Kombucha Tea Mirrors Benefits of Fasting in Humans [Study]

Kombucha Tea Mirrors Benefits of Fasting in Humans [Study]
(Photo: Pexels/Mareefe)

Researchers are working on feeding the intestines with "good bacteria" to improve one's health. They found out that kombucha offers probiotics.

Kombucha Offers Fasting Benefits

In a new study, researchers study roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) and discovered proof that kombucha tea-associated microorganisms can "robustly colonize" an animal's stomach.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill have shown that worms fed these microorganisms rather than a different diet displayed a "rewired" fat metabolism.

In particular, kombucha worms showed a significant decrease in fat reserves not brought on by a decreased ability to absorb nutrients. Instead, additional examination of the worms' genetic activity indicates that a rise in the gut-produced fat-burning proteins caused the effect.

The researchers contend that these benefits are similar to fasting in people.

According to molecular biologist graduate student Rachel DuMez-Kornegay and her colleagues, "This investigation lays crucial groundwork to de-convolute the molecular mechanisms that may underlie the purported health benefits of kombucha tea using a genetically tractable animal model."

The researchers admitted that they were surprised that animals that consume probiotic microbes in kombucha tea displayed reduced fat accumulation. The results suggest that "kombucha tea triggers a 'fasting-like' state.

They said, "These findings suggest that the microbes in kombucha tea trigger a 'fasting-like' state in the host even in the presence of sufficient nutrients."

The researchers are waiting for additional clinical trials and animal models like C. elegans to enable them to investigate the pathways behind the suggested health advantages of kombucha. Worms are excellent models for determining whether gut proteins are elevated after consuming kombucha-associated microorganisms because their genomes are readily accessible and studied.

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What Is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a bubbly tea-based sweet-and-sour beverage. Many claim that it relieves or prevents a wide range of health issues, from AIDS and cancer to hair loss. While there isn't much scientific proof to support the claims, some ingredients in the drink might be beneficial.

The three main components of kombucha are sugar, black tea, and yeast. The mixture is left for at least a week. In that period, the drink's acidity and germs grow, along with a trace of alcohol. This is called fermentation, and it's the same process used to preserve cabbage for kimchi or sauerkraut or to turn milk into yogurt.

A SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) is a film that forms on top of the liquid due to the combination of these bacteria and acids. A SCOBY can be used to ferment additional kombucha.

Lactic acid bacteria, which are found in kombucha, provide probiotic properties. Additionally, kombucha has a good amount of B vitamins.

The history of kombucha dates back almost 2,000 years. After brewing in China for a while, it reached Russia and Japan. It gained popularity in Europe in the early 1900s. Due to its image as a health and energy drink, sales are increasing in the United States.