About 70% of your entire immune system is in your gut! Good gut bugs stimulate the immune system to have a protective response, and help balance or block “bad” bacteria that would otherwise harm the immune system.
Here are just a few ways a healthy gut impacts overall health:
Protecting the immune system
Preventing chronic inflammation
Good gut bugs protect the lining of the digestive tract. A damaged lining can become a “leaky gut” which allows things to enter the bloodstream that should not be there (like food particles). Since these aren’t normally in the bloodstream, the body may view these as foreign invaders, which activates an inflammatory response as the body tries to protect itself. Chronic inflammation may overstress the body and cause or worsen many health conditions.
Boosting mood
Bacteria make hormones and brain chemicals that affect our mood, such as serotonin. In fact, their role in mood and feelings is so great that the gut is often referred to as the “second brain.” It’s no wonder we say we have gut feelings!
What is kombucha?
Kombucha is a beverage made by fermenting tea. Fermentation is the process by which microorganisms – in the case of kombucha, yeast & bacteria – turn sugar into acids and alcohol. Sugar, yeast, and bacteria are added to green & black tea to create our kombucha.
Tea + Sugar + SCOBY* = KOMBUCHA
*SCOBY = symbiotic culture of bacteria & yeast
Does kombucha have health benefits?
While researchers are investigating potential health benefits of kombucha, no universal benefit has been identified (there are many different kombucha formulations). However, Wegmans Brand Kombucha contains the probiotic DE111® Bacillus subtilis, which may help support the body’s digestive system.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are microorganisms – such as yeast & bacteria – which, when consumed alive and in adequate amounts, provide health benefits. Not all microorganisms are probiotic.
Does all kombucha contain probiotics?
WB Kombucha contains the probiotic DE111 Bacillus subtilis. There are many different formulations of kombucha, and different suppliers use different types and amounts of probiotics. Probiotics are not easy to compare: 1 Billion CFU of one probiotic may have similar – or completely different – effects as 1 Billion CFU of another probiotic. We recommend customers refer to the label to determine how well the products they are considering meet their individual health goals.
Is the yeast in Wegmans Brand Kombucha considered probiotic?
Although the bacteria DE111® Bacillus subtilis used in our kombucha is considered a probiotic, the yeast used does not meet the criteria to be considered probiotic.
Why is organic cane sugar listed as an ingredient in Wegmans Brand Kombucha?
Sugar or a sugar source (ex. fruit juice) is necessary for fermentation. We use a traditional brewing method which means tea, sugar, and a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) ferment for 7-21 days. During the fermentation process, sugar is the food source for the culture. Some of the sugar gets changed into acids in kombucha which may be beneficial to a person’s gut health. Once our kombucha has gone through the fermentation process, we add juices and concentrates to create flavors that have broad customer appeal.
How much Wegmans Brand Kombucha do I need to drink to enjoy potential health benefits?
The research showing that DE111® Bacillus subtilis may promote digestive health is based on 1 Billion CFU (colony forming units, a way to describe the number of live bacteria in the product). This is the amount found in 12 fl. oz. of kombucha (1.5 servings, or an entire bottle). Drinking 12 fl. oz. of kombucha is a way for you to consume the amount of DE111® Bacillus subtilis suggested by research to help support the body’s digestive system; however, it does not guarantee health benefits.
What are the flavors of Wegmans Brand Kombucha?
Our kombucha comes in a variety of flavors, many of which are chef-inspired: Raspberry Lemon Ginger, Ginger Honey Lemon, Cranberry Peach, Mango Turmeric, Pineapple Habanero Cayenne, and Cranberry Hibiscus.
How much caffeine is in Wegmans Brand Kombucha?
Wegmans Brand Kombucha has around 12 mg of caffeine per 12 FO bottle (around 8 mg of caffeine per serving).
Does Wegmans Brand Kombucha contain B vitamins?
We do not measure the amount of B vitamins in our Kombucha and therefore cannot confirm the exact amount of B vitamins present. In general, most Kombucha will contain some B vitamins, as these vitamins are produced by bacteria and yeast during the fermentation process.
Does Wegmans Brand Kombucha have alcohol?
Due to natural fermentation, this product may contain a trace amount of alcohol (less than 0.5%).
Is Wegmans Brand Kombucha pasteurized?
No, Wegmans Brand Kombucha is not pasteurized in order to preserve the probiotic organisms in the product. Pasteurization kills the “good bugs”.No, Wegmans Brand Kombucha is not pasteurized in order to preserve the probiotic organisms in the product. Pasteurization kills the “good bugs”.
Why is Wegmans Brand Kombucha in a 12 FO Bottle?
Customers told us the traditional 16 FO bottle was too much kombucha to drink in one-sitting. Customers were drinking some of the 16 FO bottle, then putting it away, and taking it out later to drink the rest. We wanted our product to be the freshest possible, which means offering the optimal container size!
Is kombucha safe for children to drink?
There is currently not much research on kombucha and children. Therefore, we don’t know how kombucha will affect children. We recommend parents check with their pediatricians before allowing their children to drink kombucha. As a precaution, it is probably best that children avoid drinking kombucha until scientific evidence about its effects is available.