Saturday, February 5, 2011

Do you Kombucha? I do!

Kombucha is from the goddess for sure.  It is an elixir that has changed my mood as well as floral balance.

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that is both delicious AND health-supportive. Today, it is known around the world for its detoxifying and energizing effects. Kombucha contains:
  • Probiotics
  • Polyphenols
  • B-Vitamins
  • Vitamin C
  • Organic Enzymes
  • Vital Amino Acids
  • Organic Acids
  
  I believe my mood is lifted by the B vitamins and the feeling of balance comes from the Probiotics.  It is an amazing drink that has a different flavor depending on the batch. GT Daves Kombucha comes in several different flavors and the Trilogy, Strawberry, and Gingerade are my favorites so far.




  Kombucha is a living culture of beneficial  microorganisms.  The mass of microorganisms is sometimes called a Mother or Mushroom but I prefer to call it a SCOBY.  The acronym stands for Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast.  




As many of you know I am gluten, casein, and soy free.  I used to have many options for probiotics such as Kefir and fermented soy products. I was at a loss for a while until I found Kombucha and has been what I believe is helping me recover from an imbalance in flora.  I was recently on antibiotics to help combat  nasty bacteria and as many of you know I am not one to take anything without research and much thought.  This particular incidence however was worth the risk of the antibiotics however it has its side effects and I feel that Kombucha has helped me to introduce beneficial flora as well as help my mood especially this time of year.


  I found G.T. Daves Kombucha at Campbells nutrition center here in Des Moines and my favorite place to purchase it has been the Windsor Heights Hy Vee! One of the fantastic things about Hy Vee stores is that they will order items for you if they don't already carry them.   Just ask your health market manager or dietitian to hook you up!  They run about $4.00 a bottle and I have been drinking 1-2 bottles a day.  It seems expensive however the results have been worth it.  I plan to make my own and supplement with G.T. Daves every other day. 


Check out the story behind how GT Daves Kombucha came to be!  I love finding companies that the owners feel so passionately about.  There is no skimping on quality and it shows in flavor an health benefits.  


I plan to try Kombucha with chia seeds for a Chia Fresca on longer runs.  I think that the B-vitamins and Chia combination will work very well and just enough of an alcohol content to aid in relaxation while running.


Do you Kombucha??


Edited to add this link about Kvass and Kombucha!  Thanks Frances!



 From the link  "Another delicious, refreshing and salutary beverage consumed in Russia is chainyi grib, known in the US as kombucha, made from tea, sugar and a culture or "mushroom." Actually, fermented tea is consumed throughout Japan, Poland, Bulgaria, Germany, Manchuria and Indonesia as well as Russia. Other names for the drink are teeschwamm, wunderpilz, hongo, cajnij, fungus japonicus and teewass.
The tea fungus or culture is a symbiotic combination of vinegar-producing bacteria (Acetobacter sp.) with at least two yeasts. The fungus can only form when the Acetobacter and yeasts are present together. When Acetobacter is used alone, gas is produced and the film or culture does not form. The culture transforms sweetened black tea into a slightly fizzy, sour drink, redolent of cider, via a combination of acetic, lactic-acid and glucoronic fermentation. In the process, virtually all the sugar and caffeine are transformed into other compounds."

27 comments:

Frances aka "Barefoot Fresca" said...

I Kombucha!

Here's a good article about it:

http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/502-kvass-and-kombucha.html

My friend makes it homemade but I'm a little nervous about drinking it because she bought the mother culture on e-bay. (!) For some reason I "trust" the bottled store-bought version better, even though it is expensive.

shel said...

the only place i can find it is at my yoga studio, but i do partake occasionally. the cost is prohibitive so not as often as i'd like. however, i do believe in the power of bacteria and i eat lots of yogurt, and if i am feeling off i take a pearl. http://www.pearlslife.com/

Unknown said...

Thanks for that link Frances!!

Shel, I think I might try those..

Paula (Adventure Junkie Mom) said...

I have never tried it, but am very interested in it. I have heard wonderful things about it. How is the taste? I hear good, and bad reviews on taste. Just might be what I need to try to get my butt motivated. Really lacking in that area right now.

Penny said...

I have never heard of Kombucha. I willhave to check it out next time I go to Hy-Vee. You mentioned Chia seeds. I have been looking at them at the store. I'm alittle scared to try them. Could you tell me how you use Chia seeds. Do you use them just like flax seed. You can put them in anything. Do they taste good.

Unknown said...

Paula- I love the flavor! I like it plain and I adore the ginger flavor. The strawberry is rad too! It has a cider like flavor but not sweet. It is an acquired taste in a way like beer but in my opinion not as strong and not bitter.
Don't drink the whole bottle in one sitting. Drink half a bottle at a time and then try more the next day or so. It will grow on you!!

Unknown said...

Penny- Chia seeds are very mild and super easy to eat. I like to put them in apple sauce with cinnamon. The absorb water so turn to a gel if you leave them in liquid for any length of time. I like the gel consistency though. Otherwise they are very tiny little seeds that you don't have to mill where as flax needs to be milled in order to digest them. Nothing to be worried about Chia seeds at all! You can put them on anything. They are great in a smoothie too! I get mine at Hy Vee too :)

Jess @ Blonde Ponytail said...

I have read about Kombucha first in Bethenny Frankel's Skinny Girl book. She swears by it!

I wonder if I could find some around here??

Casein--is that found in dairy products??

Unknown said...

Jess, there is a store locator on the site
http://www.synergydrinks.com/findastore.aspx

Casein is the protein in dairy and is very similar in molecular structure to soy and is why I avoid soy as well. I get the same reaction.

Unknown said...

I've never heard of this - not surprising, though. I'll have to keep an eye out for it, though. I think this is the year that I start adding energy drinks to my plan.

The Green Girl said...

Thank you for this - it was really interesting. I grabbed a bottle of Kombucha one time when I was in a rush and when the lady was ringing me up she asked me if I'd had it before and when I told her I hadn't, she warned me it was made of mushrooms.

Since I was on my way to do something, I decided against trying something new just in case I was allergic to it.

I'll give to give it a try one of these days.

Unknown said...

Green Girl,
Its not made from a mushroom in the sense that you think. The SCOBY is sometimes called a mushroom or mother. The SCOBY is a colony of bacteria and yeast that change and ferment the tea and sugar solution.
Its not a mushroom like the kind you put on pizza :)

Unknown said...

I love kombucha and could easily down two a day! :) Let us know how your kombucha making goes. :)

Jeff Krueger said...

I had typed in Kombucha and running as I'm always looking for new ways to increase my long run endurance and came across your page (perfect timing as it was just posted yesterday). I currently do a mixture of chia seeds, dates, coconut water and some other stuff. I've been brewing my own Kombucha and wondered if any other runners use it. I'm gonna try using it on runs. On a side note, I've been running barefoot/five fingers for 3 years and would never go back. Great stuff. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Yes! I actually have been drinking the Katalyst Kombucha for over 5 years. I have had the privilege of meeting and knowing the producers of this kombucha and I swear by it. It is pricey, and there is only one place locally that I can get it, but I am a loyal fan. Bliss berry is my fave!

Unknown said...

Great to meet you Jeff! How serendipitous :) Have you drank Kombucha on a long run before? I am thinking that one of the less carbonated flavors would be best but otherwise would be fantastic with Chia. Let me know your thoughts and don't be a stranger!
Are you a member of the Barefoot Runners Society? The link is on the top right of my blog. Just click the stomp of approval. Lots of like minded mellow cool people there!!

Unknown said...

Thank you for the recc Jan! Good to meet another Kombucha fan and I will look for that brand.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the information. I'll be looking for it the next time I'm at the store.

Richelle said...

I'll look for it the next time I'm grocery shopping at my favorite co-op.

Nikki Kendall said...

This sounds like it's exactly what I've been looking for! Thanks Angie!

Runners Fuel said...

I've never tried this ebfore, but it looks so good!

Black Knight said...

I have never heard of Kombucha but I live in Italy. Now I know something more about it and I see if it is sold in our shops.

LauraJayne said...

I've been hearing about this from all over - but I wasn't sure why I needed it (I take a probiotics supplement already). Great post - I definitely want to give it a try!

Anonymous said...

Love Kombucha!! I wish it wasn't so expensive though :( Love your new pic up there on the header!! Super mom!

Unknown said...

Oh you know I do! I love that company and what they represent for health! Kombucha has really saved me. I make my own too. Great article angie!
LC

Greta said...

I'm going to try kombucha instead of acidophilus and see if I get better probiotic results. I had to take 2 rounds of antibiotics this winter and I need to get my good bacteria back!

Buy PGX said...

Kombucha is not only delicious but also a healthy beverage to detoxify our body.

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