There’s a lot of buzz around kombucha and it’s proclaimed health benefits.
Kombucha – which is fermented sweetened tea – is said to help with digestion, rid the body of toxins and boost energy.
And according to the latest research, drinking it every day might help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
So, is it fact, fiction or too early to say? We asked Rachel Knoll, DO, a family medicine provider with Hartford HealthCare Medical Group to weigh in.
Here’s what the study revealed.
Researchers from Georgetown University looked at 12 individuals with type 2 diabetes and compared blood sugar averages for those who drank kombucha or a similar placebo.
The findings revealed those who drank kombucha for just four weeks had lower fasting blood sugar levels than those who drank the placebo.
Don’t hop on the bandwagon just yet.
The study is interesting, but because the sample size was small and other factors could’ve had an impact, more research is needed, says Dr. Knoll.
“Could kombucha help lower your blood sugar? Theoretically,” Dr. Knoll says. “But until more, larger studies are conducted, I’d say it’s too early to jump on the kombucha bandwagon.”
> Related: Does Kombucha Actually Help With Digestion?
There are ways you can lower your blood sugar naturally.
But the good news is there are plenty of ways you can lower your blood sugar naturally that don’t include kombucha.
“I always recommend following a low-carb diet,” explains Dr. Knoll. “Limit foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as white rice, white bread, sweets and candy. Replacing them with foods with a higher percentage of fat and protein, will help lower your blood sugar in the long run.”
