Every 36 seconds, one person in the United States loses their life to heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US; therefore, it is essential that American adults understand the risk factors for heart disease and the ways in which to reduce them.

One way to reduce chances of heart disease is to nourish the body with a healthy diet. Research on nutrition is unfolding the secrets of a heart-healthy diet by looking into new foods and drinks that may not have been investigated before.

Some studies have been exploring the benefits of kombucha, which is a fermented tea that is quickly gaining popularity because of its unique tang and array of potential health benefits. A study published by Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine in November 2020 found that kombucha had a beneficial impact on certain risk factors of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in rabbits.

To conduct this experiment, 32 rabbits were divided into four groups: standard diet, high-cholesterol diet, standard diet plus kombucha extract and high-cholesterol diet plus kombucha extract. After 40 days, several analyses were conducted.

Blood tests were performed to measure cholesterol and fasting blood sugar levels. Histological analysis was conducted to determine blood vessel plaque occurrence, which is an indicator of heart disease. Supplementing kombucha extract was found to reduce blood cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels.

In addition, adding kombucha extract was shown to eliminate plaque in the coronary arteries, a characteristic that was observed in the high-cholesterol diet group.

Why did these researchers study cholesterol and blood sugar levels? These two values are closely tied to heart disease.

Gradually, high blood cholesterol levels can induce plaque buildup in the blood vessels, resulting in atherosclerosis – a type of heart disease. Similarly, high fasting blood sugar, a characteristic of uncontrolled diabetes, can result in damaged blood vessels. Ultimately, unhealthy blood vessels significantly increase the risk for more severe cardiovascular problems, like a heart attack or stroke.

This research has highlighted another way in which nutrition may reduce risk factors for heart disease. While kombucha probably will not make up for an unhealthy diet, it seems that it could supplement a healthy one.

If you are finding yourself with some of these risk factors, why not try some tasty Kombucha to incorporate into your new, healthy lifestyle?