The drink can help with weight-loss.
When excess fat accumulates in the body, especially in the form of triglycerides, it heightens the risk of various health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart failure.
Elevated levels of triglycerides are also associated with increased susceptibility to acute inflammation in the pancreas, which in turn can escalate the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Research indicates that adopting healthy lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise, weight management, moderation in alcohol consumption, and adherence to a balanced diet rich in fiber and healthy fats while low in refined sugars and carbohydrates can effectively lower triglyceride levels. Dr. Rob Dowen, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the lead author of the study, underscores the importance of exploring novel methods to reduce fat accumulation and mitigate triglyceride levels in light of the rising prevalence of modern diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular ailments, which significantly contribute to premature mortality.
Dr. Dowen emphasizes the significance of investigating functional foods that may directly impact lipid homeostasis during metabolic disorders or supplement traditional therapeutic interventions. To this end, the study focuses on kombucha tea as a potential intervention for reducing triglyceride levels.
Kombucha tea, an ancient beverage with origins in Eastern traditional medicine, has gained popularity in recent years. It is a fermented drink made from black tea and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), rendering it a probiotic beverage.
Preliminary animal and human studies suggest that kombucha may offer therapeutic benefits for various diseases, including diabetes, liver disease, and gastrointestinal health. Additionally, animal and preclinical research indicates potential cardiovascular benefits such as cholesterol reduction and blood pressure regulation.
However, it’s important to acknowledge potential side effects associated with kombucha consumption, including increased heart rate and heartburn due to its caffeine content. A case study conducted using a worm model suggested possible cardiotoxic effects of kombucha consumption.
Dr. Dowen’s team utilized the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to investigate the interaction between host organisms and probiotic microbes present in kombucha tea. They found that ingestion of kombucha tea led to microbial colonization of the worms’ intestines, triggering metabolic changes akin to those observed during fasting. Remarkably, this response was observed only in animals consuming microbes from fully fermented kombucha tea culture, underscoring the potential role of microbial metabolites in shaping host metabolic pathways during fermentation.
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