I am a Kombucha girl, and this yummy Kombucha Green Smoothie is a great way to get some greens and beneficial probiotics (live friendly bacteria) in. Along with the beneficial probiotics that can provide gut support, Kombucha also contains B vitamins and antioxidants.
So what is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented sweet and tangy tea, lightly effervescent and has been drank for thousands of years. And since it’s made with tea, you also receive the same health benefits that the tea contains.
For instance, if the Kombucha was made using green tea it will contain all the Zen qualities from the amino acid L-theanine (which has a relaxing effect), and body protecting antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that help fight against disease and promote longevity. And these are just a few of the health benefits from green tea!
Also, worthy to note, is it contains only 10- 25 mg of the caffeine remaining after the fermentation process—there’ll be no caffeine jitters for those who are sensitive so you can stay calm and carry on:-)
What do beneficial probiotics do for us?
Beneficial probiotics can help support gut health, improve digestion and so many other aspects of health, from inflammation. mental health, hormones and weight-loss to name a few.
Is Kombucha Tea “Health” Claims to Fame True?
At this time, there’s no solid research proving the benefits from drinking Kombucha tea. Nor is there any research on the actual species of lactic-acid bacteria produced by the fermentation process of Kombucha tea. But there’s lots of research on the health benefits of probiotics including species of lactic-acid bacteria.
So my gut tells me it should reap the similar benefits as other probiotic rich foods do that help provide gut support.
Kombucha Tip
If new to Kombucha, go slow—maybe start with 1/4 -1/2 cup daily and gradually work your way up from there. Since everyone’s tolerance is different, this helps let your gut and digestion system get use to these beneficial critters. And for some, having only small amounts may work best for them so please listen to your body. It always knows best!
When buying Kombucha read the labels and the ingredients
Pending on the brands, the sugar content ranges vary too so look for ones that are on the lower end, like 4-7 grams per serving.
Kombucha needs natural sugars to help nourish the beneficial live bacteria and yeast so don’t want to look for sugar-free. With that said, keep in mind the label refers to an 80z serving. And the bottles are usually 16 oz. So if you plan to drink the whole bottle at once look for under 10 grams per bottle max.
It’s equally important, though, to look at all the ingredients.
And settle on one that is organic, no additives, artificial sweeteners or carbonated water and where the sugar is coming from. Lastly, how far down on the ingredient list is the natural sugars.
For example, one of my go-to-brands contains 14 grams per bottle and 7 grams per 8 oz is GT’s Synergy Organic Kombucha Pink Lady Apple flavour.
The sugar comes from fresh pressed pink lady apple juice which is the second last ingredient. And has no added carbonated water—only lightly effervescent occurring from the natural fermentation process. Since I am only drinking 1 glass and not the whole bottle, the healthier ingredients outweigh having 2 more grams of sugar then I would normally have.
Especially when adding it to this Kombucha Green Smoothie that contains 12 grams of fibre to help slow down the absorption of those sugars.
Want more protein?
Add 1 serving of your favourite clean protein powder or 2 tbsps of hemp hearts.
Spirulina is also a nice vegan protein booster, but it has an unusual flavour that can be fishy and earthy so just add a wee bit to start.
Enjoy this simple Kombucha Green Smoothie!
Kombucha Green Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender
- Measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Chef knife
Ingredients
- 8 oz Kombucha or 224ml
- 1/2 Avocado pitted and peeled
- 1 1/2 cups Spinach
- 1/2 cup Frozen pineapple
- 1 tbsp Flaxseed grounded
Instructions
- Grind the flax before measuring. And then measure out 1 tbsp.
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend. Serve.