The microbes in the fizzy, fermented drink called kombucha, make several changes to the way fat is metabolized in the gut and intestines that are remarkably similar to those seen in fasting periods.
An antique saying in medicine goes “fasting is the cure for all ailments” and while this is certainly hyperbole, like all wisdom of the ancestors, there are grains of truth contained within it.
Most people will probably think of fasting as a religious penance or a political act of protest, but when the body enters a state of fasting, several a-priori biological processes responsible for the cleanup and repair of our cells and tissues are able to work without interference from the massive influences of the metabolic systems.
Researchers at the Univ. of North Carolina looked at how the microbes in kombucha affected the overall microbiome of the GI tract, and what they found highlights why millions of people, including many celebrities, are forthcoming for their love of the fizzy drink.
As the yeast and bacteria colonized the gut in the scientists’ animal model, expression in the genes responsible for fatty acid metabolism changed. Specifically, the changes coded for more proteins that break fat down, and coded for fewer proteins that agglomerate fats into triglycerides.
Interestingly, this change in genetic expression is similar to what is seen in the bodies of people undergoing fasting.
Dr. Robert Dowen who co-led the study described his team as being “surprised” to see that the microbes in kombucha had the ability to induce a fasting-like state even during periods of eating.
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Our ancestors didn’t live in a calorie-rich environment like we do today. The ideas of “three square meals” and “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” are purely modern conceptions reflected in the abundance of food available, and have no basis in biology.
In reality, Homo sapiens was able to grow a strong athletic body in conditions when meals came in increments of days rather than hours. As such, the fasted state had to have advantages.
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Along with increasing the speed at which damaged cells were repaired and dead cells were removed, a process called apoptosis, metabolism changed to the utilization of energy stores in the muscle tissue; a process called glycolysis.
By cleaving apart and using fats for energy rather than for storage, the microbes in the kombucha replicate fasting.
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Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
