Why does Kombucha make my stomach hurt?

Why does Kombucha make my stomach hurt? If you are drinking it too much, you may experience symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, etc. As it is a carbonated drink, so having too much will accumulate all those bubbles inside your stomach.

But if you are having it in the right quantity, then chances are less.

Kombucha drinks are considered to help improve digestion and deal with diabetes, strengthening the immune system, and reducing blood pressure.

There are numerous benefits of drinking Kombucha but with the appropriate amount. 

Let’s know a little more about Kombucha.

1. What Is Kombucha?

Kombucha (also tea mushroom or a tea fungus) is a fermented, slightly alcoholic, lightly fizzy, sweetened black or green tea drink commonly used for its expected health benefits. Sometimes the beverage is called kombucha tea which differentiates it from the culture of bacteria and yeast.1

1.1 Components You May Find In Kombucha

Kombucha tea is an effervescent beverage made with a few simple ingredients: tea, sugar, and a culture. The culture is called a SCOBY, which stands for Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast. The SCOBY is a microbial layer made of useful bacteria and yeast. 2

2. Benefits of Kombucha

2.1 Strengthen The Gut:                                                                                             Kombucha has many species of lactic-acid bacteria that may have a probiotic function. Probiotics deliver healthy bacteria to your gut, which have many fitness benefits. 3

A study published in April 2014 in Food Microbiology concerning the microbial components of kombucha and it claimed that there is a “prominent lactobacillus population” in the drink. Lactobacillus is a common type of probiotic, so kombucha may stabilize the digestive tract and helps to keep it safe from infections and inflammation.4

2.2 Source of Anti-Oxidants

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are a normal by-product of processes in the body, but it is necessary to minimize their effects. It can only be done if we have a diet rich in antioxidants.

Kambucha has similar contents of green tea and has antioxidants in it. Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals, reactive molecules that can damage your cells.5

2.3 Role in Preventing Cancer

A review in the “Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry” claims that because of having the antioxidants in it, Kombucha can help the body in getting rid of free radicals and other harmful substances which are responsible for the growth of cancerous cells.6

Another test-tube study notes that Kombucha is effective to prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells because it has a great number of tea polyphenols and antioxidants.7

2.4 Reduce Blood Sugar Level

Kombucha made from green tea is likely to be even more beneficial as it has shown to reduce blood sugar levels.

A study in diabetic rats found that kombucha slowed down the digestion of carbohydrates, which reduced blood sugar levels. It also enhanced liver and kidney function.

A review study of almost 300,000 individuals found that green tea drinkers had an 18% lower risk of becoming diabetic.8

2.5 Helps in Treating the Depression

A review published in the Annals of General Psychiatry in February 2017 stated that some psychiatric disorders may be connected with changes in the microbiome in the gut. Therefore, probiotics may help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. 9

2.6 Promote Liver Health

The liver health of a person plays a vital role in the fitness regime. Many studies on rats, regarding Kombucha, shows that it can help regulate the function of the liver and reduce the toxicity in the liver.10

3. Effects Of Over Dosage of Kombucha

Drinking too Much Kombucha may harm your Stomach, cause headaches, damage your teeth, or may create an allergic reaction.

How Much Kombucha Is Safe to Drink?

• In general recommendations, Kombucha is safe to drink, if you limit your intake to 12 oz. per day or less. 11

• To glean the benefits of kombucha without consuming too many calories, you have to limit your Kombucha intake.

4. The Bottom Line

There is no doubt about the powerful impacts of Kombucha. There is plenteous evidence for the benefits of tea and probiotics, both of which are found in kombucha.

When shopping for kombucha, look for drinks that contain less than 4 grams of sugar per serving to keep your added sugar intake to a minimum. If you decide to try homemade kombucha, make sure it’s properly prepared. Contaminated kombucha may cause more harm than good.

References

1. "A mug of kombucha for your health?". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2018-09-01
2. " Kombucha Brewing: How Is Kombucha Made? | Brew Dr. Kombucha". www.brewdrkombucha.com. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
3. Marsh AJ, O'Sullivan O, Hill C, Ross RP, Cotter PD. Sequence-based analysis of the bacterial and fungal compositions of multiple kombucha (tea fungus) samples. Food Microbiol. 2014;38:171-178. doi:10.1016/j.fm.2013.09.003
4. Review Article | Open AccessVolume 2015 |Article ID 591869 | 11 pages | https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/591869Health, Wellness, and Safety Aspects of the Consumption of Kombucha
5. Cutler RG. Antioxidants and aging. Am J ClinNutr. 1991;53(1 Suppl):373S-379S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/53.1.373S
6. Kapoor MP, Sugita M, Fukuzawa Y, Okubo T. Physiological effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on energy expenditure for prospective fat oxidation in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J NutrBiochem. 2017;43:1-10. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.10.013
7. Ketogenic-Simin DD, Bogdanovic GM, Cvetkovic DD, Velicanski AS. Antiproliferative and antimicrobial activity of traditional Kombucha and Saturejamontana L. Kombucha. J BUON. 2008;13(3):395-401.
8. Liu K, Zhou R, Wang B, et al. Effect of green tea on glucose control and insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials. Am J ClinNutr. 2013;98(2):340-348. doi:10.3945/ajcn.112.052746

9. The effects of probiotics on depressive symptoms in humans: a systematic review Caroline J. K. Wallace and RoumenMilev

10. Murugesan GS, Sathishkumar M, Jayabalan R, Binupriya AR, Swaminathan K, Yun SE. Hepatoprotective and curative properties of Kombucha tea against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity. J MicrobiolBiotechnol. 2009;19(4):397-402. doi:10.4014/jmb.0806.374
11. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-kombuchas-health-benefits-and-how-much-can-you-safely-drink/
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/about/public-access