Kombucha- The Miracle Tea

Recently, I was struggling with health issues related to Candidiasis. This is the imbalance of yeast and bacteria in the intestinal tract which can result in many different symptoms. I have been suffering with this problem on and off for years, and it seemed to just be getting worse despite my efforts to eat a low-acid diet, avoid high-glycemic foods and alcohol, take extra probiotics and try many different remedies. I can only guess it came as a result of taking birth control pills for about 11 years, until I discovered the havoc they can wreak on the body. (If you are taking hormones for any reason, I urge you to go do some research on the long term effects they can have! Your doctor will not tell you how dangerous they can be to your health! As always, make sure to talk to your health care professional before going off any meds- some have to be tapered off slowly.)

I had just about reached my wit's end when I happened to be shopping in a little Asian convenience store and randomly picked out a bottle of GT's cranberry flavored Kombucha tea to drink. I knew it had a very strong flavor, but also knew it was supposed to be super healthy. So I drank that entire bottle in one night and thought nothing of it. The next day I happened to be in a health food store and spotted another bottle, this time in a different flavor- ginger. So I decided to splurge again and get another one. (These drinks run about $4 a bottle. Normally, I wouldn't spend that much on a drink. But for some reason I didn't mind this time.) Despite their vinegary flavor, these drinks were almost addictive!

The day after that, I was ordering food at a nearby health food restaurant for an eco-friendly potluck I was going to and saw they were selling it too. So for the third day in a row, I drank Kombucha tea. And wouldn't you know it... my Candida symptoms were gone!!! I didn't even drink the whole bottle on day 3, since I noticed it said one serving was just half a bottle. I saved it for day 4, which was Friday and I decided that since I felt so awesome, I could ease up a little and eat some of the foods I normally wouldn't, and even have a few alcoholic drinks at a party. I continued to feel so good, I began telling everyone about this tea! I went online and researched it some more, finding out it's many benefits, including:

In short: it revitalizes the bowel flora, helps the circulation and helps to ease stress.

In more detail:

1. Its regular consumption lengthens the lifespan.
2. Reduces the formation of wrinkles, makes mottles (liver-spots) on skin less visible.
3. Discourages the formation of cancer; combined with pawpaw it heals cancer.
4. Heals the inflammations of the joints; reduces muscle pain.
5. It is a remedy against high blood pressure as it stabilizes the blood pressure at a normal level. It provides a general good state of health and relieves sleeping disorders. It reduces stress.
6. Heals constipation, stops contagious diarrhea, heals hemorrhoids, heals the inflammation of the large intestine, heals a nervous stomach, heals a disordered stomach and heals the inflammation of the small and large intestines.
7. Purifies blood, helps the kidneys work more efficiently, helps the liver and the gall-bladder work more efficiently, dissolves gall bladder and kidney stones.
8. Helps to pass uric acid, heals gout.
9. Reduces the cholesterol level, makes the veins and arteries elastic, cures the blockage of arteries, reduces the pain of blood-vessel inflammation.
10. Helps slimming, helps in fat burning, helps body builders and sportsmen increase their muscles and slim at the same time, and is highly recommended for those who are very active in doing sports.
11. Heals prostate inflammation, enhances the sexual drive.
12. Helps to stabilize the glucose level, slows down the dramatic fall of blood sugar.
13. Heals illnesses that develop due to weakness of the immune system -- heals allergy for instance.
14. Lengthens the life of AIDS sufferers.
15. Heals sore throats and eases asthma.
16. Reduces menopause, relieves heat flashes.
17. Heals sweaty feet.
18. Heals cataracts and other illnesses of the eye.
19. Heals eczema, and is also a healthy remedy against chickenpox and shingles. It should be applied externally for rashes. Heals boils and infectious blisters.
20. Has a natural antibiotic effect.
21. It is a detoxifier. It dissolves and chemically binds toxins released from the liver and other body fluids.
22. Enhances the resistance against chemicals.
23. Heals edema and swollen legs.
24. Heals and prevents candida albicans.
25. Eradicates parasites from the body.
26. Ensures a general good state of health, greater mental achievement and more physical power for healthy people.
27. It has a surprising effect on the scalp: it improves baldness, helps the growth of stronger hair, helps restore the color to grey hair and makes hair grow faster.
28. Helps bone formation, soothes the pain of fractures and bruises. As a side effect it increases the growth of nails and strengthens them.

Decreases the level of alcohol in the blood. Relieves hangovers, and helps cure alcohol addiction.

And here you can find info specifically about Candida and Kombucha yeast: http://www.kombu.de/candida.htm

Tons more general Info from Gunther Frank: http://www.kombu.de/english.htm

Needless to say, I'm fully sold on the benefits of drinking Kombucha tea. I want everyone to try it, since it seems to be helpful with sooooo many different problems. After my experience with it, I feel like a whole new person. I do think it will need to be an ongoing part of my health routine, however. I skipped drinking it for one day yesterday, and symptoms returned immediately, although they seemed less intense than before.

And the neat part is, not only was I somehow divinely guided to drink Kombucha, but I also met another nutrition coach at the potluck on Friday who is growing her own Kombucha cultures and wants to share them with me and teach me how to grow them myself! How cool is that!?!? I'm so excited! They're even the original pure strain from which GT's Kombucha brand sold in stores originally came.

You can check GT's website for locations that sell Kombucha near you: http://www.gtskombucha.com/

(This is not an official endorsement of any particular brand... just wanna make sure everyone can access this miraculous health drink!)

Balancing Your Intestinal Flora

Inside each of us (men and women) is a delicate balance of bacteria and yeast that live in our gut. Some of these are considered "good" and some are "bad." When the bad ones outnumber the good ones the result is what we call Candidiasis, commonly known as a yeast infection.

When the yeast starts to grow out of control, it can turn from a non-invasive spore form into a fungus which spreads and may create tiny holes in your intestines. When larger food particles find their way through these holes and enter the bloodstream, one might experience food sensitivities. In fact, a lot of the symptoms of candidiasis are very similar to those of food allergies- bloating, heartburn, nasal congestion, fatigue, headaches and moodiness, to name a few. One might also notice cravings for the exact foods that feed the yeast- sugar specifically, and all the foods that metabolize into sugar in the body (like carbs.)

The other thing this yeast does is produce toxins and hormone-like substances that can mess with your estrogen- progesterone balance and other hormone production.

Western doctors like to prescribe drugs for this problem, one of the popular ones being nystatin. Although this is found to be one of the most effective drugs on the market, it still can take up to two years to bring the yeast under control. If you prefer a more natural solution, you'll be happy to know there are many different things one can do to remedy this situation.

One of my favorites is oregano oil. Just 4 drops taken orally in a little water can reduce symptoms almost immediately. You can find this at your local health food store. The brand I've used is called Nature's Answer, and it's a bit pricey (around $30 for one ounce) but totally worth it. Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, author of "Super Nutrition for Women" recommends one by the North American Herb & Spice Company. Oregano oil functions as a germicide that can kill all kinds of fungus and bacteria.

Another good remedy is Pau D'Arco tea, also known as Taheebo. This tea is very mild tasting and is thought to have an antifungal effect. You can find this at the health food store too, loose or in tea bags.

Other things to try:

Avoid yeast-based supplements, excessive carbs, chronic medications like antibiotics, steroids and birth control pills (check with your doctor first, of course), foods that might have yeasts or mold (fruit) or the products of fermentation (most alcohol, vinegar, most condiments, mushrooms, cheese, spices like black pepper and cinnamon, dried herbs, herb tea, fruit juices, and melons).

Make sure to eat lots of fresh garlic.

Acidophilus supplements- JarrowDophilus was one recommended to me by a naturopathic doctor.

Eat plain low fat yogurt. (Not the kind with the sugary fruit in it!)

Take extra supplements. Often, people with candida are deficient in vitamin B6 and magnesium. One can find vitamin B6 in foods like walmuts, peanuts, fish, avocados and soybeans. You can get magnesium by eating green veggies, seafood and nuts. Another good one is biotin which you can find in eggs (the yolks), beans and nuts.

Make sure you're getting adequate amounts of essential amino acids and fatty acids to keep your immune system strong.

It may take some time to get the yeast under control, but with consistent good nutrition and careful avoidance of trigger foods and substances, it IS possible. Remember that each cell in your body is constantly being replaced and human beings are naturally geared towards wellness. Any damage done by these nasty fungi can be reversed. It's time to take back your power!