Popular Drink Found to Be Exceptionally Beneficial for Metabolism 0 15

Regular consumption of kombucha — a fermented tea-based drink known as tea fungus — may improve insulin sensitivity and affect the activity of genes related to metabolism. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a clinical study published in the journal Food & Function (F&F).

The experiment involved 36 adults: some with normal weight and some with obesity. For eight weeks, they drank 200 milliliters of kombucha daily. Before and after the intervention, participants' metabolic indicators, inflammation, oxidative stress, and gene activity in adipose tissue were assessed.

It was found that in people with obesity, the drink was associated with an improvement in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Additionally, the researchers recorded an increase in the activity of the ADIPOQ gene, which is involved in regulating insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism. Changes in several markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were also observed.

However, the effect of kombucha was not uniform: metabolic and inflammatory responses varied between people with obesity and those without. This suggests that the drink's influence may depend on the individual's initial condition.

The authors attribute the observed effects to the high content of polyphenols — antioxidant compounds formed during the fermentation of tea. However, the study was small and did not include a control group, so larger studies are needed for definitive conclusions.