Is Kombucha Tea a Magical Elixir?

For years I've heard about a magical Tea elixir that all the celebrities use to lose weight. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I had to get my hands on it.
Well, about a year ago I finally found what I was looking for. It's called Kombucha and I found it at my local health food store. I quickly purchased a bottle and popped it open; my mouth watered in anticipation. What I tasted was NOT the magic that I envisioned.  Sweet and sour notes hit my tongue first, and then just plain vinegar. I was so jolted by the flavor that I checked the label to make sure it hadn't expired.  Because I spent nearly 4 dollars on the sixteen oz. bottle, I took it home and put it in the fridge. I thought, "I'll try again later, maybe it will grow on me." My husband beat me to the chase and said, "Hey, babe, that tea you bought has gone bad.... make sure you throw it away." Ha, that was my first and last experience with Kombucha, until recently.

Once I had the baby I began revisiting all of my weight loss options. When I researched Kombucha, I learned several things. One, the drink has been praised for its antioxidants and many believe that drinking the tea can not only keep you healthy, but can fight against any number of ailments, like diabetes, ulcers, arthritis, depression and anxiety.... The list goes on. Two, the tea can boost metabolism, improve energy and help alleviate hunger. The thing about Kombucha, however, is that it is NOT a magical elixir that can cure ANYTHING! It brings the body back into balance so that it may heal itself naturally. That is how it is able to do so much – because it works with your body’s natural immune system. Most sites recommended drinking 4 to 8 oz. over an entire day and overtime, increasing your intake to 16 to 32 oz. a day.


For me, the one thing I needed was a drink to help alleviate hunger. I thought, if I can drink a tea that helps me through cravings, then I am willing to give it a try. So, loaded with all of this new information, I decided to give the tea another chance, and this time I was determined to get through one whole bottle before making a judgement.

I tried the Synergy Trilogy, which is 95% Kombucha Tea and 5% fruit juice. The first sip was just as I remembered it, but I kept sipping, and an hour later I was finished with half the bottle. What I noticed was:
1. I got used to the flavor and really began to enjoy its refreshing bite
2. I was no longer hungry
3. I had a ton of energy that wasn't there before.

I stored the rest of the bottle in the fridge, intending to drink it the next day, but after several hours, I was craving it, and I finished off the bottle that evening. Then, I went back to the store and bought about 6 more.

So far, I've tried to drink one bottle a day, but sometimes I finish off two bottles because I love the taste and the way it makes me feel.

Now, before making a glowing recommendation, you should know that the tea does have some noteworthy skepticism attached to it:

Beware of Home Brewed Teas

1.Kombucha is made from fermenting sweetened tea and live bacteria. The result is a tea brimming with natural pro-biotics, enzymes, and low levels of alcohol. So, you should avoid giving this drink to children.
2. Aside from some very early research from Russia, there have been no clinical trials done and little scientific research exists to support the health benefits that so many drinkers describe.
3. Home-brewed batches of the tea can contain harmful bacteria and should be avoided. Stick to the brands  you can find at the store.
4. Unfortunately, the bottles that you find in the super market are a bit pricey, so drink conservatively, and budget your intake so you don't go broke!