While it is true Kombucha seems to be just another millennial trend, there are actually many benefits of kombucha that can improve your health significantly. Kombucha originated from the Far East around 2,000 years ago. The Chinese dubbed it the "Immortal Health Elixir." Kombucha undergoes a fermentation process that is responsible for the live cultures of bacteria in the beverage. After fermentation, this sugar-tea solution becomes carbonated making the drink crisp and fresh. If you're ever craving a fizzy drink, put down the soda and pick up Kombucha.

1. Prevents a Wide Variety of Diseases

coffee, tea
Hana Brannigan

A health benefit of Kombucha is that it contains hundreds of healthy bacteria known as probiotics. While the idea of bacteria swimming around in your drink is daunting, these little buggers actually boost your immune system. While there are good bacteria and bad bacteria, these bacteria line your digestive and absorb nutrients (AKA these are the good kind). 80% of your immune system is located in in your gut. The bacteria from kombucha line your gut and in turn fight infection and illness. So get over the bacteria and drink some kombucha.

2. Improves Mental Health & Boosts Energy

juice, ice, cocktail, alcohol, soda, liquor, apple
Kathryn Stouffer

Vitamin B is plentiful in Kombucha. The B vitamins (particularly B12) increases energy levels as well as wellbeing. A vitamin B deficiency can lead to weakness and numbness and a reduced amount of blood cells (anemia). Vitamin B helps convert food into fuel. Depression, a severe mental health disease, is sometimes a side effect of leaky gut (when bad gut permeability leads to inflammation). While depression can be a rare side effect, any deficiency in vitamin B is an issue as this vitamin complex has an integral part in energetic of the human body.

3. Its Healthy for Your Heart

beer, wine
Jessica Fedin

This healthy drink has been considered to be beneficial to cardiovascular functions for some time. Kombucha has been shown in animal models to regulate cholesterol naturally as well as lowering levels of triglycerides.  High cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides can leave to heart disease.  Heart disease kills about 610,000 people in the United States every year. It is important to maintain a healthy diet and a low cholesterol. Kombucha can help, it benefits heart health tremendously!

4. It Maintains Your Liver Health

chocolate, candy, milk, coffee, sweet
Jessica Ciccarella

The liver is part of the digestive system.  As we know, Kombucha benefits the health of the digestive system significantly. The liver is a part of the digestive system that processes the nutrients absorbed from the small intestine and filters chemicals. The liver is a vital part in maintaining the health of the digestive system. Kombucha has plenty of antioxidants that protect the liver from oxidative stress as well as other damages to the organ caused by acetaminophen overdose.

5. Its An Antibacterial Agent ( I know this sounds counterintuitive, just trust me!)

beer
Tara Shooshani

Lab studies show that Kombucha have had antibacterial effects against staph, E. coli, Sh. sonnei, two strains of salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni. Consuming products that are probiotics is a very healthy alternative to medicating with antibiotics.  While antibiotics can get the job done, in recent years antibiotics have been over-prescribed by doctors, and now bacteria are evolving to be resistant to certain antibiotic medications. So as an overall precaution, it is smart to consume probiotic foods and drinks such as Kombucha or yogurt.

juice, ice, sweet, alcohol
Rachel Hartman

I have recommended Kombucha to many of my friends and family, but the initial reaction is one of disgust at the idea of carbonated bacteria. However, once you try it, your mind changes. Everyone has their own taste and therefore a preference in flavor. My personal favorite is Trilogy. My mother's is cosmic cranberry. Just give it a shot! I promise you and your body will not be disappointed.