Boost Your Immune System Naturally With Kombucha

Improve your health by consuming kombucha and other fermented foods and liquids to increase the diversity of microbes in your gut. A diet that is high in fermented foods adds more diversity while decreasing inflammatory proteins.

Stanford researchers conducted a recent clinical trial with 36 adults that were assigned a 10-week diet that included high-fiber or fermented foods. These different diets gave mixed results regarding the effects on the immune system and the gut microbiome.

Both stool and blood samples were collected and analyzed during the pretrial period of three weeks. The same samples were also taken during the 10-week diet program and four weeks after the study concluded.

The participants that ate a diet rich in fermented foods that included kombucha tea, fermented vegetables, kimchi, kefir, yogurt, vegetable brine drinks, and fermented cottage cheese showed an increase in their microbial diversity. The effects were even stronger when larger servings were consumed.

Blood samples also showed a decrease in 19 different inflammatory proteins, including the protein called interleukin 6. This particular protein has been linked to many conditions, including chronic stress, type II diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The results also indicated that eating more fiber led to increased carbohydrates in the stool samples. This showed that the gut microbes could not degrade the fiber completely. This finding is consistent with other studies that indicate that many people are depleted of the microbes that allow complete fiber degradation in the gut.

Healthy adults experienced decreased inflammation and an increased immune status due to eating a diet rich in fermented foods. The findings were consistent across all participants assigned to the fermented foods group. However, there was no decrease in the inflammatory proteins in participants assigned to the fiber-rich food group. In addition, those eating foods high in fiber did not experience an increase in the diversity of microbiomes.

The evidence has proven that diet alone can positively affect the micro-organisms of the gut, which leads to an improved immune system and better overall health. Conversely, a person with a low diversity of microbiomes is more at risk of developing diabetes and obesity.

The original concept behind the study was to test whether foods that were microbiome-targeted could help combat the current rise of chronic inflammatory conditions. The focus was on fermented foods and fiber since both types of foods have been reported to provide a wide range of potential health benefits. Diets rich in fiber can lower the mortality rate but eating fermented foods can help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes while helping with weight management.

Kombucha tea can be made at home quite easily for a fraction of the cost of what you would pay at the grocery store. Find great recipes and a kombucha starter kit on this site to begin your journey to better immune health.