Of the many healing qualities of Kombucha Tea

Can kombucha tea help prevent cold or flu infection?

Do the probiotic and antimicrobial properties of cultured kombucha tea help the body fight viruses or bacterial infections?

By

Sara McGrath

on Jan 7, 2013

 

 

Kombucha tea contains probiotic ingredients and has antimicrobial properties. That means it has the power to fight viruses and bacteria. Does that mean kombucha can help the body fight the common cold or flu (influenza) virus? Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that it does, especially when made with green tea.
Kombucha has disease-fighting power

• In Kombucha: The Miracle Fungus, Harald Tietze states that "Kombucha has the effect of being a natural antibiotic."
• From Kombucha.org: "The resulting beverage [kombucha tea] contains dozens of elements, many of which are known to promote healing for a variety of conditions."
• ChristianMommyBlogger.com includes green tea kombucha in her "Five Flu-Fighting Foods," due to the catechins in green tea, "more powerful than vitamins C and E..."
• In "Does kombucha provide immunity?" Dr. Arianna Estelle-Symons states: "Green Tea, which has the most readily available polyphenols has been known for centuries to have some anti-microbial properties. People who drink a lot of Green Tea don’t suffer from the 100 or more rhinoviruses as much as people who do not drink Green Tea."
• In 1996 and again 1998, Harmonic Harvest sent out a "Kombucha Questionnaire." Among the health benefits reported by Kombucha drinkers around the world, over 80% reported an increased immunity to colds and flu.

Green tea enhances kombucha's healing and protective effects

• Polyphenols. Green tea polyphenols achieve antiviral effects by interfering with the ability of viruses, including influenza, to adhere to cells.
• Catechins. "Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties." - "Benefits of Drinking Green Tea," harvard.edu.

More ways to fight cold and flu naturally

• Heat up the body with warm beverages (chicken soup, hot tea).
• Protect the nose and mouth to prevent flu viruses from entering and proliferating within the body.
• Salt water gargle.
• Keep hands away from face (wash them often anyway.)
• Eat immune boosting foods.

Reportedly, drinking kombucha tea can aid in healing from bacterial (colds) or viral (flu) infection, as well as preventing infection by promoting balance in the body. Green tea, with its polyphenols and catechins, provides an extra boost of healing power to kombucha.

Copyright Sara McGrath