Myth: Drinking kombucha tea has proven health benefits

Fact: This trendy, effervescent, fermented drink is made with black tea, sugar, yeast and bacteria. Kombucha tea enthusiasts claim that it has a wide range of health benefits such as aiding digestion, improving energy, strengthening immunity, preventing cancer and improving liver function. It is available commercially or can be brewed at home using a kombucha culture which is added to tea and allowed to ferment. 

The authors of a 2014 review on kombucha tea noted that the biological effects underlying health claims have only been studied in animal and cell cultures. To date, there is no scientific evidence to support similar beneficial effects in humans. The reviewers concluded that, while more research is needed, kombucha tea can be part of a healthy diet. Given the potential beneficial health properties and the current interest in the effects of fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh, kimchi, etc.) on health, human studies involving kombucha tea are anticipated in the future.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (link accessible only those who have access to University of Waterloo Library) advises of numerous safety concerns, especially the potential fungal and bacterial contamination of homebrewed kombucha tea. Bottled kombucha tea has been found to contain trace amounts of alcohol formed as a result of the fermentation process. Kombucha tea should not be consumed by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and may be unsafe for people who are immune compromised or with other medical conditions such as diabetes or liver disease. Keep in mind that a product labelled 'natural' is not an assurance that it works or that it is safe. Kombucha tea should not be used in place of conventional medical care to treat illnesses.