EP#18: All About Kombucha - Truths, Myths, Science, and Legends

Feeding Families is a part of the EcoParent Podcast Network: https://www.ecoparent.ca/podcasts

This episode was generously sponsored by the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition: https://csnn.ca

About the episode:
Is Kombucha safe for kids? What about the sugar? The caffeine? The alcohol? Is it ok to buy or does it need to be homemade? If we buy it, what do we look for on the label? What is “sugar free” kombucha? Is Kombucha really as healthy as people say? What if you have candida overgrowth? Or histamine intolerance?

On this episode we invited The Kombucha Mama herself, Hannah Crum, to answer all this and more.  

Did you know that the sugar in Kombucha has a lower glycemic impact than normal sugar? 

The health impact of Kombucha goes far beyond gut health. In this episode, we discuss the benefits and misconceptions of Kombucha. 

Some takeaways:

• Kombucha - a fermented tea - has the capacity to nourish us beyond the body. “Kombucha is abundance in action”
• The sugar in kombucha, while necessary for the fermentation process, has a lower glycemic impact on the body
• The caffeine content in kombucha can actually have a calming effect due to the synergy of the acids in the drink
• People with histamine intolerance may have trouble with kombucha until gut health is improved in other ways
• Making kombucha at home allows for more control over the yeast/bacteria balance but there are some good ones on the market 
• Kombucha has detoxifying effects on the liver and can support sugar metabolism.
• The alcohol content in kombucha does not have an intoxicating effect. In fact, it may help curb alcohol cravings.

Guest Bio:
Hannah Crum, aka “The Kombucha Mamma,” pioneered Kombucha Kamp, an educational workshop, in 2004 out of her small Los Angeles kitchen. Along with husband Alex LaGory, they created the top educational site with a mission to “change the world, one gut at a time,” by providing quality information, cultures and customer support. Through Kombucha Kamp’s videos, blog posts, online support communities, and award-winning Amazon Best Seller, “The Big Book of Kombucha,” they serve as mentors and the leading experts in Kombucha to millions of Kombucha lovers from all corners of the earth. A popular speaker about Kombucha, fermentation and bacteriosapiens, Hannah frequently tours and can be found speaking at corporate and health conferences, fermentation festivals and events throughout the US and abroad. As an extension of Hannah and Alex’s mission, they also co-founded Kombucha Brewers International in 2014 to unite and advocate for the commercial Kombucha bottling industry worldwide.

Links for Hannah Crum aka The Kombucha Mama:
https://www.kombuchakamp.com/ use code FeedingFamilies15 for 15% off
The Big Book of Kombucha
Research database - https://research.kombuchabrewers.org/
What is in Kombucha? - https://www.kombuchakamp.com/whats-in-kombucha-mushroom-tea
Kombucha Brewer’s International: http://www.kombuchabrewers.org/

Host Bio:
Jess is a Family Health Educator, nutritionist, and mother of three focused on nutrition for brain health and resilience in kids. A certified teacher, Author, Speaker, and practitioner