Kombucha: What Is It? What Are Its Health Benefits?

TheIndonesia.id - Have you ever heard of or tasted kombucha tea? There are various types of tea made of leaves, flowers, and mushrooms. Check out the definition, benefits, and side effects of Kombucha tea.

What is kombucha tea?

Kombucha tea is tea made from fermented tea solution with sugar, which is then added by starter microbes, the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum and several yeasts, namely Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, and Candida sp.

As a result of the fermentation process, this tea contains various substances such as acetic acid, folate, essential amino acids, vitamins B, vitamin C, and alcohol.

Many call this tea mushroom tea because it is allowed to be 'mushroomed' during the manufacturing process.

The time needed to ferment this tea is around 8-12 days.

In an environment with cooler temperatures, fermentation will take place more quickly. Fermentation time will affect the physical quality, content, and taste of tea.

A 400 ml kombucha tea contains a total of 60 calories of energy.

Benefits of drinking kombucha tea

Many opinions say that kombucha tea has many benefits, such as maintaining the digestive system, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, and helping to remove toxins from the body.

Most of the benefits of kombucha tea are obtained from the results of studies conducted on animals.

From the research conducted, it appears that kombucha tea has various health impacts, such as an antioxidant.

In addition, kombucha tea also has ingredients that have benefits as an antibacterial which improves the microflora in the intestine, boosts the body's immune system, and lower blood pressure. 

In addition to studies conducted on animals, several groups who consume kombucha regularly claim that kombucha tea has good effects on health. 

The health impacts they convey include boosting the immune system, preventing cancer, and improving the function of the digestive system and liver organs.

Kombucha tea also contains probiotic bacteria, which are good bacteria to boost the immune system.

Side effects of consuming kombucha tea 

Even though there seems to be evidence of the benefits of kombucha tea for the body, the cleanliness and quality of the tea must be maintained so that it does not cause adverse effects, such as poisoning or infection caused by bacteria.

Preferably, this tea goes through a pasteurization or heating process to remove the bad bacteria contained in it.

In addition, it still needs further scientific research to prove the benefits of consuming this one tea.