FitSugar

Join the Kombucha Tea Craze and See How It's Made

Anna Monette Roberts — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:17:00 PST

Have you noticed that your health food markets have stocked fridges full of kombucha tea? In only a few years, kombucha has become king of the healthy beverage craze. Loved for its fizziness and signature sweet and sour flavor, fans of kombucha also love its probiotics, B vitamins, and beneficial acids - kombucha is practically liquid gold with the cost of a 16-ounce bottle averaging $4. It should be noted, however, that this traditional Eastern-originating brew has not undergone Western scientific research to support all of its health claims.

We met up with brewmaster Otto Thorsen of Three Stone Hearth, a community cooperative kitchen in Berkeley, CA, to learn the basics of brewing a delicious kombucha tea. Stay tuned for a detailed recipe for black tea kombucha and my experience making a home brew.

Is Kombucha Tea Worth All the Hype?

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:00:00 PST

You're asking and I'm answering . . .
Dear FitSugar,
Kombucha tea seems to be all the rage at my local grocery store. There are
many purported health benefits such as improved digestion and circulation.
Can you please let us know if there is substance behind the Kombucha hype?
Many thanks!!
– Kombucha Betty

I know many folks, Cameron Diaz for one, that love, love, LOVE this tea. It is true that the benefits listed on the bottles are endless – Kombucha seems to cure just about everything but bunions. All that aside, clinical studies in humans are seriously lacking so there is no direct scientific evidence to back up the health claims found on the bottle. However, researchers have found potent antioxidant effects as well as stimulation of the immune system in animal populations with limited toxicity. That is good news. Kombucha is prepared by fermenting sweetened black tea with a symbiotic culture of yeasts and bacteria, creating a slightly carbonated "tea" thus earning the nickname "champagne of life." It could be the high caffeine and sugar content that provide drinkers of this "Manchurian mushroom" (that isn't really a mushroom) a boost in energy.

Bottom line: None of the purported health benefits of Kombucha tea can be backed with scientific evidence in human populations, so hopefully someone will study this soon. The fact that a not-so-pleasant tasting, slightly acidic drink has been around since 221 B.C. suggests some folks truly find it beneficial. So drinking it can't really hurt you, but do be wary of homemade brew because it is easily contaminated.

Source

Get the Snack: Cameron Diaz

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:30:00 PDT

Cameron Diaz has been looking very healthy and fit these days. We've seen her hit the gym and the beach for workouts lately and it sure is paying off.

Cameron's known for eating a bunch of small meals throughout the day, so it's no wonder that she was spotted toting around a very healthy snack recently. Honestly, it looks like a snack I could get into, so here's what she's eating:

Blue Corn Chips: They're great because they're made with organic corn, no hydrogenated oils, no artificial flavors or colors, no preservatives, no trans fat, made with expelled pressed oil, Kosher certified and cooked in filtered water.
GT's Organic Raw Kombucha: It's got probiotics, live active enzymes, L-Theanine (an amino acid), organic acids and Polyphenols (antioxidants). The taste is an acquired one, one that you love or hate.
Water. I'm actually surprised that Cameron is not drinking out of a reusable water bottle, like a Sigg, but water is important to drink through out the day. Here she's opted for a 1.5 liter bottle of Poland Spring.

It also looks like she has some healthy leftovers too, which she does have in a reusable container. I'd also be willing to bet there is some protein in there too.

There are more pics of Cammie and her healthy snack, not to mention her cute (and simple) headbands, so

View 10 Photos ›

Pacific Coast News & Source

Kombucha Tea: Fact or Fiction

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:30:00 PDT

More than a few people have asked me if the benefits of Kombucha Tea are fact or fiction. I truly wish I had a definitive answer, but there really haven't been too many studies on kombucha for me to give you all a simple "fact" or "fiction" answer.

For those of you that have never heard of the stuff, kombucha tea (pronounced "com-boo-cha") is a health drink that supposedly boosts the body's ability to fight sickness and disease as well as bring a healthy balance back to your metabolism and organs. Often referred to as a mushroom, kombucha is actually a symbiosis of bacteria and yeast. When sugar and black or green tea are added to kombucha, a fermentation process results in the "tea." The final product of this process is a liquid containing vinegar, B vitamins and a number of other chemical compounds. Popular with models and health foodies, I have heard a lot of anecdotal evidence mostly in the positive about drinking kombucha. Some folks think it just tastes awful, but most claim the drink gives them a calm energy and that they feel like it helps cleanse them of toxins.

On the other hand, even though it has been consumed by the Chinese since 221 B.C., there hasn't been a single human trial that has been reported in the peer-reviewed literature on the benefits of kombucha. A study of this sort would give the drink some serious cred with scientists. While that doesn't necessarily mean there are no benefits to the tea, it does make all the claims seem a bit suspect to me. Many people brew their own tea at home, which poses health risks since a home-brewing process can lead to contamination.

I am curious if any of you have tried kombucha tea, where you found it, how it tasted and if you felt the benefits? With all those questions, you can tell I am really curious. Tell me about your kombucha experience in the comments section below.

Source

Wake Up! Pre-Workout Beverages to Boost Your Energy

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:39:43 PDT

Whether they're working out first thing in the morning or after work, many people may feel a little drowsy and sluggish. Rather than heading to the gym with only one eye open, prepare by drinking one of these energy-boosting beverages to help you feel more focused, energized, and ready to push your body to do more.

Coffee or Green Tea
Caffeine increases your endurance because it changes how your body uses fat. Caffeine helps your body convert fat into readily accessible energy, so you can work out for longer. As an added bonus, studies have also shown that caffeine consumption helps reduce postworkout DOMS.

Green Juice
Rich in natural sugars, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, a homemade green juice is a glass full of easily absorbable nutrients, especially iron, which can combat your sleepy slump. And because green juice recipes are high in carbs but low in fiber, it helps give the body energy while also being easy to digest. Perfect if you need something on the way into the gym.

Apple Cider Vinegar
If you are a fan of kombucha, then you'll love the tart flavor of apple cider vinegar, which is rich in minerals, vitamins, and beneficial acids. For an energy booster sans caffeine, mix a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and drink prior to a workout. Look for raw and unfiltered varieties to get the most nutrients possible. A small study also links apple cider vinegar to improved weight loss.

Preworkout Sports Beverages
Gatorade, Vega Sport, and Biosteel High Performance offer sports drinks that are developed specifically for before workouts. Each drink is formulated with ingredients to help stimulate and energize the body. We recommend these drinks for more intense or longer workouts.

What We're Sweet On: A Silky Serum That Works While You Snooze

Jaime Richards — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:26:31 PST

Bare Escentuals is bringing new meaning to beauty sleep with its just-launched bareMinerals Active Cell Renewal Night Serum ($50). The lightweight formula, which works while you snooze, contains lavender to soothe, kombucha black tea to smooth, and antioxidant skin-protecting vitamins C and E. But perhaps the best part of applying the serum is just how good it feels when it hits your skin. It sinks right in to reveal a mug that's hydrated, firmed, and refreshed in the a.m. Think of it like a supercharger for your face. You'll also love that it's free from synthetic fragrances and parabens. So all you'll have to worry about is sleeping through your alarm.

Would You Go to a Yoga Studio-Turned-Nightclub?

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:30:09 PDT

Your yoga studio might offer Friday night kirtan, but have you ever heard of a yoga studio transforming into a nightclub on the weekend? Shiva Rea's Yoga Trance Dance and Aarona's Yoga Soundscape fuse yoga with dance elements, but these days yogis are rolling up their mats and raving after class (sans the alcohol, of course). Get Your Dance On has popularized the trend of combining a challenging yoga class followed by a liberating dance party, complete with live DJs, funky, local musicians, and a smoke machine. After a detoxing and purifying class, yogis can continue to socialize by dancing in a noncompetitive, nonalcoholic, and all-inclusive environment. The energy stays high as guests sip on kombucha and coconut water and eat raw, vegan noshes. While most events occur in NYC at Judson Church, Urban Zen, and YogaWorks SoHo, the dance party has ventured to the West Coast in LA and San Francisco. I'm hoping to bring this dance revolution to my local studio. We're gonna tell that yogi to pass the kombucha tea!

Source: Aria Isadora Photography

Anna Paquin Drinks Kombucha; Do You?

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:21 PST

True Blood star Anna Paquin was spotted sipping a Synergy drink on her way to a meeting in Venice, CA. Can this drink replace the get-up-and-go effects of a cup of joe?

Synergy beverages are made with mostly raw organic kombucha and five percent real fruit juice. Sometimes referred to as a tea, kombucha is not brewed from mushrooms; it's a colony of bacteria and yeast, which is added to tea or, in this case, fruit juice and allowed to ferment. Kombucha has been used for centuries throughout the world as a health tonic since it contain beneficial probiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants. According to Mayo Clinic, "health benefits attributed to Kombucha tea include stimulating the immune system, preventing cancer, and improving digestion and liver function." The thing is, though, there isn't any scientific data performed on humans to back this up, but that also doesn't mean it won't benefit the body.

So while kombucha won't necessarily "restore and rejuvenate" Anna's body, I guess it's worth a try. Tell me, do you drink kombucha for health benefits?