mattsteenber513's Space http://mattsteenber513.posterous.com Most recent posts at mattsteenber513's Space posterous.com Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:36:00 -0700 The Skinny On Kombucha Tea - Fantastic Wonder Fungus? http://mattsteenber513.posterous.com/the-skinny-on-kombucha-tea-fantastic-wonder-f http://mattsteenber513.posterous.com/the-skinny-on-kombucha-tea-fantastic-wonder-f In the past I was always a bit nonplussed when it came to kombucha. I didn't think I liked the taste, and I was sceptical of the claimed health benefits. But now I've found out more about it, and discovered how easy and fun it is to make at home, I'm definitely a kombucha convert!

Kombucha is a fermented drink made from tea. It is made using a 'kombucha mother', also called a 'kombucha scoby' (or sometimes 'the tea beast'!) which is a gelatinous colony of bacteria and yeast. The mother is added to a container of sweet black tea, and over the period of a couple of days to a couple of weeks the bacteria and yeast feed off of the sugar, and produce a range of nutrients which fortify the tea.

Health Benefits

Kombucha is credited with anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Like all ferments, it is a 'living' substance, containing healthful 'friendly bacteria', which are essential for immunity, digestion, and nutrient absorption. It also contains vitamins and amino acids. In ancient China it was called the 'tea of immortality'.

Using & Brewing Kombucha

The only difficulty to start with is getting hold of a komucha mother. You could try asking around your local health-food shops, or look on ebay where there are often some for sale.

A kombucha mother can be reused indefinitely. Each new batch is started with about a cupful of mature kombucha saved from the previous batch, and some new (cooled) sweet black tea. One or 2 teabags and a handful of sugar to a small saucepan of water seems about right, but the quantities are very variable.

The best vessel for brewing your kombucha is said to be a bowl with a large surface area, but I find it easier in a large jar. Cover with a cloth to keep out flies or dust but don't seal closed as this would cause a pressure build up.

Once it's ready, the komucha is kept in the fridge and drunk as it is. It is slightly fizzy, slightly acidic, and to my mind, has a taste not unlike cider. The taste changes day by day as the complex fermentation processes develop. Young kombucha still tastes more like tea and is slightly sweet.

Very mature kombucha is not at all sweet, with a strong vinegary taste. Kombucha connoisseurs often seem to like it quite vinegary, but I must admit I prefer it a little milder, and normally stop my kombucha before it gets too strong.

Every batch you make also produces a new 'mother', so you end up with 2. At first the existing mother that you put in sinks to the bottom. After a day or 2 you can start to see a film appearing on the surface of the kombucha. Don't be afraid - this isn't mould, but the beginnings of a new mother.

After another couple of days it will be thicker, and will resemble the original mother. Once you have finished, you can use each of your mothers to make 2 separate batches of kombucha, give one away, or compost it. A mother will also keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge in a cupful or so of mature kombucha.

You can also kombucha other liquids. I mentioned that to me komucha tastes a little like cider, so I recently tried komucha-ing some apple juice, and it was delicious! It is claimed that using liquids other than tea will eventually harm the mother, but I haven't yet found this to be the case.

As a new mother is created each time I find it best to keep one regular batch of komucha tea on the go at the same time as an experimental brew, so that I always have one mother that I know will be ok.

So... I'm a kombucha convert, is anyone else with me?

The kombucha drink has fascinating properties and has positive effects on health; its regular consumption is effective against various ailments mild to severe. But its virtues are still relatively unknown today, because few scientific studies have been conducted on kombucha.

Some authors see it as a panacea that can cure almost all diseases, even cancer. In all cases, the consumption of kombucha does not replace your medical doctor and his or her advice. Combined with a healthy lifestyle, healthy food choices, kombucha can help you to stay healthy.

The components of the drink help to strengthen the immune system by regenerating the intestinal flora with its yeast, bacteria and organic macromolecules; they affect the balance of the body by improving general health by helping to strengthen and decreasing its vulnerability to disease, they help with detoxification and treatment cell, sanitation and blood. The properties of kombucha seem to have an antibiotic effect.

Consumed every day, this preparation would be effective in preventing certain diseases, cure or alleviate the symptoms. Kombucha is credited with tonic properties and healing: diuretics, purifying, detoxifying, rejuvenating and anti-microbial.

Drinking kombucha is recommended by devotees to strengthen the natural defenses, balance the intestinal flora, stimulate digestion, eliminate toxins,and improve skin physiology. Kombucha is also credited widely with fighting against edema, arteriosclerosis and blood pressure; the gout, rheumatism, intestinal sluggishness, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, hemorrhoids,, stress, overwork, asthma, etc. It must be noted, however, that kombucha is a fermented beverage which has an alcoholic content that sometimes exceeds the legal limits, which means that it is now classified in some countries as an alcoholic beverage. People in drug or alcohol recovery should NOT use this beverage; also, anyone with liver disease is at risk. Before beginning a kombucha regimen, consult with your physician to see if you might put yourself at risk.

The average dosage is 1 / 3 of a liter per day. Some consume up to one liter.The first week it is advisable not to drink more than one glass (100 ml. Approx.) per day.

Kombucha, also known as "mushroom of long life" has been used in China for over 2200 years. Its origin seems to be the Far East (China, Korea and Japan). This mystical drink was appreciated for its effects on the body and soul, and some consumed with the hope of immortality. In the early twentieth century it arrived in Russia and the Balkans, Poland, and has appeared in Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Romania. Since kombucha spread gradually to other countries and it is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the media. In the fifties kombucha was already known in France under the name "hongo" or "Ma-Gu" and was used as a panacea and especially to its beneficial properties against tuberculosis.

Various names: "Little Japanese parent," "mushroom heroes", "long life fungus", "miracle mushroom", "fungus of charity", are all used to describe kombucha.

Its medicinal properties have earned a good reputation worldwide as an alternative medicine; kombucha may be homebrewed and the fungus itself (similar to yeast) may be propagated at home as well, to keep the strain alive.

A significant number of baby boomers are interested in staying healthy and active. Many have discovered kombucha tea and are making it themselves at home. Some do it to save money, as it can be made at home for about thirty cents per bottle. (Commercial brands range in price from $3.00 to $5.00 per bottle.) Others, simply enjoy making their own and experimenting with the flavors.

There are pros and cons on the subject, and anyone considering brewing their own should spend time on research to determine if making the commitment is to their advantage. Otherwise, kombucha is readily available at most health food stores and even some groceries.

What is Kombucha tea? It's a fermented, effervescent, probiotic drink containing many of the following beneficial components:

Malic acid: Used in the body's detoxification process.

Oxalic acid: Encourages cellular production of energy.

Gluconic acid: Effective against yeast infections like candidiasis and thrush.

Butyric acid: Is produced by the yeasts, also combats yeast infections.

Nucleic acid: Aids in cell regeneration.

Amino acids: The building blocks of protein.

Enzymes: Proteins that speed the rate at which biochemical reactions proceed.

Kombucha also contains Vitamin Groups B and C, beneficial yeasts and living Bacteria.

Overview of how to get started: The very first thing needed before you can brew kombucha is a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). It is also called a 'mother' or 'mushroom', and it is essential to the success of your brew. You can find them online or you can grow your own. To do that, start with a commercial bottle of raw kombucha that has visible, live sediment (mother) at the bottom. Brew two cups of black (or green, NOT herbal) tea with 2-3 teaspoons of sugar, and cool to room temperature (it cannot be warmer than 85 degrees). Combined the kombucha and sweetened tea in a large wide-mouth jar. Cover with a paper towel or coffee filter secured with a rubber band, and place in a warm (65-85 degrees), dark place, out of direct sunlight. In about 10 days to two weeks, you will have your starter SCOBY and can begin your brew.

You can find numerous websites with recipes, instructions and supplies, along with how-to videos showing you how to brew, bottle, and flavor kombucha. Brewing this fascinating beverage, appeals to all age groups, especially those interested in finding new and healthier ways to eat and drink.

Dear fellow acne sufferers,

Wouldn't it be nice if you could clear your acne up overnight? Wouldn't it be nice if you found some magic cream that would leave you with beautiful skin? Of course it would! I myself would love to find a bottle of "specially formulated" acne potion that would leave me with clear, smooth, acne free skin.

Whether its microdermabrasion, toners, lotions, harsh creams, acids, or dermatologist recommended, we have all seem the amazing claims that these companies will make about how their formula is the one that works. I can assure you that these products will not work for 85% + of acne sufferers. You may have even tried some of these products hoping for a miracle. So have I... I purchased so many acne products I can't even name them all. Time after time, I got suckered into buying some lame acne product because the price was right, or they showed testimonials, etc. They were all marketing schemes that big companies designed to take our money! After so many disappointments, I got angry. I got really angry and I decided I was going to find the answer to cure my acne, once and for all!

First I conducted numerous surveys to see what worked for other people. I discovered that there was nothing that really worked for most of the people I surveyed. Their results using typical acne products showed minimal improvement at best. A lot of them even got worse or showed no difference in their skin. These people, just like me, were still looking for the "magic cream" that would truly make a difference.

Then I personally tested almost 50 of so-called acne treatments. While on these treatments, I frequently suffered:

• Skin irritation

• Redness

• Peeling

• New breakouts

• Itchiness

• Raw skin

• Burn-like effects

• Dryness

• Scaly skin

• Heavy oil production & shine 3 hours after washing

I finally realized that most topical acne treatments you see on TV or in the drugstore DO NOT WORK! Not just for me, but for many others as well.

After much more experimenting and months of research I finally found a few products that work! I was thrilled with the difference in my skin. I felt like I had waited a lifetime for smooth skin and I finally had it. My friends and family were stunned. I shared with them my finds and the ones who followed the same system as me saw amazing results as well.

INTERNAL SKIN HELPERS:


  1. Kefir (fermented milk)

  2. Kombucha (fermented tea drink)

Both of these drinks are Symbiotic Colonies Of Yeast & Bacteria - or SCOBY for short. These are full of "friendly bacteria" that keep the bad bacteria (like thee ones that cause acne) in check. Plus they're full of nutrients and alkalize the body (which is good for many health conditions, one of which is acne).

Check with your local health food store, on Craigslist or eBay for Kefir GRAINS (lasts longer than starters) or Kombucha MUSHROOMS (actually a scoby).

kombucha tea, make kombucha tea

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