Who among us can resist the pull of a tasty, refreshing beverage in the afternoon? Unfortunately, many of the most popular drink options are terrible for your health, especially when it comes to your gut. Whether you’re reaching for a high-sugar energy drink or a diet soda, you could be putting your digestive system through the ringer thanks to inflammatory ingredients, including sugar and artificial sweeteners. Luckily, though, there is one option that’s equally delicious and healthy: kombucha.
To learn more about how kombucha can promote a healthy digestive system, we spoke to health experts Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, senior dietitian at UCLA Medical Center and Erin Mewshaw, health expert and clinical director at New York Center for Innovative Medicine. They gave us a rundown on all the benefits of this probiotic-rich beverage–find it all below!
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Kombucha
It’s time to stop sipping on inflammatory sodas (yes, even diet soda is bad for your digestive system!) and swap them for some gut-healthy kombucha. Richards explains that this tasty, fizzy, fermented beverage is “intended to restore gut health and aid in digestion.”
The benefits of kombucha are largely thanks to the fact that it packs in a fantastic amount of probiotics, which help restore balance in your gut. “The probiotics and the antioxidants are anti-inflammatory and can aid in promoting GI health by helping to colonize the GI tract with healthy bacteria,” Hunnes tells us.
Additionally, the antioxidant content of this drink is great at fighting inflammation, which is another major win for your digestive health. “It is also thought that kombucha can slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, likely in part because of the healthy anti-inflammation effects it has on the GI tract,” Hunnes goes on.
Overall, regularly drinking kombucha can make a major difference in the health of your gut–and, in turn, your overall health. As Mewshaw tells us, it can result in “improved digestion, increased energy, mental clarity, and enhanced mood.”
So, how much kombucha should you drink to reap these benefits, and when should you drink it? Richards recommends 1 cup, which she notes is “best enjoyed around midday.” Mewshew points out that, while your standard bottle of kombucha contains around 16 ounces, it’s best to stick to 12 ounces per day.
No matter how you drink it, though, your body is sure to thank you when you choose kombucha over sugary colas or energy drinks–and you’ll be well on your way to a healthier, happier gut!
