Is kombucha good for you?
Zealots say it's a probiotic miracle; naysayers say it's placebo (or 'secretly' booze). Both sides lean on subjective claims — and there will always be a “well-researched” article that can “prove” whatever point you want to make.
What is kombucha? · Watch on YouTube
Ange's perspective
In its most basic terms, kombucha is simply fermented tea. It doesn't cure anything, and it isn't guaranteed to help any medical ailment. Like any food we consume, it affects each body in a unique and individual way — we're all different, after all. If you have concerns about your own health, always heed your doctor's advice and listen to your own body above all else.
Her personal anecdote…
Ange has personally experienced good effects from drinking her home-brewed kombucha regularly: her gut feels healthier, it helps when her stomach is upset or bloated, her skin looks and feels great, and she feels more alert, energetic and generally well. But even all that aside — she just likes the way it tastes. A subtly sweet, bubbly, refreshing beverage; a great substitute for sugary sodas; and it helps curb cravings for alcohol. She loved buying bottles at the store, and loves making her own even more.
But that's just her.
Other people experience other benefits. Others experience none at all. Some even report ill effects — headaches, tummy issues. But name a single food or drink that affects every person on the planet exactly the same way. (Seriously — if you think of one, email her.) Even water affects us all slightly differently, and kombucha is the same: it might work really well with her body and not with yours.
Don't believe food works this way? Go ask a peanut-butter lover and someone with a peanut allergy how they feel about it.
So why all the "controversy"?
A lot of the fear (and fear-mongering) around kombucha exists because it's fairly new to the mainstream market — even though it's really been around for ages — and people don't know much about it. We don't make a huge deal about whether yogurt (fermented milk, allegedly packed with probiotics) is good for every single person, do we? Plenty of lactose-sensitive people get an upset stomach from yogurt. Does that mean we villainize yogurt because a segment of the population shouldn't eat it?
The is-it-alcoholic controversy is similarly overblown: it'd be really difficult for a homebrew to even reach 2% ABV, and at that point you'd have to drink 10+ bottles to feel a slight buzz. If you're looking to get boozy, several other liquids do the job far more efficiently. That said, it's dependent on the person — someone pregnant or nursing, or a recovering alcoholic, may prefer to steer totally clear, and that's perfectly fine.
The choice is ultimately yours
There's a lot of variance here because kombucha cultures (SCOBYs) and the kombucha itself are unique to their maker — nutrition and effects depend entirely on the yeasts and bacteria in a given brew, where the culture came from, how it was cared for, the ingredients and the environment. But the risks are low. It's fermented sweet tea. You're not dealing with hazardous chemicals; it's food, and people make food in their home kitchens every day.
That's another reason Ange is such a proponent of home brewing: control your own variables, see how it affects you for yourself, and you're the only "proof" you need.
Curious about quantity and who should skip it? Read how much kombucha should I drink? Drinking kombucha is ultimately a personal decision — no one should pressure you either way. And if you want to learn to brew it yourself, YBK is happy to give you the information and tools to start off on the right foot!
Obligatory disclaimer (because this is the internet and people like to nitpick): no medical claims are being made about kombucha here. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, always consult a physician or other healthcare professional.