You check the calendar and realize that its April 12th. You still haven’t done your taxes! Yikes!
Your heart rate jumps, muscles in your face start to twitch, your hair falls out and you double over from instant ulcers!
Okay, maybe it’s not that bad, but stress is a killer!
Taxes and finances are a common source of stress. But good things like job, family, relationships, and deeply caring for something all cause stress as well.
Even the stress from love can be very tough on the body.
Never fear, Kombucha is here to take the edge off that stress!
Yes Kombucha benefits the body by helping to reduce the effects of stress and anxiety. But first we must understand how stress works.
What is Stress?
Stress is a valuable defense mechanism. When a threat appears, a snap decision must be made. Fight or flight.
Specific chemicals & hormones (adrenaline & cortisol, if you must know) are released to increase the heart rate, sharpen the senses and prepare the muscles for quick action.
This is exactly what you need when surviving in the wild. But for modern people, who now confront multiple stressors on a daily basis – most of them non-life threatening, this over reaction is detrimental to one’s health.
When the “high” of the stress hormones fades, the body is left depleted. As this depletion occurs several times, the result is fatigue, mental muddling, and depression. This also creates a host of symptoms that adversely affect the body.
How does stress affect the body?
The physical manifestations of stress vary from person to person. As shown in the image, stress harms the entire body.
Stress can manifest in several different ways in the body.
While it may be possible to treat the symptoms of stress with modern medicines, none of those pills or creams heal the source of the ailment.
Exercise, healthy eating habits, being with friends and relaxing in nature are excellent ways to de-stress.
And if you’re wondering does Kombucha improve mood and reduce stress too? Why yes it does!
Here are 5 Ways Kombucha Relieves Stress.
*Keep in mind that we are not doctors, and Kombucha is not medicine, it is simply food. You should always Trust Your Gut and consult with your primary care physician (Full disclaimer here).
1. Kombucha Acts As An Adaptogen
An adaptogen is classified as an herb or plant derivative (fermented tea in this case) and must meet these conditions: a) nontoxic, b) benefits the entire physiology rather than a specific part, and c) normalizes and balances the body.
Ginseng, reishi mushrooms and Ashwagandha are other adaptogenic herbs from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda as tonics that strengthen the human organism as a whole.
Adaptogens are also high in antioxidants which eliminate free radicals that can cause oxidative stress ←– yet another type of stress that Kombucha protects against!
In fact, multiple studies found a connection between these anti-oxidants and improved liver health. Not to mention it antioxidants like glucaric acid, glutathione peroxidase and catalase the last two even linked to preventing gray hair, the ultimate sign of stress!
2. Kombucha Calms IBS,
Kills Ulcers & Soothes Eczema
Several skin ailments have shown improvement when Kombucha or SCOBY is applied. The skin rebuilding properties of Kombucha come from the nanostructures of cellulose in the SCOBY itself. The pH of the tea has a softening and tonifying effect. This is why Kombucha is found in many beauty products, including our Kombucha soap.
You can also use Kombucha and SCOBYs for a Home Spa Day, a fun way to reduce stress and share Kombucha with loved ones.
Kombucha can also have positive effects inside the body. For example, Kombucha was shown to kill h. pylori, the bacteria that cause ulcers, on contact. It also regulates the digestive system through increasing the acidity of the gut. People with digestive issues often benefit from incorporating Kombucha and other ferments into their diets.
It makes perfect sense that Kombucha helps with so many different symptoms – asthma, IBS, eczema, yeast infection, ulcers – when you realize that their root cause is the same – stress! Kombucha tea does not cure any of these things. Rather brings your body back into balance so that it may heal itself.
3. Kombucha Contains B Vitamins
& Vitamin C Known To Decrease Stress
Kombucha contains vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 & B12. All of these are known to help the body fight depression. They also improve mood and concentration.
If you wonder why Kombucha makes you feel good, B vitamins are the most likely answer.
Kombucha also has >Vitamin C, which suppresses the release of cortisol (remember, one of the stress hormones). Higher levels of cortisol in the blood contribute to hypertension, depression and impaired mental clarity.
Moreover, these vitamins in Kombucha are bio-available and in living form making them the easiest for your body to assimilate and use. Oftentimes the minerals in supplements are not assimilable by the body because they lack the co-factors or other enzymes that are found in whole foods needed to catalyze the absorption process.
4. Switching To Kombucha In The Morning
Reduces Caffeine And Sugar Intake
Many people upgrade from coffee to Kombucha as their morning go-to eye-opener and notice an instant difference.
As mentioned in Kombucha and Caffeine Explained, the L-Theanine in tea counteracts the harmful effects of caffeine. (see Kombucha Recipe for a list of ingredients)
Replace coffee’s roller coaster ride of jittery high to depressing low with focused, calm Kombucha energy.
5. Kombucha Contains Low Amounts Of Alcohol
That Have A Beneficial Effect On The Body
Naturally occurring low levels of alcohol in Kombucha increase feelings of well being and decrease stress. Several studies show that moderate consumption of alcohol has many positive benefits to the body. Kombucha normally contains between .3-1.5% alcohol, a natural by-product of the fermentation process. This low level of alcohol serves a variety of health purposes, including reducing anxiety and imparting a pleasant, relaxed feeling.
Alcohol has been used medicinally for millennia. The trace amounts in Kombucha the best way to consume micro amounts of beneficial alcohol, in my opinion. The body receives the benefits without intoxication, which requires further detox of the liver.
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So whatever the task, be it taxes or anything stressful, make sure you’ve got a glass of Kombucha in hand!
What are your favorite ways to bust your stress?
Has Kombucha alleviated your symptoms? Which ones?
Leave a comment below!
Jane
February 26, 2022 at 5:35 amI’m thrilled by all the wonderful information Kombucha Kamp provides! I’ve been haphazardly trying to learn about kombucha, but I think I’m intimidated by the Scoby & process. Your website is answering all my questions and I can contact you!! Now I’m confident I will be a the Kombucha Queen of my dreams! I’m so excited! It’s freezing outside so I will devote my day to learning & creating my Scoby & kombucha heaven! Thank you so much!!
Kristen
July 10, 2018 at 8:12 pmLast night I tried it and felt such a calm, focused sense of well-being. So I googled it and foun this article. I went and got some more. This is a game changer for me!
Duc Pham
October 13, 2017 at 9:17 amjust bought your book for my sister: https://store.kombuchakamp.com/Books-Videos-Support/ we are both having scoby babies.. yea!
Judy
September 21, 2017 at 7:34 amBrewing your own kombucha also reduces stress levels by providing a feeling of control. Managing your custom brew with high quality ingredients, creating something so yummy and helpful “off the grid”, etc.
Victoria Carlo-Carson
June 2, 2017 at 8:24 amAdrenaline and “cortisol” are the 2 stress hormones, not “cortisone.”
Other than that, great article.
I love peach/pineapple Kavita Kombucha. I have one every day 🙂
Hannah Crum
May 14, 2018 at 1:31 pmthanks for catching that! updated!
ahmed esam
October 16, 2013 at 12:00 amI drink kombucha tea every day
Evie
May 7, 2013 at 7:26 amThis site truly has all of the info I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
victoria c.
April 12, 2011 at 2:38 pmYes, definitely Kombucha is the elixir of gods and goddeses, they’re feeling so elated they had their minions do their taxes, no wait they don’t pay any taxes! Kombuchas normalizing and adaptogenic properties are stellar and the added B & C vitamins a much needed bonus this week.