Bottoms Up

Many of you have noticed me drinking my favorite beverage over the past year, and consequently I've received a ton of questions about Kombucha: What does it taste like? Is it green tea? Is it gross? Is it like soda? Why drink it?

I'll tell you a little story. Last year, my dad was battling stomach cancer and having a hard time swallowing food and liquids, including water. You can imagine how frustrating (not to mention dangerous) it was for him to not be getting any nutritional value- like being forced into starvation. Huge issue. Well, someone turned him onto a fermented mushroom tea concotion called Kombucha, and surprisingly, it was the only thing he could swallow. He couldn't even swallow water, but this crazy drink somehow went down and gave him energy. We were all ecstatic. My parents' fridge was full of this stuff. So eventually I gave it a try.... and LOVED it!

This isn't to say you'll automatically love it, though. My mom claims it tastes like vinegar and won't go near it. Kevin thinks the mushroom strain artifacts that settle at the bottom of the bottle are a little icky. And even if you're interested, it's hard to find- the only markets I've ever seen carry the Kombucha brand I like are Whole Foods and Wild Oats. But I'm a total believer that anything that helped my dad that much has gotta be some kind of wonder drink. Plus, I think it tastes yummy!

Do a little online research and you'll discover how many people believe Kombucha improves health in a variety of ways. I should mention that no solid medical research I know of supports many of these claims, and I'm certainly not trying to speculate beyond my own knowledge of medicine and disease. But as someone who has battled sinus problems and skin allergies my whole life, I can honestly say I'm feeling healthier from drinking Kombucha. Am I imagining it? Maybe, but I know my dad wasn't.

Comments

[Shawdog]

Can't said that I've had it, doubt you can buy it at Hy-Vee.

[Shawdog]

Can't "say" that I've had it, doubt you can buy it at Hy-Vee.

[Matt]

I love the stuff too. It's great. Everyone else in my famile hates the stuff.

[Kyle]

That's sweet. That story made my evening. :)

[John-Paul]

I can relate to your father in a way. I have Chrones disease and it's gotten pretty bad lately. About half a year ago my doctor put me on a new medicine, at first it seemed to work okay. But then, not so much. Going back as far as Thanksgiving I have been barely unable to eat anything solid, so I was living off of carnation instant breakfast.. but that was pretty much it. I'm down to 125 pounds, which for a 6 foot male is... not a lot to say the least. And started screwing up my classes as well as being in constant pain day in and day out. It got to the point where I seriously just wanted to die to end all the pain, which is stupid and selfish I know, I'm sorry. Anyway, If I did manage to eat anything solid it would almost immediately push anything else in my stomach out and just like clock work eating=pain and lots of...bathroom breaks, we'll say.

But anyway, they put me back on my steriod this week and suddenly, albiet through a big dose of medicine that "has worst long term side effects than the Chrone's itself" but I can eat again. So I'm eating like a pig now. Sure, there is still pain, I will probably live with it the rest of my life because there is no cure for Chrones, but at least it's pain with an appatite. So, I guess it's not all bad.

But, I don't know if that had so much with the point. I don't know. I guess I was just saying I feel for what your dad went through because I can certainly understand in a way, at the same time I still consider myself lucky sometimes.

Interesting beverage though Sarah, I would love to try it but I'm sure finding it around here would be next to impossible.

Do something nice for Kev on his birthday, okay?

[Danielle]

Wow, cool name for a drink that's um? Anyway, finding the drink in my area my be next to impossible but I'm going to give it a try. Are there only 2 flavors?

Thanks for the info & Wish Kevin a great birthday from everyone here in Kansas.

[edu]

Hippie!

[Andrew]

Yeah, wow, i'm gonna have to find somewhere on the net where i can order the stuff, your story has given me the urge to try some. I'm glad it worked for your dad, and saying that it has helped your sinuses makes it all the more worth while, cause i'm sick... uggg. Cheers.

[Robin]

Thanks for sharing! I will hunt some Kombucha down in NJ. Sounds really helpful for many things.

[David]

Now that you've mentioned it, I might go ahead and try the stuff.

[Monk3y01]

cool name!

[wendy starr]

I knew I had heard that name before somewhere, well it turns out it's in the lyrics of System of a Down's Sugar
http://tinyurl.com/6h4dr
I have a friend with the same problem, not being able to even drink water. She has a multitude of issues from cancer to thyroid problems. She lives off of seltzer most of the time. I'm gonna recommend this drink to her and hope that it is as helpful as it was for your dad.

[walter]

your the greatest!

[Phil]

http://naturezone.net/
the makers made it for their dying mother....

speaking of healty things, i bought in a grocery store near my house "Health Sugar" (Translated from french).... It says it can be eaten by diabetics, 0 carbohydrates (i dunt know whats this), reduces caries, 40% less calories than sugar.... I made a little research and it comes from wood.....
here: www.sucresante.com
this is their site, the package i bought is not the same thougt....

[cc]

my parents and extended family all drink the stuff and swear by it. My parents actually "cultivate" their own. Personally, I'm not a fan, but it does do wonders for you.

[ethan1134]

I stopped by my local Whole Foods and they had never heard of it. I'll try and find it somewhere else I guess (or make my own). Thanks for the info Sarah.

[MCG]

of all your TSS cohorts... you seem to be the only one to post with any regularity... are they that lazy, or are they working that much harder than you? discuss...

[Kirk]

Went to my local Wild Oats...Didn't see a thing of this "Kombucha" drink. Guess I'll have to try harder ;)

[carl]

i want to try a Beirbitch. spelling is off but it's out there in OC and the commercial is funny.

[Stephen]

I miss Whole Foods.

[ZenBro]

I found some, at the local Whole Foods, in Highlands Ranch, CO ... now ... if only I can work up the nerve to actually *try* a bottle!

[bb]

Sarah Lane is hot!

[langley]

ohhhh god....way too drunk to .....comment on Whole Foods..but....the Good Doctor is dead...if you don't know...you're not drunk. If you do...you're Drunk. ANd you should be....We'll miss you, HST.

[Stephen]

Your message is well needed. My sweetie talks alot about health and such on her blog http://rawtarian.blogspot.com/.

I am so glad this drink helped your dad. I'll look for it soon.

[Ryan]

I've never even seen it before, where do you get it? I'm sure it's not something you just pick up at 711.

[magikgrl]

Sarah-
This just reminded me of that same mushroom tea, but I heard of it a couple years back. It was nasty, but my mom isnt in good health either and has a hard time holding down foods. I am goin shroom picking, and makin some tea ;)

[John-Paul]

ah memories...

[Steve]

After reading about the health benefits of this drink; I want to try it out. I have high cholesterol and blood pressure and am taking medication for it. This drink sounds like it might improve my condition.

[John-Paul]

God dammit Hunter Thompson killed himself last night

=(

Jesus H. Christ.

R.I.P. Hunter S. Thompson

This is so sad.

[Noah]

HI Sarah,
It's funny, I was just thinking about beverages. I'm really sick today and didn't go to work. Normally when I'm sick I drink some hot tea. But, it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL out there today. Kinda warm, but otherwise perfect. How do I justify drinking something warm when it's like this?
It's almost a Seinfeld situation......
Wish Kevin a Happy Birthday, lucky bastard.

[windwaker]

You should totally get paid for this blog entry.

And, that stuff tastes so good. <3

[Roop]

Wow, I live RIGHT by wholefoods! I'll definately give the drink a try. P.S. All of you guys keep up the great work on TSS :)

[Juand]

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/UnconventionalTherapies/KombuchaManchurianTeaMoGuFungoJapon.htm

:~

[Caesar]

Sorry about your dad. I also lost someone to cancer last year. Take care.

[Emery Walker]

I have to try it. I think my cousin Mary drinks it.

-Emery

[Blake]

I noticed that stuff at Whole Foods the other day and tried it, it wasn't that bad but seriously citrus and mushrooms don't mix.

[Jon]

any one know whats the price on it?

[Larry]

A friend gave me a bottle of Synergy (triology) and a bottle of the regular (citrus) Kombucha the other day... the trilogy is fine but takes some getting used to as a drink as the ginger is so overpowering it tastes like liquid gingered chicken... not something I would normally think of drinking but after half a bottle the taste grows on you and you don't think of the chicken any longer.

[Jane Friesen]

You can buy it at Rainbow Grocery too.

[Jessica Hall]

Original Article can be found at: http://www.o4r.org/pf_v2n2/YouWish.htm

Oregonians for Rationality

There are many ways to make money. One way is to sell a product. If the product doesn’t actually exist, that does not deter some unscrupulous people from selling it anyway. You may think, “They wouldn’t get far with that business!” but you would be wrong. These salesmen have done quite well for centuries, and, I fear, they will continue to do well for centuries to come. It’s the strength of the consumer’s desire for the product, not the product’s merits, that matters. Let me illustrate.

If you listed all the things people passionately want it would likely include: reversing the aging process to stay young and healthy forever, maintaining youthful sexual attractiveness and performance, losing fat and getting in shape without effort, curing currently incurable diseases, knowing the future, and communicating with dead relatives or other powerful entities in the “other world.” There’s no evidence any of these desirable things are now possible, but that’s not likely to stop a salesman. If there is a market, there is a seller. And there is a big market among people who do not know the difference between “I wish it were true” and “It is true.” For them the emotion of “I wish...” completely overpowers the critical thought of “It is....” Fraudulent products can be appealing to those who have never learned to evaluate claims and those who skip evaluation and act on their emotions.

Last April, radio talk show host, Dr. Dean Edell, reported on a dangerous health fad, the Kombucha mushroom (not actually a mushroom, but a fungus you grow in a bowl of water). Two deaths had been attributed to eating the fungus. Edell listed the many health benefits claimed by the promoters, saying there is no evidence to support any of these benefits. The next day he reported he had received numerous calls asking where one could get Kombucha. Edell also told how years before his television program documented a “psychic surgeon” using chicken guts and blood to fake operations. After the show, many people called to ask how they could find the surgeon for treatment.

If a sucker is born every minute, then conversely, con-artists are born to take advantage of them. Hucksters offer miracle cures, wondrous fat reducing products, the fountain-of-youth, and intervention with Powerful Forces in the sky on your behalf. Their unspoken motto: “If you wish it were true, we have a product for you.”

Oregonians For Rationality can act like a consumer protection agency by exposing fraud (see the James Randi story) and educating consumers. Our March 8 speaker, Joe Schnabel, will discuss the growth of non-scientific health care in Oregon. This is especially important because consumers of fraudulent medical care can lose more than just their money.

While on the subject, here’s a health tip you should remember: Always take your vitamins in alphabetical order. It hasn’t been proven necessary, but why take chances?

On another subject, Bill Capron and I recently received a call from a Portland resident about a haunted house. Oregonians For Rationality is not listed in the yellow pages under Ghost Busters - yet, somehow he tracked us down as an organization that investigates paranormal phenomena. He had a detailed story about two ghosts that live with him. I haven’t decided yet whether to pursue the story or the ghosts.

Finally, let me give my predictions for 1996. At the end of the year you can pull out this issue and judge for yourself the extent of my psychic powers:

1. Major earthquakes will cause many deaths. Floods too ...and hurricanes;

2. some very famous people will die, including movie stars;

3. I foresee increasing partisan political bickering throughout the year, culminating around the first of November;

4. I foresee religious wars in many countries;

5. bad weather will destroy a portion of the citrus crop;

6. several celebrity couples will file for divorce; and

7. Princess Di will be in the news.

By Bruce Buchanan

[Susan R]

Drinking is a bad habit.

[max]

Drinking has its own joy to have but due to some pathethic reasons it has been converted into alcohol or all these crappy drinks.

[Amber R]

If a sucker is born every minute, then conversely, con-artists are born to take advantage of them. Hucksters offer miracle cures, wondrous fat reducing products, the fountain-of-youth, and intervention with Powerful Forces in the sky on your behalf. Their unspoken motto: “If you wish it were true, we have a product for you.”

[will barrette]

I'm down to 125 pounds, which for a 6 foot male is... not a lot to say the least. And started screwing up my classes as well as being in constant pain day in and day out. It got to the point where I seriously just wanted to die to end all the pain, which is stupid and selfish I know, I'm sorry.

[Lilly]

Good Post.. Interweaving social trends form a strong net in which we are all trapped.

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We need to change the health system and aware people to any change circumstances in health care.

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