Brew-it-yourself: The health benefits of kombucha

When you think of probiotics, you’ll probably think Yakult or Vitagen — cultured milk drinks that aid in digestion. But have you heard of Kombucha?

Estimated to have originated from China thousands of years ago¹ , it’s not exactly a newcomer in the health food scene, although its popularity has risen massively in recent years.

Kombucha’s health benefits — lock it in early

For the uninitiated, it’s a fermented sweetened tea drink known for its distinctive taste. Slightly tangy with a tart finish, it’s often consumed on its own after it’s been infused with fruit. For those who are feeling adventurous with their palate, kombucha can even be used as an ingredient in cocktails.

Not only is it refreshing, it’s also believed to have numerous health benefits. For one, like most fermented foods, kombucha is full of probiotics, which are good bacteria that help in maintaining a healthy gut. Secondly, the fermenting process produces vitamins B and C that benefits the drinker². And finally, primarily made out of tea, it is rich in antioxidants which can reduce the risk of heart disease and relieve stress.

With so many long-term benefits, there’s no reason not to start drinking kombucha to lock in a healthier you earlier.

Brew it yourself — meet all your needs

While buying a bottle of kombucha at a cafe might seem like a pricey indulgence, worry not! Anyone can brew their own kombucha — all you need is some tea, sugar and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast known as a scoby.

Like how sourdough bread has a ‘mother’ dough that kicks off the bread-making process, making your own kombucha requires a scoby to start the fermentation process. While its appearance can vary, they are typically round, flat, and gelatin-like.

The exciting part about making your own kombucha is that you have the flexibility to experiment with different flavours. Do you want something sweet like strawberry, tart like plum, or easy to drink like apple? You can add whichever fruits you like to create the taste you want — in a diced, sliced or pureed form — into the second fermentation phase, and you’ll have a kombucha that is catered specifically to your own preferences.

A rewarding hobby — grow your wealth

Considering how a bottle of kombucha can set you back by $6.90³ or more, think about how much you’ll save if you start brewing your own. Not only that, it can be a fun new activity for you to try your hand at as well.

No kombucha brewers in your social circle to get a scoby and get started? Many small kombucha manufacturers do sell their scoby or even starter kits to consumers who want to try making it themselves.

There are also plenty of interest groups⁴ on social media with kombucha enthusiasts who would be more than happy to give you (for free) some of their scoby and starter tea (as well as a lot of advice).

Who knows, there might even come a day where you get a chance to turn your own kombucha into a home-based business opportunity. The popularity of kombucha is surging in Singapore after all, and your investment could reap you rewards as it grows over time.

Invest in your health and take care of your wealth

Whichever point in life you’re at, it’s always crucial for you to invest in yourself — you could start easily with a simple drink like kombucha. Promoting a good balance of bacteria in your digestive system, kombucha doesn’t just reduce your susceptibility to medical conditions⁵ such as ulcers and even colon cancer, it also protects you from falling sick by enhancing your immune system.

Just like with our health, we want to protect our wealth as best as we can. Are you looking for something as beneficial as kombucha in your portfolio? One that locks in coverage early, offers freedom and flexibility to be tailored to your needs and preferences, and allows you to grow your wealth?

Look no further than PRUVantage Assure, a flexible investment-linked plan in which you can have the flexibility to choose your desired coverage, premium term and investment funds. It offers protection against unforeseen events by locking in coverage⁶ at the peak of the policy value⁷ for death and accidental disability⁸ — all while growing your wealth.

Disclaimer

¹ Kombucha
² Top 5 health benefits of Kombucha
³ Remedy Organic Kombucha Raspberry Lemonade
⁴ Singapore Kombucha Brewers
⁵ How Gut Bacteria Affects Your Weight and Health
⁶ If the life assured dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled because of an accident before the cover end date, we will pay the highest of:
(a) the Sum Assured;
(b) the Wealth Assure Value; or
(c) the account value from the Initial Investment Account
plus the account value from the Additional Investment Account, less any outstanding amount payable and withdrawals.
⁷ Refers to the account value of the Initial Investment Account, adjusted for changes in the benefits or partial withdrawals, if any.
⁸ Coverage ends on the policy anniversary before the Life Assured turns 70.

This article is for your information only and does not consider your specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you seek advice from a Prudential Financial Consultant before making a commitment to purchase a policy.

This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered. under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact your insurer or visit the GIA/LIA or SDIC web-sites (www.gia.org.sg or www.lia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

PRUVantage Assure is an Investment-Linked Plan (ILP) which invests in ILP sub-fund(s). Investment products are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The performance of the ILP sub-fund(s) is not guaranteed and the value of the units and the income accruing to the units (if any) may fall or rise. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

A product summary and product highlights sheet(s) relating to the ILP sub-fund(s) are available and may be obtained from your Prudential Financial Consultant. A potential investor should read the product summary and product highlights sheet(s) before deciding whether to subscribe for units in the ILP sub-fund(s).

Information presented is not exhaustive. For exact terms, conditions and specific details applicable to the insurance products mentioned, please refer to the relevant Policy Illustrations, Product Summary and Policy Document. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Published on 11 November 2021

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