Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #90 on: June 28, 2007, 04:25:10 PM » by cecac

I've been buzzed by Kombucha. I guess nowadays when I get around to making it I make sure that I let it sit long enough so that I am very certain the sugar is gone. Last time around, I let is sit too long (on a kombucha heating pad, too). We drank some the other day, and I got no buzz. I do have blood pressure/sugar issues at times. I did have my dd put two apples and some water in our Vitamix and juice the apples. We then added that to the amount of Kombucha we needed for 10 of us. That way it doesn't bite so much. When I leave it longer, it seems to be more sour. But I'd rather not give my kids that sugar buzz. I left the last batch 2 weeks (got busy and well, it was stout!!)

Anway, hope that helps,
Cara

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #91 on: June 28, 2007, 05:36:31 PM » by NotLuckyButBlessed

Quote from: floydian on June 28, 2007, 10:49:39 AM

Quote from: NotLuckyButBlessed on June 28, 2007, 10:06:10 AM

This is the response I got from CajunErnie:

sounds like Wikepedia got it backwards. Kombucha (and other supplements) sometimes enhances the effectiveness of medications so the government requires a notice that your health provider be informed of any supplements you are taking so dosage can be adjusted if needed. Wouldn’t it be great if Kombucha made the birth control pills 100% effective so there wouldn’t be any “accidents”?

Well..................
Coming from someone who has had at least two "accidents", they seem to be the biggest blessings. Wink

Clarification: I am not personally concerned with the birth control issue. My sis is thinking of serving Kombucha in her restaurant so wants to check out as much about it as she can.

I definitely would not refer to an unplanned pregnancy as an "accident". To me, any pregnancy/baby is a blessing.I could go on and on but that is for another thread on another day....

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #92 on: July 21, 2007, 01:04:45 AM » by InEverything

I have been reading various things about vitamin deficiencies and the recommendation is that diuretics should be avoided because they deplete your body of certain vitamins. Should I worry about this with Kombucha? I was specifically looking into magnesium and zinc deficiencies.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #93 on: August 17, 2007, 12:21:09 PM » by morningglory

Could a child become addicted to kombucha? My 22mo. old son BEGS for "Teeeeaaaa?" It's just really strange, because he will hardly drink water anymore, because he's holding out for kombucha. He will burst into tears if I tell him he can't have it. It's not like selfish-throwing-a-fit tears, but more like he's actually sad because he can't have any. I give him a sippy cup at all three meals, and one at bedtime. When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he cries and asks for it. I don't mind giving it to him, but I don't want to overdo it either. Maybe he's craving it because his body needs it? He's on GFCF/ candida diet, and I'm just starting to notice a difference in his eczema.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #94 on: August 17, 2007, 01:52:27 PM » by lotsaboys

It does sound like something he may be needing and as long as there are no negative side effects, its probably OK. Our little guy, at that age, wanted it all the time too, but it kinda wore off. He still likes it, just doesn't seem to crave it.

Just my thots...

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #95 on: August 17, 2007, 07:13:32 PM » by Kitty

Quote from: morningglory on August 17, 2007, 12:21:09 PM

...I give him a sippy cup...

I'm glad you're seeing an improvement in eczema!

Is the sippy cup plastic? Huh

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #96 on: August 17, 2007, 07:37:27 PM » by KristenA

MorningGlory,
I wouldn't give him more than 6-8ounces a day. Kombucha is a diuretic, which means it does NOT hydrate.

Milk , (real) juice, herbal tea (with no caffeine) and water will hydrate him.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #97 on: August 17, 2007, 11:29:48 PM » by morningglory

Yes, his sippy cup is plastic, but he sucks it down so fast, I can't imagine that the kombucha has time to leach anything out of it. My problem with only giving him 6-8 oz. a day is that he won't drink anything else. I'm sure he would eventually, but right now we're aggressively cleansing for yeast. I guess when I'm sure his gut is healed, I'll start limiting it because of the whole diuretic thing. He'll drink anything out of a "big boy cup", so maybe I'll start giving him that to distract him. Wink

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #98 on: August 18, 2007, 11:33:03 AM » by diaperswyper

My kids will take kombucha any day over milk or water.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #99 on: August 18, 2007, 01:51:31 PM » by leslieincali

I do get a light buzz when I drink GT's kombucha. Their bottles say they are aged for 30 days though. I don't know if aged is the same thing as brewed though?? Maybe they bottle it and then let it sit for another 30 before shipping it off to the store. I don't get a buzz so much from my home brew. On a side note, does anyone else feel like the Baldwin sisters from the Walton's walking around drinking some "recipe" out of a mason jar? Grin

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #100 on: August 18, 2007, 04:06:07 PM » by lotsaboys

Quote from: leslieincallie on August 18, 2007, 01:51:31 PM

On a side note, does anyone else feel like the Baldwin sisters from the Walton's walking around drinking some "recipe" out of a mason jar? Grin

LOL! We talked about that too! Grin

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #101 on: August 20, 2007, 12:37:40 PM » by healthybratt

Quote from: morningglory on August 17, 2007, 11:29:48 PM

Maybe you could tell him that kombucha is a reward for drinking his first glass full of water. Same concept as you can have your dessert when you're finished with your supper.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #102 on: August 20, 2007, 12:38:10 PM » by healthybratt

Quote from: diaperswyper on August 18, 2007, 11:33:03 AM

My kids will take kombucha any day over milk or water.

mine too.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #103 on: August 24, 2007, 12:58:04 PM » by still*learning

Hopefully someone can help! Please!!!!! I have read several threads and did not find this.

Last Thursday I started drinking kombucha. I bought some at the health food store. I wanted to try it before I went the route of making it at home. I am not a fan but because of the health benefits I have been drinking it once a day.

This week I have not felt great. Yesterday was when it really kicked in - nauseous; unsettled stomach; headaches; irritable; tired; achy. Last night I woke up from a dead sleep with a terrible pounding, throbbing headache. I was hot but I was cold - not exactly like chills. I was not shivering but I had to be covered up.

I have been feeling so awful that I even took a pregnancy test this morning - it was negative.

Could these symptoms be detoxing from kombucha? There is nothing else new. A month ago I started taking Omega 3-6-9 but that is the only new thing in my routine besides the kombucha.

THANKS so much!

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #104 on: August 24, 2007, 01:22:05 PM » by hodgy

Quote from: still*learning on August 24, 2007, 12:58:04 PM

I'm not an expert, but from what I have learned, this sure SOUNDS like a detox reaction.

I personally can't tolerate kombucha because it aggravates my candida symptoms. I feel like that is due to leaky gut.

It's taken trial and error on my part, but it seems like if it makes you feel bad at first, it's probably doing some good. Cheesy

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #105 on: August 24, 2007, 02:32:10 PM » by still*learning

Thanks so much! I just needed some reassurance. And I feel the same that it is doing good even though I feel so bad.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #106 on: August 27, 2007, 09:16:38 AM » by JoyInHim

Doesn't apple juice (bottled) have an alcohol content of about .5 - 1 percent? I thought I had heard that. I know moms drink apple juice when pregnant. I think your warning is something to consider - I had no idea that FAS was so easily possible.

Quote from: KristenA on December 04, 2006, 03:02:33 PM

Quote from: heatheronthehill on November 05, 2006, 06:00:58 PM

Personally, I would not due to the alcohol content. Your baby can get Fetal Alcohol Syndrome from even a tiny bit of alcohol during pregnancy

Is the alcohol content even that high?
JW,
Kristen

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #107 on: August 27, 2007, 09:29:20 AM » by SarahK

Quote from: JoyInHim on August 27, 2007, 09:16:38 AM

Quote from: KristenA on December 04, 2006, 03:02:33 PM

Quote from: heatheronthehill on November 05, 2006, 06:00:58 PM

Personally, I would not due to the alcohol content. Your baby can get Fetal Alcohol Syndrome from even a tiny bit of alcohol during pregnancy

Is the alcohol content even that high?
JW,
Kristen

I'm not sure on the apple juice, but the testing I've done indicates that it has a very low alcohol content. My readings indicate that it's about at the alcohol content of a ripe banana (the ones destined for banana bread soon) - banana measure by USDA data. I believe that Kombucha is only as risky as licking the spoon from banana bread batter.

See this topic:

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,5998.0.html

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #108 on: August 28, 2007, 08:41:53 AM » by still*learning

Quote from: still*learning on August 24, 2007, 12:58:04 PM

This week I have not felt great. Yesterday was when it really kicked in - nauseous; unsettled stomach; headaches; irritable; tired; achy. Last night I woke up from a dead sleep with a terrible pounding, throbbing headache. I was hot but I was cold - not exactly like chills. I was not shivering but I had to be covered up.

Could these symptoms be detoxing from kombucha?

I have not given up on the kombucha. I got one more bottle and it tastes much better. I think ginger is key! I could barely stomach the first kind I got.

I know that I was detoxing and am now working on yeast issues as I am pretty sure that is what caused me to feel like I did.

Here is what I am doing now. I am drinking just 1 oz. a day and then will progressively bump it. I am taking a probiotic (tummy tune up) three times a day.

So far I have not had the detox symptoms. I was only drinking 1/4 of a coffee cup full because that was all that I could stomach. The flavor I got last week tasted like pure vinegar. I read about all of the wonderful benefits and I can not imagine how I would have felt if I liked the flavor last week more and drink say half a bottle in one sitting!!!!!

Hopefully this helps some others! I have been around WTM for awhile and never read about detoxing from it.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #109 on: August 28, 2007, 10:02:48 AM » by NotLuckyButBlessed

Quote from: still*learning on August 28, 2007, 08:41:53 AM

Quote from: still*learning on August 24, 2007, 12:58:04 PM

I have not given up on the kombucha. I got one more bottle and it tastes much better. I think ginger is key! I could barely stomach the first kind I got.

The flavor I got last week tasted like pure vinegar. I read about all of the wonderful benefits and I can not imagine how I would have felt if I liked the flavor last week more and drink say half a bottle in one sitting!!!!!

I am sure you have heard this too, but homemade Kombucha can taste MUCH better than store bought. I also tried store bought first and was almost turned off forever. Thankfully, someone I know told me hers was really yummy and I tried it. I was so happy to know I didn't have to drink bottled compost juice to get the health benefits:) I don't like soda but I like the fizz of Kombucha. I love the stuff and drink it all of the time.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #110 on: September 21, 2007, 02:12:55 PM » by Amey

Just wanted to report a kombucha side effect. I've been drinking about 8 oz. a day since mid-May, and just in the last week I have started feeling a niacin-type flush for about an hour after I drink it. I also started on some licorice root tea this week for the first time. Do any of you herbalists know if there could be a connection between the flush and the licorice tea? It seems strange that after drinking the kombucha for 4 months already this would just now start happening.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #111 on: October 28, 2007, 10:16:55 PM » by Chels

I just came across these two articles about Kombucha and the precaution that there is the risk that the liquid can become contaminated by such dangerous bacteria as Anthrax. Shocked

http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/kombucha
http://www.answers.com/topic/kombucha?cat=technology

It makes no sense has anyone else heard anything about this? Or can you explain it to me?? Huh

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #112 on: October 28, 2007, 11:07:13 PM » by healthybratt

Quote from: Chels on October 28, 2007, 10:16:55 PM

I just came across these two articles about Kombucha and the precaution that there is the risk that the liquid can become contaminated by such dangerous bacteria as Anthrax. Shocked

http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/kombucha
http://www.answers.com/topic/kombucha?cat=technology

It makes no sense has anyone else heard anything about this? Or can you explain it to me?? Huh

Quote

On breathing, ingesting or getting anthrax spores in a cut in the skin these spores reactivate themselves and multiply in their new host very rapidly. The anthrax spores in the soil are very tough and can live many decades and perhaps centuries and are known to occur on all continents except Antarctica. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic grass eating mammals (ruminants) who ingest or breathe in the spores while eating grass. Anthrax can also be caught by humans when they are exposed to dead infected pigs, eat tissue from infected animals, or are exposed to a high density of anthrax spores from an animal's fur, hide, or wool. Anthrax spores can be grown outside the body and used as a biological weapon. Anthrax cannot spread directly from human to human; but anthrax spores can be transported by human clothing, shoes etc. and if a person dies of anthrax their body can be a very dangerous source of anthrax spores.

from wikipedia.com

I suppose it's not impossible, but it doesn't sound very likely to me that your kombucha would contain anthrax spores. Your article was the only verification I could find on the subject. Personally, I'm not worried, but that's JMO. Grin

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #113 on: January 03, 2008, 03:41:59 PM » by Kitty

Bumping for pregnant/nursing moms who wonder about the safety of drinking it...

(FYI: So far [on these 4 pages] the consensus (barring one during PG), is that it's safe, as long as you drink enough water, and not overdue it).

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #114 on: January 15, 2008, 07:47:59 AM » by abbilynn

We've all been drinking kombucha for well over a year now. The problem is two of my kids want to drink only THAT. No water or anything. Shocked

I give them water at dinner bc the kombucha makes them pee the bed and stay up all night if I let them have it too late. But they don't drink it. I catch them getting it out of the fridge themselves! So, on some days, my 5 yr old ends up drinking an entire mason jar full himself! Does that seem like way too much?? Huh

Other than constantly peeing, I haven't noticed any bad reactions. Also, I haven't been using organic tea, so I'm afraid the kids are going to get some type of health issue from the fluoride in tea?!?! Anyone else worried about this?

abbilynn

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #115 on: January 15, 2008, 08:19:57 AM » by lovingmomof2

I haven't made my first batch of kombucha yet, but I don't mind sharing my opinion. I feel that water is very important for the body and health. That is just about all my kids get. They do get a little kefir and on occasion some juice in their water, but the water/juice is very diluted like 10-11 oz of water to 1 oz of juice. I plan on keeping this the same when I start the kombucha I only want them to have a cup a day. I do try to be careful with fluoride, but how careful you want to be is up to you. Like I said I have started the kombucha yet, but was wonder if you use caffeinated tea, if so this could be what is causing them to pee so much or at least part of what is causing it.

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #116 on: January 15, 2008, 11:01:45 AM » by SarahK

I have several kids that would choose bucha over any other drink as well. I only serve it at meals and then have water as the beverage to choose between meal times. And, for a volume consumed comparison, my 2yo son will drink a quart a day - easy.

Sarah K

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #117 on: January 15, 2008, 11:09:20 AM » by abbilynn

Quote from: SarahK on January 15, 2008, 11:01:45 AM

I would love for them to drink more water and less kombucha, or at least equal amounts of both - the problem is figuring out how to keep them out of the fridge to get the kombucha on their own!! Shocked

If I'm not offering it, they pull it out and pour it themselves when they are thirsty. And I have nowhere to hide it! haha Wink

But I feel better knowing your 2 yr old drinks that much also. Do you use only organic tea or caffeine free tea??

abbilynn

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #118 on: January 15, 2008, 11:18:52 AM » by SarahK

Quote from: abbilynn on January 15, 2008, 11:09:20 AM

But I feel better knowing your 2 yr old drinks that much also. Do you use only organic tea or caffeine free tea??

I usually use only Celestial Seasonings herbal tea (no caffeine but not organic) & our own well water. I have recently been adding on cheap store brand bag of decaf green tea - but I won't harvest that til today and they won't drink it for another 5 days after that or so.

I found that when I did the all green or all black tea bucha, my kids were caffeine buzzed. Not a good thing in a pack of 10...

Sarah K

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Re: Kombucha: Side Effects, Risks & Warnings
« Reply #119 on: May 12, 2008, 10:43:23 AM » by ArmyWife

The last 3 times my parents have been to visit me, my dad has had some Kombucha, maybe 6 oz. And each time, soon after drinking it, he has started getting a bad headache. And my dad's (and mine and my mom's) headaches are the kind that are in the base of the skull, over the ear, and up behind the eye, except yesterday his started at the top of his head and made him really nauseous. He definitely feels it's connected to the k-tea, as he had no signs of a headache before he drank it. He does get headaches other times like this, though, too. So, for him, he's not going to be drinking it any more at my house! I have been having more headaches lately too, but haven't thought to notice if it's since I've been drinking more k-tea recently. I guess it could be a detox symptom related to another problem, or possibly the liver? I read on the cure-zone liver flush sight that Liver flushes have helped with shoulder pain.

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