The search for good skin is a search for the perfect balance between lifestyle choices and good skin products. We all want that natural healthy glow without the grease, inflammation or dryness. Beautiful, healthy skin is possible with a good diet, exercise and sun protection – and with a little help from some superfoods.
Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent tea that contains good bacteria, and it is good for your gut health as well as skin. But such claims are so rampant in the food industry, you always want to make sure that they’re backed by science. And kombucha is one such scientifically-backed drink with tons of good bacteria.
WHAT IS KOMBUCHA?
Kombucha may be first and foremost a probiotic. It is made by fermenting sugar in green or black tea with SCOBY, which is a mix of bacteria and yeast. SCOBY breaks down carbs and sugars in sweetened black/green tea into a cocktail of good bacteria and acetic acid, which is responsible for the sour tang.
KOMBUCHA’S GUT-FRIENDLY POWERS
The usual bunch of yeasts and bacteria found in kombucha have long and complicated names. But you may have heard of saccharomyces, which is used to treat the unglamorous traveller’s diarrhoea. Then there’s lactobacillus, which also makes yoghurt slimy but very good for the gut. Lactobacillus is one of the most widely studied in humans. The conclusion of such studies istypical that probiotics benefit a variety of ailments of the skin, ranging from atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis to acne, photoaging and psoriasis. Your nutritionist will tell you that healthy skin is umbilically tied to a healthy gut. A good gut means your skin is able to absorb all the nutrients it needs. The implication for foods like kombucha is a no-brainer.
KOMBUCHA’S ANTIOXIDANT POWERS
Another reason to drink kombucha is its green tea heritage. Green tea is a rich source of excellent antioxidants called polyphenols. And as health gurus have repeated umpteen times so even our kids know it, antioxidants protect the body from the free radicals that invade and damage cells. Your skin is the biggest organ in the body. That’s a lot of cells to potentially damage. Hence, kombucha helps you keep your baby skin supple and firm for a longer time.
KOMBUCHA’S COCKTAIL OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS
When the yeast breaks down sugars, the sample of kombucha is flooded with power-packed Bvitamins like B1, B6 and B-12 and vitamin C. All of these are food for your skin. Vitamin C is for collagen. It helps the protein web keep its shape and protects you from the invasive free radicals that are everywhere. Vitamin B1 is the anti-stress vitamin. It mothers and supports your immune system. You could say goodbye to stress-related breakouts forever with the help of the B1 in your regular cup of kombucha. B6 is also a stress-buster that helps your body produce serotonin and sleep better.
When you sleep better, you age slower as your skin gets more time to heal. And B-12 is known to reduce eczema, inflammation and acne. A visit to a dermatologist will tell you that B-12 is often used for eczema and psoriasis.
The Chinese knew about this miracle super-food centuries ago. If you’re wondering: is kombucha good for my skin, you will only know if you try it out. Taken as a daily supplement, this fermented tea may make you feel better about a lot of things including your skin.
Leave a comment