Ah, my sweet kombucha…tastes so good and oh so good for you.

Wait, what exactly is Kombucha, you ask? For those new to the world of the Booch, here’s the Wiki rundown.

As to why it’s good for you, my friend Hannah Crum, the Kombucha Mamma, details many of the reported benefits on her site, which I’ve listed below:

Kombucha has been consumed for over 2000 years the world over. It has been extensively studied and applied for several medical uses in Russia, Germany, China and many other places.  It is naturally carbonated and is purported to have a host of healing properties that may include:

*Probiotics – healthy bacteria
*Alkalize the body – balances internal pH
*Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood
*Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine
*Improve digestion – keep your system moving
*Rebuild connective tissue – helps with arthritis, gout, asthma, rheumatism
*Cancer prevention
*Alleviate constipation
*Boost energy – helps with chronic fatigue
*Reduce blood pressure
*Relieve headaches & migraines
*Reduce kidney stones
*High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer
*High in polyphenols
*Improve eyesight
*Heal excema – can be applied topically to soften the skin
*Prevent artheriosclerosis
*Speed healing of ulcers – kills h.pylori on contact
*Help clear up candida & yeast infections
*Aid healthy cell regeneration
*Reduce gray hair
*Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating

Simply put, Kombucha is an all natural health beverage chockfull of probiotics and other healthy amino acids. Probiotic literally means “for life”. Unlike antibiotics, which kill ALL of the bacteria in your body, even the good stuff, probiotics re-establish the natural ecology of the intestinal flora. Probiotics are said to boost immunity, enhance mood, fight allergies, detoxify the body and rid the body of disease. The Kombucha benefits you experience may vary.

However, Kombucha is NOT a panacea – it doesn’t cure ANYTHING! It brings the body back into balance so that it may heal itself naturally. That is how it is able to do so much – because it works with your body’s natural immune system.

You can see some of the controlled studies here, but the last bit above is the most important to note…bringing back the BALANCE.

But don’t take my word for it; give kombucha a try yourself as you are the best judge of your own health and well-being.

To try it, find a friend who brews it (me!), or you can get several tasty varieties of bottled Kombucha at your local health food store (for Los Angeleans, that includes Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Rainbow Acres, Erewhon, to name a few). I’m a big fan of anything with Ginger in it.

Once you’ve tried it, like it, and are ready for the next level, check back for the next Body post on easy DIY instructions for the ultimate in the Kombucha experience: the home brew.