slow motility, thus helping maintain stable digestive function.

2. Supplementing Nutrition: The fermentation process converts the nutritional components in black tea into more easily absorbable forms and produces substances such as B-vitamins and amino acids. Drinking kombucha in moderation can supply these nutrients to meet the body's daily demand for micronutrients and support normal physiological functions.

3. Assisting Metabolic Regulation: The organic acids and active ingredients in kombucha can aid in promoting bodily metabolism, helping break down excess substances in the body. It may assist in maintaining a healthy weight and metabolic balance, making it suitable for individuals aiming to improve their metabolic condition to consume in moderation.

4. Relieving Physical Discomfort: The organic acids and small amounts of tea polyphenols in kombucha can gently alleviate discomfort caused by greasy meals or indigestion, such as post-meal bloating or a sticky feeling in the mouth. Drinking kombucha can provide a refreshing taste and help relieve feelings of heaviness in the body.

5. Hydration: Kombucha is produced using water as a base through fermentation, and drinking it helps replenish the body's daily water needs, improving dehydration. Its sour-sweet flavor can also increase the willingness to drink water, making it especially suitable for those who dislike drinking plain water.

When drinking kombucha, it's important to note that it contains certain organic acids, so individuals with excessive stomach acid or peptic ulcers should try small amounts cautiously. The fermentation process might produce trace amounts of alcohol, so those allergic to alcohol should also consume it with caution. When purchasing, choose reputable brands, and if homemade, maintain hygiene to avoid contamination by unwanted bacteria.