3 Funky Health Foods You Need to Know About! Part 1: Kombucha

Written by: Sam

These are the foods that go relatively untouched in the grocery store. They have weird names, they look odd, and sometimes, they are too expensive, becoming afterthoughts for most people. So, why would anyone ever consider trying them out, right? It is always good to switch things up, especially when it comes to food. You don't want to be eating or drinking the same thing all the time, as your body needs a variety of nutrients for good overall health. Plus, conservative is boring; go try new foods and new flavors - you will be surprised by how many delicious foods we are passing up on because of the lack of knowledge. Over the next few posts, I will highlight 3 health foods that are strange but pack enough nutrients to justify trying it out! On top of that, they all taste good if they are prepared the right way! In this post, we will put the spotlight on Kombucha.

Kombucha is a fizzy beverage that has been around for more than 2,000 years, with the ancient Chinese calling it the "Immortal Health Elixir". It is made from a sweetened tea that has been fermented by a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (aka SCOBY). The SCOBY gives the drink a nice zing and acidic taste, but is nothing too overpowering. Since it is mixed with sugar, Kombucha has a nice balance of flavors that makes for a refreshing drink. Intrigue in this beverage began in Russia and Germany during the 20th century, as people were anxious to find a cure for increasing cancer rates. Russian scientists discovered that most of their region was seemingly immune to cancer, and it was hypothesized that Kombucha was the reason for that. Although the idea of Kombucha being a cure for cancer is still up in the air, it brings plenty of other health benefits that provides reason to give it a shot.

The most prominent health effect that Kombucha brings is detoxification. Kombucha is loaded with a lot of the enzymes and bacterial acids that your body uses to detox your system, which reduces the burden on your pancreas and liver. The 2nd major health benefit is that it promotes joint health, as it contains the building blocks for glucosamines, which aid in the preservation of cartilage structure and prevention of arthritic pain. Kombucha also helps digestion and improves gut health, as the presence of a living colony of bacteria and yeast classifies it as a probiotic drink. On top of all of this, Kombucha is heavy in antioxidants, which not only boosts the immune system, but also slows down the natural degeneration of the body.

You can buy Kombucha starter cultures (http://www.culturesforhealth.com/starter-cultures/kombucha.html) and make your own tea, although this method is a little troublesome(online recipe: http://www.foodrenegade.com/how-to-brew-kombucha-double-fermentation-method/). Or, you can also buy it bottled at most health food stores, where it comes in a variety of flavors such as guava and cranberry to make it taste more interesting.

**Shout-out to my friend Rebecca Wang for introducing me to Kombucha and inspiring me to write a post on it!**

Sources: http://www.foodrenegade.com/kombucha-health-benefits/
http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/03/25/kombucha-myths-vs-truths/
http://siplocally.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/kombucha-tea.jpg