G O U R M E T K N OWLE DG E
STAR KOMBUCHA
A Healthy Drink for the Epidemic Season An ancient drink is making a re-appearance, especially among the health-conscious. Kombucha was first recorded over 2,000 years ago but is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to sweetened soft drinks. Star Kombucha’s fruit flavoured drinks lead the way.
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ombucha is hot stuff at the moment, drunk by those in the know for its health benefits and zestful taste, but it’s actually been around for years. In fact, it first appeared in biblical times, around 2,000 years ago, in the Far East. Some say it was a toss-up whether the Three Wise Men gifted gold, frankincense and myrrh or bottles of this health-imbuing elixir. So what exactly is kombucha, and why’s it all the rage at present? It’s actually a fermented drink made from natural ingredients such as tea, sugar cane and something called a scoby seed which is a symbiosis of bacteria and yeast. As well as adding a distinct flavour, when foods are fermented, sugars and carbohydrates are broken down under the effect of probiotics, thereby helping the body process nutrients well and eliminate harmful substances. It’s similar to brewing beer, but a lot healthier. The fermentation of Kombucha from tea and scoby seed usually takes between 7-30 days done at room temperatures around 20-29°C. This helps to produce a large number of probiotics - one of the beneficial bacteria in the gut. As a result, kombucha helps maintain the stability of the immune system that prevents inflammation as well as aiding with digestion. Experts tell us that about 70-80% of immune cells are located in the intestinal tract and probiotics are the ‘weapons’ of protecting our gut. Keeping them healthy helps to keep us healthy, which is something we should all be focusing on during the Covid epedemic. But it gets better. More than being a stronghold for boosting immune health, Kombucha is also considered a digestive enzyme that helps increase the number of beneficial Bifida bacteria in the intestine by producing natural organic acids. We’ve got no idea what Bifida bacteria are either but apparently, they are really good at increasing the resistance of the intestines. This helps reduce the risk of digestive diseases such as constipation, intestinal infections, digestive disorders, and treat ulcers of the intestines and stomach, and we know that’s important for our health.
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