Drinking Kombucha While Pregnant: Is It Safe?

These days, there are a variety of healthy foods on the shelves. The trend to eat and drink healthy is on the rise, but did you know people have included nutritional foods, like kanji and buttermilk, in their diet for centuries? Kombucha is one such homemade, fizzy, and fermented drink that is catching up with the trend. While kombucha is an awesome, sweetish-sour drink that is healthy for everyone, is it safe for pregnant women? If you are thinking about drinking kombucha in pregnancy, you might want to read this article for your and your baby’s safety.

What Is Kombucha?

Kombucha is simply a tea that has been fermented and that is filled with health benefits since it contains probiotics and antioxidants (1). It is made by bringing together sugar, tea and a culture of bacteria and yeast that is known as ‘Mother’, and this is what makes Kombucha so healthy.

Can You Drink Kombucha While Pregnant?

Kombucha contains a small amount of alcohol in it, making it risky to consume during pregnancy. However, experts believe that if you have been in the habit of consuming Kombucha regularly before pregnancy, it is most likely okay for you to continue to have it in small quantities during pregnancy. If you have never been in the habit of consuming this drink, you should avoid kombucha when pregnant and begin once you are done breastfeeding (2). Kombucha and pregnancy have a dynamic relationship, and you should consult your doctor if you are sceptical about it.

Benefits of Drinking Kombucha While Pregnant

Here are some benefits of Kombucha tea during pregnancy (3):

1. Promotes Digestion and Heals Gastric Ulcers

Kombucha has been known to form a layer of protection that works against gastric ulcers of all kinds. It also helps with digestion and improves constipation.

2. Supports the Nervous System

As Kombucha contains ascorbic acids, amino acids and Vitamin B, it provides a lot of support to the nervous system and prevents headaches, migraines, epileptic fits, and depression.

3. Helps With Kidney Stones

When you consume Kombucha, it eradicates any formation of kidney stones and calcification.

4. Better Immunity

With its high Vitamin C content, Kombucha is capable of boosting immunity levels; the antioxidants can help mother and child fight against inflammatory ailments, tumours and cell damage.

5. Energy Boost

When you drink Kombucha while pregnant, the haemoglobin count and levels of oxygen improve. This is because the iron molecules are freed during the process of making Kombucha. When your haemoglobin count is good, you have less risk of developing anaemia.

6. Provides Antioxidants

In Kombucha, the level of antioxidant activity is better than that derived from Vitamin C and E, making it able to prevent any kind of health ailment that results from oxidative stress. The reason is that it contains Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and other carotenoids.

7. Prevents Hypertension

Kombucha is able to regulate blood pressure and prevent hypertension and dizziness that can happen during pregnancy.

8. Detoxifies the Body

The glucuronic acid in Kombucha behaves like a detoxifier as it can help turn all the toxins in the body into soluble compounds that can be excreted from the body.

Does Kombucha Consumption Have Any Side Effects on Pregnant Ladies?

Here are some side effects that Kombucha can have on women during pregnancy:

1. Contains Alcohol

Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol that come up to 0.5%, though this may vary according to the brand. Homemade Kombucha may sometimes have a higher alcohol content. While the content of alcohol in Kombucha is very low, drinking too much of it can endanger your baby, and it is best not to take any risks.

2. Contains Caffeine

When you are pregnant, the body takes a much longer time to process any caffeine that you may have. Kombucha is made with tea, which contains caffeine, which is also present in the finished product. Being a stimulant, caffeine can cross over into the placenta and the baby’s blood.

3. Unpasteurized

Pasteurization is done to kill any bacteria considered harmful. Pure Kombucha is unpasteurized, so it carries the risk of containing harmful bacteria that can carry pathogens like listeria or fungi, which are responsible for causing miscarriages (4).

4. Bacterial Contamination

The very same environment that needs to be created to breed probiotics is also the same in which harmful bacteria thrive. If the Kombucha is not prepared under sanitary conditions, it can become contaminated.

5. Danger of Detox

While the detoxing properties of Kombucha are quite gentle and mimic the body’s way of detoxing, it is best to avoid Kombucha during early pregnancy as it can treat the still young fetus as a foreign body and try to remove it from the body.

How to Consume Kombucha in Pregnancy?

Here is the right dosage of Kombucha to take during pregnancy:

• A couple of ounces at a time is the best way to consume Kombucha during pregnancy.
• Mix a little Kombucha with water to dilute it, which will give you extra hydration and health benefits.
• Starting with 4 ounces at a time is best.

Precautionary Tips

Here are some precautionary tips on drinking Kombucha during pregnancy:

• If you are drinking Kombucha for the first time, it is best to be aware that you may develop allergic reactions.
• Since there is a lot more research to be done on Kombucha, those in the medical field will always advise against drinking it during pregnancy.

Whether Kombucha is good for you during pregnancy or not is highly controversial, and women find themselves divided on it. Some women avoid it, while others drink it throughout their pregnancies with no problems, and others develop a natural aversion to the drink while pregnant. If you are still unsure about Kombucha, the best thing for you to do is consult with your doctor about whether or not it will be good for you personally.

FAQs

1. Does Kombucha have alcohol?

Yes, all types of kombucha contain some amount of alcohol. Even the ‘non-alcoholic’ types may contain up to 0.5% alcohol, and even ‘hard’ kombucha may contain about 1-8% alcohol.

2. Are fermented foods safe for pregnant women?

Yes, fermented foods are rich in probiotics that are good for pregnant women. Foods such as kefir and yoghurt (containing live cultures), miso soup or paste, homemade pickles, tempeh, and kimchi are safe foods during pregnancy. However, not all fermented foods are safe during pregnancy, like kombucha for pregnant women.

3. Can pregnant women drink kombucha in early pregnancy?

Pregnant women should probably avoid drinking kombucha during pregnancy as it may contain caffeine, alcohol, and contamination. It may also increase the acidity level since you are quite sensitive during pregnancy.

4. When can you start drinking kombucha after pregnancy?

After the childbirth, you can start drinking kombucha. While it is safe to drink kombucha during breastfeeding, the drink should be hygienically prepared, and it should be done in moderation.

There are many other ways of getting the required nutrients and keeping yourself healthy during pregnancy rather than relying on Kombucha, so if you can, avoid it. This is especially true in the case of Kombucha during the first trimester since there is a danger from the detoxifying properties accidentally trying to remove the fetus from your body since it is small enough to be confused with a foreign body.

References/Resources:

1. Jakubczyk, K, et al.; Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of the Kombucha Beverage Derived from White, Green, Black and Red Tea; Antioxidants; https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/5/447; May 2020

2. What is kombucha tea? Does it have any health benefits?; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/kombucha-tea/faq-20058126

3. Alexander. H; What are the benefits of drinking kombucha?; MD Anderson Cancer Center; https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-are-the-benefits-of-drinking-kombucha.h00-159542901.html; September 2022

4. Is Kombucha Good for You?; Cleveland Clinic; https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-kombuchas-health-benefits-and-how-much-can-you-safely-drink

Also Read:

Soft Drinks during Pregnancy
Non Alcoholic Beer during Pregnancy
Can You Drink Wine While Pregnant?
Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet during Pregnancy
Should You Take Iron Tablets While Pregnant?
Amazing Benefits of Panchamrut in Pregnancy

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