When you get a hankering for a cool beverage, here’s what to sip instead. heavy metals, mold, pathogens). The pathogenic bacteria may release endotoxins before dying, and the combination of endotoxins plus dead bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract might modulate activity in the gut-brain axis (GBA). As new bacterial species compete with preexisting bacteria throughout your gastrointestinal tract, you may notice some distress throughout your gut. Scholten P, van Leerdam ME, Kuipers EJ. To err on the side of caution, you may also choose to avoid this beverage if you have an alcohol dependency. Infants and young children consuming kombucha will likely have a difficult time handling some of its constituents including: alcohol, caffeine, histamine, as well as the bacteria/yeast (from the SCOBY). While kombucha is safe for most people, it can cause severe side effects in some. Sabouraud S, Coppere B, Rousseau C, et al. It looks like most people who previously commented were drinking kombucha daily, which is not a good idea, at least starting out, as one can see from the adverse effects listed throughout the comments. is rec. Friend came by. first time drinkers). I went on a 3 day juice fast, consuming just 1/2 water with 1/2 juice – tart cherry, pomegranate, Suja veggie juice. You may also end up vomiting if you drink an excessive amount of kombucha, especially immediately after a large meal. How Much Kombucha Is Safe to Drink? Because kombucha is unpasteurized and contains a mix of different types of bacteria and yeasts, it can promote the growth of opportunistic bacteria that can lead to infections in certain people. You can also subscribe without commenting. If the flatulence is accompanied by loose stools and/or diarrhea, you may want to consider administering activated charcoal – as this may reduce stomach gas and bind to toxins in your GI tract. I have never drunk it again. According to a small past study, eating too much sugar and too many sweeteners can lead to diarrhea or watery stools. Furthermore, the ingestion of bacteria within kombucha may upregulate production of histamine within your gut – a compound implicated in allergic reactions. Carbonated drink? (1), For that matter, drinking a large amount of kombucha may cause nausea and diarrhea. Usually bloating is extremely uncomfortable and can lead to modest or negligible increases in water retention and weight. Foods significantly affect your gut microbiota composition, which the kombucha is modulating. It was documented that this man had been diagnosed with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which is understood to affect a myriad of bodily functions. It is also possible that the specific type of SCOBY within your kombucha changed production of neuroactive metabolites generated in your gut, which in turn altered activity in your brain. 2 bottles in an hour) and/or on an empty stomach. Headaches: A common side effect documented by a subset of kombucha drinkers is headaches. Some individuals may be rapid metabolizers of caffeine (as a result of exhibiting homozygous CYP1A2*1A alleles), whereas others may be slower metabolizers of caffeine (as a result of carrying one or more CYP1A2*1C alleles). Additionally, kombucha contains compounds called FODMAPs, specific types of carbohydrates that can cause digestive distress in many people, particularly those with IBS (12). Clean water is usually the best for cleansing the body. While death may be a rare adverse effect resulting from kombucha intake, odds of death are extremely low for most healthy individuals. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate whether you may have mistakenly attributed a side effect to kombucha that was really caused by another substance you’re using. additives, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, etc. To avoid acidosis from kombucha consumption, it is necessary to rule out medical conditions that may increase your risk (e.g. In other cases, the gurgling may have resulted from drinking an excessive quantity of the beverage in a single sitting or on an empty stomach. What Are Kombucha’s Health Benefits (and How Much Can You Safely Drink)? Small quantity: If you consume a small quantity of kombucha, you probably won’t experience as many unwanted side effects and/or adverse reactions. ), and frequency plus cumulative duration of consumption. After trying changes of creams to hypoallergenic ones, cutting out Stevia to no avail, I came across this article: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1095845-overview, “Pellagra was also noted as a cutaneous adverse reaction after consumption of Kombucha tea.”, I may have Pellagra due at least in part to months of drinking kombucha.