9 Things You Need to Know About Kombucha Tea

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Kombucha tea is becoming popular these days amongst health buffs. The slightly sweet and acidic taste of the beverage has been enjoyed for hundreds of years.

What sets this tea apart from other teas is that it goes through fermentation, which gives it unique taste characteristics and possibly beneficial health effects.

With that in mind, here are 9 key things you need to know about kombucha tea:

1. It Contains Caffeine and Alcohol

Kombucha is made by fermenting green or black teas, which contain caffeine. Caffeine can have health benefits in small amounts but there are some people who avoid it. If you avoid caffeine, then this tea is not right for you.

Kombucha also contains a small amount of alcohol from the fermentation process (usually 0.5% or less) and therefore may not be suitable for those who don’t drink alcohol at all.

2. A Good Source of Probiotics

Kombucha is produced from fermentation by both yeasts and bacteria. It is thought that some of the proposed health benefits from kombucha may be from these bacteria acting as probiotics in our gut. However, this has not been clearly established and research is underway.

3. It Contains Powerful Antioxidants

Because kombucha is made from green or black teas, it contains many of the antioxidant compounds that can be found in these teas.

4. It May Help Kill “Bad” Bacteria

During the fermentation process, acetic acid is produced. This may prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

5. It Might Help Lower the Risk of Heart Disease

There have been studies that show that kombucha can help reduce “bad” LDL” and increase “good” HDL cholesterol levels. Thus, it may help in protecting against heart disease.

6. It May Aid in Managing Type 2 Diabetes

Although further human studies must still be made, studies have shown improved blood sugar levels in rats, following the consumption of kombucha.

7. It Could Improve Liver Health

A study has shown that kombucha tea was more effective than black tea when it came to protecting the liver against harmful substances.

8. It’s Not a Miracle Worker

Before you fill your home with kombucha tea, keep in mind that the tea is not a miracle worker. You may see outlandish claims attached to this tea (such as the ability to cure cancer or HIV), but these are unfounded.

Although there are a few studies that suggest kombucha may have some positive health effects, these are all from animal and petri-dish studies, so it’s hard to tell how the effects translate to humans.

9. Be Aware of the Risks!

Acidity. Kombucha tea is highly acidic. It is therefore not a good idea to drink high quantities. Rather, drink a small amount every once in a while.

Sugar. Some kombucha brands are also very high in sugar. Make sure to check the label if you’re thinking of picking some up.

Contamination. Make sure to buy kombucha from reputable retailers. Home-brewed kombucha may become contaminated with undesirable bacteria which could cause illness. Because of this, people with weakened immune systems should not consume kombucha, except from reputable sources.

Your Key Takeaways

Because of the purported health benefits of kombucha, it is likely that this will be a “health drink” of choice for many years to come. Many find the drink delicious, and its supposed health effects make it even more appealing.

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What If You Don’t Go To University

It’s August, which means it’s that time of the year again: A Level Results Day.

And whether it’s your friends or your grandma, there’s one question on everyone’s lips…

Are you going to university?

You might be heading back from college to the tune of ‘Did you get the grades?’

Or maybe you never wanted to go to uni in the first place.

Whichever boat you’re in; what happens when your friends are prepping for freshers’ week, but you’re not?

No fear – we’re here to help! The first thing you need to consider is:

Are you sure about your decision?

It’s difficult to aim for your goals if you don’t know what they are, or how to reach them. This means that if you have a particular career in mind, you might want to see a careers advisor or thoroughly research alternative routes into the field you’re passionate about before making a final decision.

But then what? Well, first, it’s important to know…

There are a ton of careers that don’t require a university degree

It’s true! You may have considered some of these options: hairdressing, beauty, personal training.

But those aren’t the only choices – many careers have a variety of pathways into them, from accountancy, to journalism, to nutritional therapy.

Read on to see what you can do instead of going to university:

Take a Gap Year

Fondly known as the ‘gap yah’ among millennials, many teens take a year out to decide what they want to do before continuing their education. This often takes the form of travelling, learning a language, and gaining lots of experience of different cultures – but it can also involve volunteering in a mix of industries to help you make a more informed decision about your future. While this kind of break provides a temporary solution, it’s common for people to head back to school once they complete their gap year, but many teens also open doors to careers they never knew existed!

(Pssst… Looking for the latest work experience opportunities? GoThinkBig is a good place to start).

Find an Apprenticeship

Becoming an apprentice is a great way to get straight into work AND gain a qualification while you earn. From farming, to hospitality, to law, you can choose your apprenticeship from a huge selection of fields and levels, from Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) right through to Level 6/7 (degree equivalent). Depending on the level, an apprenticeship can take between 1 and 5 years to complete, but you’ll be learning loads of job-specific skills along the way.

If you’re in the UK, you can click here to find an apprenticeship.

Get an Entry-Level Job

While a large number of entry-level jobs will attract applications from students and recent graduates, many employers offer roles aimed at school-leavers – including training schemes. The obvious benefit of heading straight into work is that you’ll be earning right away.

A great way to find entry-level jobs is to keep an eye on websites that advertise vacancies in specific fields. Mediargh is a great example for media-related careers (publishing, science – whatever).

Become an Entrepreneur

Ever wanted to start your own business? Now might be your chance! This can be an exciting option for those not looking to go to university, but it’s wise to first consider the funding, support, and advice you’ll need along the way. If you’re in the UK, check out these government guidelines for new businesses.

For an extra boost when it comes to marketing your business effectively, check out Google’s Digital Garage for free digital marketing training.

Study for an Online Diploma

A huge barrier for many prospective students is the possibility of getting in over £50,000 of debt for a qualification in an area they’re not entirely sure about, or wasn’t necessary for their preferred career.

Whether you’re looking to boost your entrepreneurial endeavours, or you want to get a feel for a subject before jumping into a degree, an online diploma can be a great way to go! Loads of platforms offer you the chance to study via the web and many don’t require specialist technology, so you can get going with just a laptop and a cup of tea.

If it’s nutrition you’re into, we at The Health Sciences Academy® have a whole host of certifications and short courses for you to explore.

Nutrition not your thing? Not to worry – there are loads of other great providers out there. Check out Coursera and Lynda for an array of online courses on a variety of subjects.

They’re called options for a reason…

It’s important to remember that choosing to not go to university isn’t something that sets your career in a permanent direction. You may try one of the above and decide you want to go to uni after all! Perhaps you want some work experience, maybe you’re looking to boost your know-how before embarking on a degree, or you might even decide to do both an online course and an apprenticeship – the point is: the sky’s the limit.

What you’re doing this September doesn’t necessarily define the rest of your life, but it CAN boost it. Do what’s best for you and remember: it’s quite natural to need a little bit of extra time to work out where you want your career to go.

The Health Sciences Academy® is the UK’s largest online educator in nutrition science.

We are home to a variety of Level 5 online diplomas, in addition to a range of accredited short courses in nutrition topics – ready to help you ignite your career.

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