It’s True: I’m Obsessed with Kombucha (Alt: #WorldKombuchaDay: What It Is & Why I’m Obsessed)

It’s #WorldKombuchaDay today, and it’s crazy to think that there’s a global holiday for something no one had heard of just a few years ago. When I first tried kombucha I was blown away. It was intense, refreshing and delicious. I had no idea how good it was for me. All I knew was that I hadn’t had a soda pop in over 5 years and I literally teared up when I took my first sip. How could this be so good for me and taste so good?!

I know it sounds dramatic but it’s true. Kombucha is one of the healthiest addictions I have, and one that I enjoy on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. The fact that it’s great for my digestion, stress levels and much more is icing on the cake.

GT’s Kombucha was the first brand I ever tried. Since, I’ve tried many other kombucha brands and GT’s remains my favorite. The taste is unparalleled, and it’s a brand that I can trust. Whether I have it as a mid-day pick-me-up or to help me feel lighter after a heavy meal, I’m always happy after cracking open the bottle and taking a couple of sips.

What is Kombucha, You May Ask.

In ancient Eastern cultures, kombucha was called “The Tea of Immortality.” Authentically fermented kombucha naturally yields living probiotics, electrolytes, acetic acids, and active enzymes.

Kombucha is a fermented tea passed down by centuries of Eastern tradition. To craft Kombucha, a base of sweetened tea is cultured with a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast). Over time, the SCOBY transforms the tea into a tangy, naturally effervescent drink with billions of living probiotics to support gut health and promote overall wellbeing. This living culture (which looks a bit like a slimy pancake) consumes sugar and caffeine during fermentation. I really feel the difference in my digestion when I consume it before or after a big meal.

 

Benefits of Kombucha

Kombucha is known to: Support gut health & aid digestion, promote overall wellbeing, provide immune support, and improve vitality.

Maintain Healthy Weight: Gut health is typically one of the more well-known benefits of kombucha. The probiotics found in kombucha provide your gut with healthy bacteria. This healthy bacterium is likely why people have seen effects like weight loss when they add kombucha to their diets. Weight loss from drinking kombucha is also because of the epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) found in the green tea of some types of kombucha, which aids in speeding up your metabolism.

Strengthen Immune System: The positive effect on gut health are known to provide an immune system boost. According to a study, 70% of the immune system is found in the gut, meaning that the digestive system and immune system are closely linked.

Manage Chronic Illnesses: I also urge my family and friends to also start drinking kombucha because of the correlation between it and reducing chronic illnesses. The green tea contained in some kombucha is said to reduce blood sugar levels, potentially helping those with type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the drink may potentially reduce heart disease risk by positively influencing cholesterol levels.

Why I Drink Kombucha

There are numerous potential benefits of the drink that studies have confirmed. But honestly, I wouldn’t drink kombucha as often as I do if it weren’t for how good it tastes! I love it so much I can easily go through 3 bottles a day, but I try the savor the flavor and keep it to their recommended allowance of 1.

I’m positively obsessed with GT’s Watermelon Wonder kombucha. In fact, GT’s put my quote on the watermelon bottle – which meant so much to me!

You are meant to shine in the light and the darkness. Like the sun and the moon, you are here to bless the world with your brilliance.

GT’s Living Foods

As I mentioned, GT’s Kombucha has always been my favorite. But as I continued to drink it, I was delighted to find that the brand was as purposeful as the product. I loved hearing that GT’s started because of the founder’s mom, Laraine, incorporated kombucha to fight against the aggressive form of breast cancer she had. I loved that the company started to bottle up the benefits to make accessible for more people. And I love how the brand has stayed true to the authentic brewing process that they used from day one.

Today their kombucha is raw, organic, naturally effervescent, and handcrafted in small batches. What is not to love?!

25th Anniversary

Given my love of GT’s, I was thrilled to hear about its latest offering for GT’s 25th Anniversary. Called Sacred Life, the limited-edition glass is embossed with sacred geometry – The Flower of Life. Meant to symbolize one of the most sacred things on this earth: Life.

As a yoga instructor and founder of Get Loved Up, the number one health school for women of color, it’s vital that I’m always connected to prana – the breath of life. It’s a force that you’re continuously tapping into in yoga through different postures and breathing techniques that unlock prana. Suffice to say, I love the reminder that the new bottle offers me to tap into the life force of prana. And for GT’s Living Foods, this serves as symbol of their commitment to crafting raw, living foods that replenish our bodies with vitality.

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Years after opening my first bottle of kombucha, I still get so excited to have a swig of my “healthy addiction.” On the 25th anniversary, I’m excited to see a new bottle that inspires us to think about the life force that flows through us all. Let us use kombucha for all the benefits and use the 25th edition bottle for encouragement to be present in the extraordinary life we get to create each day.

To learn more about fermented foods, kombucha, and GT’s Living Foods, you can visit them online at GTsLivingFoods.com or on Instagram at @GTsKombucha.