Kombucha has always been one of those drinks that is “trendy.” All the celebs drink it, your favorite influencers, and quite honestly, a lot of normal people too. In an effort to value and take care of my health and wellness, I started to drink kombucha. And honestly, I’m kind of a big kombucha fan (thank you for the round of applause). I have been trying all the different flavors and brands. Although the drink might seem like a trend, kombucha (as most of us know) has tons of great benefits for your gut health.
Of course, kombucha is an acquired taste. Some brands/flavors of the fermented tea are definitely more… vinegary than others. And some kombucha brands are really yummy (GT Dave’s Kombucha is my go-to, IYKYK).
If you follow any of the health trends/fads on TikTok, you have probably seen videos about drinking kombucha first thing in the morning. People on TikTok have said that drinking the bubbly tea first thing in the AM has helped reduce bloating, a lot of people saying they are drinking it to get a “flat tummy” before the summer (which BTW, every stomach is beautiful and perfect the way it is, if you are only drinking kombucha for this reason, you’re wastin’ your time). However, I am curious about the benefits of drinking kombucha in the morning as opposed to any other time of the day.
People drinking kombucha on an empty stomach have been all over my FYP. A lot of the people who have been drinking it on an empty stomach are saying their bloating is going down (which slays, nobody likes the feeling of being bloated). But, a lot of other people are saying they feel like their stomach is concaving or they just simply feel wack.
Again, bloat reduction is always nice, but the other things that people are feeling don’t seem to be that great, right? I talked to nutritionist Michelle Blum, founder of NutrishMish about this, the overall benefits of kombucha, and when the best time to drink it is.
Can drinking kombucha on an empty stomach really help your gut?
We all know that kombucha is great for our gut health, but do we really know what that means when we say it? Thankfully, Blum has something to say. “Kombucha is great for your gut health! Kombucha is a tea that goes through a fermentation process, which produces probiotics or good gut bacteria,” Blum tells Her Campus.“When your gut has the right amount of good bacteria, you might notice benefits in your digestion (less bloating), being more regular (if you know what I mean), and possibly give your immune system a boost.”
This is all great news. Makes me feel a bit more justified walking out of Whole Foods with bags full of kombucha. But, the real question still has to be answered… when TF do I drink it? Do I listen to TikTok?
Turns out, TikTok is (partially) correct! According to Blum, “The best time to drink kombucha to get the most health benefits is on an empty stomach. This way, there is nothing in the way of it getting to your large intestine, which is where it works its magic.”
While this is great advice, it does come with a slight caveat. “If you are brand new to drinking kombucha, though, I might recommend trying it for the first couple of times with food to avoid an upset stomach,” Blum recommends.
“But after an initial trial, drinking kombucha may become a part of your everyday routine, especially in the morning. “Once your system is used to it, drink it on an empty stomach for the best results,” Blum tells Her Campus.
So, it turns out TikTok can be pretty helpful. Of course, I would advise you to listen to the advice of a nutritionist before following a TikTok trend!