Legend holds that this mystical brew was first consumed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in ancient China, one of the first civilizations to recognise the health benefits of kombucha. Whether you drink kombucha for the health benefits or just because you enjoy the taste of the fermented tea drink, kombucha has a storied history with human health.

Millennia after the emperor took his first swig of “tea of life”, kombucha is experiencing a spike in sales in Australia. Today, the sweet, fermented, lightly fizzy tea is sold not only at niche health shops, but also mainstream supermarkets, convenient stores, and cafes. Meander down the organic drink aisle of a supermarket that sells kombucha, and you may stumble upon kombucha flavours ranging from strawberry melon to apple turmeric.

Homemade kombucha is fermented by a colony of bacteria and yeast, which react to form a mushroom-like mass on top of the tea. Once fermented, kombucha becomes slightly effervescent, with a vinegary smell and tart taste. Fresh fruit juice and other flavours may be added to kombucha at the end of the brewing process to make the drink more palatable as drinking it straight is an acquired taste.

From beneficial probiotics to gut health, listed below are the most intriguing health benefits of kombucha.

• Teaming with enzymes and bacterial acids, kombucha is believed to aid in natural detoxification. Gluconic acid, which is found in kombucha as well as in fruits and veggies, may bind to toxins to help expel them from the body, according to scientific evidence.
• Glucaric acid, also a product of kombucha tea fermentation, may boost the efficiency of the liver’s detoxifying tracts. While for some, that may be more than enough reason to purchase their own scoby, or starter culture, others might need a few more reasons before adding regular kombucha to a healthy diet.
• There is mounting evidence that the combination of organic acids, enzymes, and probiotics in kombucha may promote healthy digestion and soothe an upset stomach. Probiotics, sometimes referred to as good gut bacteria, can help deter or provide relief from problems like IBS, diarrhea, and constipation.
• A healthy human body has 1 – 2 kilos of beneficial bacteria and microbes (called the microbiome), but the microbiome can be depleted by stress, alcohol use, antibiotics, and other harmful organisms. By drinking the fermented beverage kombucha, you may be able to help replenish lost gut bacteria.
• The healthy gut bacteria gained by drinking kombucha may help stimulate the immune system, which is thought to be closely connected to the living organisms in the gut. Probiotics, specifically from those in fermented foods and gleaned from the fermentation process, can strengthen our natural defenses against harmful microbes and some forms of illnesses.
• When our natural microbiome is depleted, harmful microbes such as ones that cause ulcers, diabetes or cancer can take hold. Kombucha also contains DSL and vitamin C, which may fend off inflammatory diseases, tumours, cell damage, and other concerns.
• Another powerful compound found in kombucha is glucosamine, which can stave off and treat all types of arthritis. Glucosamines enhance hyaluronic acid production, which may help to protect cartilage and reduce arthritic pain.
• Glucaric acid, which is found in kombucha and foods like grapefruit and cruciferous veggies, may help reduce cancer risk. Lactobacillus-type microbes found in some kombucha may also activate our natural cancer-killing cells.  Research further suggests that kombucha may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels. In studies with animals, kombucha was able to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol (or bad cholesterol) while increasing levels HDL (good cholesterol).
• When it comes to health problems, as cholesterol and blood pressure problems are common, it’s important to incorporate natural combatants into your diet in the form of good bacteria over harmful bacteria.
• In addition to small amounts of caffeine, kombucha contains energizing B vitamins and iron. The iron may increase hemoglobin in the blood, thereby enhancing oxygen flow.
• Many people homebrew kombucha for this very reason, while some brands focus on the energy-boosting effects as one of kombucha’s best benefits. A boost without the adverse effects that come with a high concentration of caffeine? That seems like a good alternative.
• When our healthy microbes are depleted, obesity and diabetes can result. The natural acids and antioxidant properties found in the beverage may promote fat loss.
• Kombucha, like apple cider vinegar, is thought to increase metabolism when consumed before meals. The green tea and black tea varieties of kombucha are particularly effective by combining the antioxidant power of the tea and the symbiotic colony in the kombucha.

Making your own Kombucha fermented tea is fun, creative and so easy. You will need a Kombucha starter kit to help.

Kombucha Starter Kit

Kombucha Making Notes

Recently I undertook studies to learn about flower essences to understand their therapeutic properties and how we can all benefit from these natural remedies. What I found out astounded me and in particular because I put 2 very different flower essences to the test on myself and diarised changes in my physiological and mental state over the course of the month.

Not only did the symptoms I was targeting ease dramatically but my outlook on life began to change. I noticed that I became more motivated, positive-minded, less stressed and looked forward to life’s simple pleasures. At this point, I began to realise the way these flower essences work, that is, changing your vibrational energy to reflect that of the plant’s energy that you are ingesting. Let me explain this in more detail and give you a bit of a background on the Bach Flower Remedies, what they are and how they work.

In 1932-1934, Dr Edward Bach (a British doctor, bacteriologist, homeopath, and spiritual writer) discovered a natural healing method based on the principle of “Treat the Patient and not the Disease”. Comprising of 38 flower remedies to treat negative emotions. These included states such as fear; anxiety; worry; and indecision.

The Bach flower remedies work on the person’s emotional or psychological level to ease the conflict and correct the imbalance. They are based on vibrational energies rather than biochemical and work by stimulating the body’s natural capacity to bring itself back to a state of balance.

When a person takes the remedies they will ingest the flower’s vibrational energy, which works to heal the person emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

The wonderful thing about the Bach Flower Essences is that a formula of more than one essence can be ingested to target your conditions and they blend beautifully with one another. Such a simplistic form of remedy that requires no injections or tablets just a few drops of the mother essence from a flower.

Yours in wellness,

Rita

In the past, it was commonly believed that each plant gave some sort of clue that would indicate its therapeutic use. This concept was known as The Doctrine of Signatures.

This philosophy really fascinates me because I would often find myself wondering about the shapes of certain foods and plants and how and why they look the way they do. During my studies in Nutrition I came to understand the Doctrine of Signatures and now again whilst learning Naturopathy. Let me firstly explain a little about what the Doctrine of Signatures means before I go into the similarity of the foods and our body.

The Doctrine of Signatures is the belief that different foods and plants resemble the part of the body or the physiological function of the body that its purpose is to heal. Signals such as shape, colour and texture serve as hints to which organ a plant treats. Wow! It’s mind-blowing how “Nature takes care of things”.

It dates back to Dioscorides and Galen’s time, that’s 40-200 CE and continued to be recognised as part of the Materia Medica right through to Paracelsus’ time circa 1494 CE. Paracelsus was an advocate of the doctrine of signatures who wrote, “Nature marks each growth…according to its curative benefit.”

Here are a few fruits and vegetables and how they relate to different body parts, which I’m sure you’re going to find very interesting.

Avocado – resembles the female uterus.

It’s the shape of a pregnant belly and has a pit that resembles the foetus inside a womb. Avocados are really high in folate which supports reproductive health and is essential in growing a healthy foetus and preventing birth defects. It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado, exactly the time it takes a foetus to develop.

Grapes – resembles the shape of the heart

A cluster of grapes resembles the shape of the heart and individual grapes resemble blood cells. Grapes have been shown to be heart food as they are high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, they lower your risk of high blood pressure; blood clots; and heart disease.

Carrots – resemble the human eye

The similarity is so obvious when you slice through a carrot, you can see the shape of the human eye, ie the pupil and the iris. Carrots are high in Beta-carotene which is the precursor for Vitamin A which is very important for vision and eye-health.

Ginger – resembles the stomach

Ginger is known for its amazing digestion properties. It relieves nausea, reduces cramps, stimulates digestion for optimal absorption of nutrients. I always take ginger when I have an upset tummy and it really works!

Walnuts – resembles the brains

Walnuts look exactly like brains and they even have the left and right hemisphere. Our brains are made up of 60% fat and they require good quality fats like omega 3’s to function properly and walnuts are really high in omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to improve brain function, memory and help with depression.

Figs – resemble testicles

Figs are great for reproductive health and resemble the testicles in a male. They increase sperm mobility and sperm count.

Sweet Potato – resembles the pancreas

The pancreas is the organ in our body that monitors and controls our blood sugar by secreting the hormone insulin and glucagon. Sweet potatoes have been shown to stabilise our blood sugar levels because of its high fibre content.

Celery – resembles our bones

Celery contains a high amount of silica which is very important for bone health and preventing osteoporosis. Celery contains 20% sodium and so does our bones!

Onions – resembles our cells

Onions resembles the cells in our body and are one of the most powerful detox foods and help to remove waste from our cells keeping us healthy and vibrant.

I hope you found the Doctrine of Signatures interesting and it makes you think about the healing properties of the foods you eat.

Yours in wellness,

Rita

Whether you like Beef or Chicken bone broth, the recipe method is exactly the same. Slow-cooking is the key here to draw out the essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and collagen from the bones.

Let me explain the benefits of this golden elixir before sharing the recipe with you.

First and foremost, it’s anti-inflammatory.

It contains chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine, the stuff that’s found in supplements that are often prescribed for joint and arthritis pain. These compounds are drawn out of the bones via the slow-cooking method that breaks down the cartilage and tendons and is so beneficial for people who suffer from joint and arthritis issues by slowing down the process of tissue damage in the joints, reducing pain and inflammation, and helping to repair cartilage.

Good for your Gut

Consuming bone broth on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do for your gut health! It basically helps to heal and seal the gut making it ideal for those of you who suffer from chronic inflammation, have leaky gut syndrome, IBS, or have been consuming foods high in sugar, dairy, and wheat.

It builds good bones

Vitamins and minerals are drawn out of the bones during cooking and you can reap the benefits in one healthy drink. These vital minerals include calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium and are important to help create and maintain strong and healthy bones.

Keeps you Young

There is such a high amount of collagen in bone broth and it tastes so much better than the supplement form. We lose collagen as we age that therefore leads to wrinkles and saggy skin, so basically drinking this delicious bone broth elixir gives you the structural building blocks for youthful-looking skin and it also supports hair growth, skin renewal, and strong healthy nails. 

Differences between Beef and Chicken bone broth

Both chicken and beef are beneficial for you but both impart different flavours and have a slightly different nutritional profile.  If you are mainly interested in the nutritional profile then beef delivers a higher mineral content of magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, and calcium.  Whereas, chicken broth is higher in omega 6 which if you suffer from high inflammation or high blood pressure should be avoided until your health returns to an optimal level.

I can keep on talking about bone broth as it’s amazing stuff but please just try this recipe out for yourself, it’s simply a set and forget recipe and come back the next morning and enjoy!

Bonebroth Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 onion, peeled and chopped roughly
• enough water to cover all ingredients
• 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 6 sprigs parsley
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 carrots, chopped roughly
• 3 celery sticks, chopped roughly
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 tsp pink Himalayan salt
• 1 kg chicken necks, or any chicken bones (for chicken broth) or,
• 1 kg beef bones (for beef broth)

Instructions

1. Add the chicken or beef bones in a slow-cooker with the chopped vegetables, apple cider vinegar, herbs, salt & pepper.
2. Fill the pot up with water, to cover all the ingredients. (Check the max line of your slow cooker to fill it up to that point)
3. Cover and set to high. Allow to slow-cook for minimum 4 hours. If setting to low for overnight cooking, allow to slow-cook for 8 hours.
4. Strain the stock through a colander into another large pot, leaving behind the vegetable and chicken stock.
5. Pour into jars and refrigerate until ready to use.
6. Use within 5 days

How to Consume

Simply pour into a mug, heat in the microwave and enjoy!

You can use the broth as a base for your preferred soup recipes. So much better and tastes better than the store-bought varieties.