Kombucha

[Mycophile]

Anyone find that Kombucha has a lot of benefits?

I've never tried it but I drink WAY too much coffee and was recommended to try to switch some in favor of Kombucha because it supposedly is really good for you, supports the immune system, is an anti inflammatory, speeds of metabolism and eliminates toxins from the body and doesn't give the same jitters that coffee does.

Just seeing if anyone else here also recommends it.

 

[nuttynutskin]

I've drank it a handful of times. Just like the taste, have no idea if there's a bunch of health benefits or if it's just all snake oil horseshit tbph.

 

[Foreigner]

I experimented with kombucha while recovering from inflammatory bowel disease. I found the caffeine, sugar, and tannin content to be irritating, and the probiotic aspect was not very helpful. Most of the yeast and bacteria species in kombucha are not native to the human gut biome, so they end up just passing through. There is some transient benefit but it doesn't last. The same is true of yogurt... the bacteria in it have somewhat of a cleansing effect but they ultimately don't stick. The one good thing about kombucha is the acetobacter species which basically produces vinegar, and this one *can* stick around... it produces a slightly acidic environment in the bowels which control other bacterial populations.

The two ferments I've found that actually colonize the bowel are kefir and sauerkraut, but they have to be home made. Of the kefirs, milk kefir (made with cow or goats milk) is superior. I had lactose malabsorption, so I consumed a late-stage kefir ferment which is lactose free and the probiotic content, over weeks of use, allowed me to start consuming dairy again. Water kefir is OK but milk kefir has up to 40 strains of different bacteria depending on which stage you consume it at (early to mid stage is best for the largest variety), and those are in the trillions. Adding milk kefir to my recovery diet put my IBD into remission.

I'll never go back to commercial probiotics again. They're a waste of time. At this point I just use kombucha as an aperitif before meals. I feel its medicinal benefits are overstated.

 

[Mycophile]

I experimented with kombucha while recovering from inflammatory bowel disease. I found the caffeine, sugar, and tannin content to be irritating, and the probiotic aspect was not very helpful. Most of the yeast and bacteria species in kombucha are not native to the human gut biome, so they end up just passing through. There is some transient benefit but it doesn't last. The same is true of yogurt... the bacteria in it have somewhat of a cleansing effect but they ultimately don't stick. The one good thing about kombucha is the acetobacter species which basically produces vinegar, and this one *can* stick around... it produces a slightly acidic environment in the bowels which control other bacterial populations.

The two ferments I've found that actually colonize the bowel are kefir and sauerkraut, but they have to be home made. Of the kefirs, milk kefir (made with cow or goats milk) is superior. I had lactose malabsorption, so I consumed a late-stage kefir ferment which is lactose free and the probiotic content, over weeks of use, allowed me to start consuming dairy again. Water kefir is OK but milk kefir has up to 40 strains of different bacteria depending on which stage you consume it at (early to mid stage is best for the largest variety), and those are in the trillions. Adding milk kefir to my recovery diet put my IBD into remission.

I'll never go back to commercial probiotics again. They're a waste of time. At this point I just use kombucha as an aperitif before meals. I feel its medicinal benefits are overstated.

Interesting.

I don't devalue your comments necessarily, but my psychiatrist, who is one of the "good" ones in terms of being very smart and really cool, says he thinks its probiotic effects work well, and so as an M.D. I will probably believe his opinion before a lot of people who aren't.

He says it is a very effective inflammatory as well.

As far as a tea though, I tried it and like it a lot.

 

[Foreigner]

It's up to you to experiment to see what works best, but if you're not using another kind of ferment then you have no basis for comparison.

What does it matter if I'm an MD or not? I've tried all kinds of ferments and I've been making them myself for years. Wouldn't you rather take the advice of someone who has direct experience rather than someone with a piece of paper who only knows one ferment?

Anyway, I've given you my take. Do what you want with it

 

[deruyityn]

It's up to you to experiment to see what works best, but if you're not using another kind of ferment then you have no basis for comparison.

What does it matter if I'm an MD or not? I've tried all kinds of ferments and I've been making them myself for years. Wouldn't you rather take the advice of someone who has direct experience rather than someone with a piece of paper who only knows one ferment?

Anyway, I've given you my take. Do what you want with it

Ive noticed mycophile automatically puts alot of credence on positions of authority including the mods here :D

 

[Mycophile]

It's up to you to experiment to see what works best, but if you're not using another kind of ferment then you have no basis for comparison.

What does it matter if I'm an MD or not? I've tried all kinds of ferments and I've been making them myself for years. Wouldn't you rather take the advice of someone who has direct experience rather than someone with a piece of paper who only knows one ferment?

Anyway, I've given you my take. Do what you want with it

Yeah but I'm just saying he also drinks plenty of Kombucha and has told me he studies it.

I'll value anyone who is experienced though so don't take that the wrong way, he just worked pretty hard to sell me on it so I guess it worked lol.

Maybe it isn't all that effective health wise.

I tried one though and liked the mental effect as a tea, which might be more important to me anyway.

 

[Mycophile]

Ive noticed mycophile automatically puts alot of credence on positions of authority including the mods here :D

Sometimes lol.

However, there are times I won't like my last psychiatrist who was an idiot.

I usually either put a lot of credence in them or none at all but there is really an in between haha.

 

[Anabasis]

I was interested for a while. Saw the $4 16-oz bottles at the store and was intrigued by the "mud" in the bottom and drinking one gave me a 2-beer buzz. I'd be interest in continuing but the cost is prohibitive.