· By Ruby Monaghan
Is Kombucha Good For IBS?
Farting, bloating, pooping (or lack thereof). We’ve all experienced this at one point or another. But what if it just doesn’t stop? This is where IBS comes in. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, like its namesake, is majorly-flipping-irritating. But, alas, there are ways to tame the dreaded beast of the bowels.
In this blog I’ll be covering what IBS is, how exactly kombucha can benefit those who suffer with it, and even how Hip Pop is better for your IBS-riddled gut than other brands ;)
IBS? Who’s that?
IBS is an ubiquitous disease, with an estimated 15% of the population suspected to suffer from it (2/3rds of which are women, sorry gals!). However, as common as it is, IBS is somewhat shrouded in mystery. The symptoms are typical of gastrointestinal (GI) related issues: bloating, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, etc. Yet, the root cause for IBS is not clear, and is likely an amalgamation of a number of problems, which is why symptoms may vary greatly from person to person.
For instance, if you had two mates with IBS, one might be pooping way too much, but the other one might be pooping way too little. How is that possible you ask? IBS is a Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder - which means the problem is caused by issues with the brain-gut interaction. This can mean that your brain is telling your gut to move food too quickly or too slowly through your gut. The route from the brain to the gut is also why IBS can be triggered by things like stress and anxiety (I’m sure we’ve all had to do a nervous poo at least once!).
How kombucha can help you and your gut be friends again
The road to gut-health can be long and treacherous, especially when you’re suffering with IBS. There are, however, ways you can give your gut the helping hand it needs for digestion. Afterall, it is quite literally working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
One of the more obscure symptoms of IBS is an imbalance in your gut-microbiome, or, ‘dysbiosis’. This means your gut may be lacking some of those do-good bacteria which are the key to healthy digestion. Fermented goods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha which contain live cultures and probiotics are great at supplementing those long lost microflora your gut is yearning for.
Kombucha has been shown to significantly improve bowel movements in those suffering with constipation based IBS symptoms. But, there are a plethora of other health-benefits you can reap from Kombucha that are unrelated to IBS. Antioxidants from the tea help to protect against damage from free radicals, acetic acid produced from the fermentation process can help reduce blood sugar and support weight loss, and polyphenols can reduce cholesterol metabolism, as well as preventing high blood pressure by promoting smooth muscle relaxation.
To the IBS sufferers out there, we recommend you try our Ginger and Yuzu and Blueberry and Ginger Booch. Ginger has been shown to reduce gut-inflammation and hypersensitivity in those who suffer with diarrhea related IBS. It is also just down-right delicious!
If you're wondering what kombucha tastes like, it’s a little bubbly, a little sharp, but always refreshing and ours is delicious!
Why Hip Pop cares more about your gut than the average high-street Booch
Kombucha sounds great right? Super healthy and good for your gut? Well unfortunately, not all Kombucha is created equal. Most high-street brands advertise that they are zero sugar to give the impression they are better for you, but that is certainly not the case. These Kombuchas are packed with artificial sweeteners like stevia or erythritol, which can actually trigger IBS symptoms.
Hip Pop uses the highest available grade of natural cane sugar to feed the delicious SCOBY and give our Booch a great flavor profile without having to add any nasty additives. This is the same for our Living Soda range which is brewed without tea but still contains all the goodness from fermentation and the gut loving bacteria. What sets us apart from other brands is we also add Bacillus Coagulans to our drinks which has been shown to significantly improve IBS symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating.
The Takeaway?
In conclusion, Kombucha is great for your gut, and can give people with IBS the help they need to get their intestines back up to scratch. However, it’s important you make informed choices on which brand is best for you (we recommend Hip Pop of course hehe). Always eat a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, with plenty of vitamins and fibre (check out our fibre sodas).
