Nutrition

The Hidden Extra Benefits Of Kombucha


Written by Remedy nutritionist, Jacqueline Alwill @brownpapernutrition  

So you’ve heard that kombucha is good for your health (people have been drinking it for literally thousands of years for this reason!) and you may have heard that it contains these excellent little LIVE CULTURES (you’ll see these as floaties at the top of your booch) that give plenty of love to your gut, with epic flow on effects to other parts of your body too - immune health, brain function, mental wellbeing, just to name a few…

But, did you know that Remedy Kombucha is also a rich source of ORGANIC ACIDS and TEA POLYPHENOLS to support your health and longevity too? 

What on EARTH are they, you ask? Let us break down your booch for you…

TEA POLYPHENOLS
Kombucha is made on a base of tea leaves. Remedy uses a combination of organic green and organic black tea leaves, both of which contain powerful polyphenol compounds - you’ve likely heard of these as “antioxidants”. 

Antioxidants work to neutralize the action of cell-damaging free radicals which can break down our health over time and predispose us to illness and more chronic long-term health conditions. 

Black tea brings a robust flavour to the booch and contains polyphenol compounds including theaflavins and thearubigins. Whilst the green tea in kombucha is a rich source of epigallocatechin. These antioxidant polyphenols have been extensively researched for their beneficial effects in diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 

We can boost our diet and health with plenty of polyphenol-rich foods and drinks every day including Remedy Kombucha, colourful fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices and (yes, you read it here…) good quality dark chocolate. 

(Side note: If you’re wondering if drinking a bottle of fermented tea is going to also spike your caffeine intake for the day, then worry no further because thankfully, with Remedy’s long fermentation process, most of the caffeine is brewed out of your booch, leaving just 10mg caffeine per bottle.) 

ORGANIC ACIDS
Organic acids aren’t just any old acid you’d typically find in what most people think of as acids…lemon juice, balsamic, etc etc. Organic acids are created throughout the fermentation process of kombucha. Whilst they still deliver that delicious sour tang to your booch they pack a lot more punch.

After steeping the black and green tea leaves, sugar is added to the tea, then, once cooked, the almighty SCOBY AKA Symbiotic Community of (Good) Bacteria and Yeast (living bugs!), is added to begin the fermentation process. The bacteria and yeast gobbles ALL of the sugar in the brew, and converts it into SCFA’s or short-chain fatty acids (organic acids!).

These short chain fatty acids are also produced by our gut microbes ( gut bugs) when we consume healthy amounts of dietary fibre from whole food plant-based sources - fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes and whole grains. 

Including a variety of plant-based whole foods in your diet and your daily serving of Remedy Kombucha rich in organic acids can help your body to:

+       Regulate energy better by stabilising blood glucose (sugar) levels 

+       Reduce the proliferation of pathogenic bugs in the gut

+       Regulate appetite 

+       Support healthy cholesterol levels 

+       Provide a fuel source for beneficial gut microbes (good gut bugs!) 

SCARY GOOD INGREDIENTS

While some of our ingredients might LOOK scary (no names mentioned, SCOBY) – they're far from it - they're bloody awesome. We're fusspots when it comes to our ingredients - annoyingly fussy, but that's what makes our bevvies so damn great. We never use artificial flavours or colours (coz they're gross). Instead, we source high-quality, all natural ingredients ensuring no sugar is added to any of our Remedy drinks (yeah, da boys).

Fun fact: We don't use juice for flavourings because they usually have a high sugar content. However, we use ginger juice and lemon juice in a few of our products because they have very low fermentable sugars (it's science). For our other beveraginos, we use all natural flavours and extracts, which are the flavour components of the fruit without the sugar.

Let's break down some of our ingredients and why they're so scarily good.

 

MOTHER CULTURE / SCOBY

Found in Remedy Kombucha, Remedy K!CK, Remedy Immune+ Shot, Remedy Energy Shot

Ever wondered what that weird alien-looking thing is in kombucha? We'll come right out and say it – it's gross. It's the stuff of 80s B-grade horror films. As disturbing as it looks, the SCOBY (symbiotic community of good bacteria and yeast), or mother culture, is the workhorse in our kombucha brews and is a key ingredient in real, raw kombucha. 

Have no fear if you have ever seen some floaty bits in your kombucha and freaked out! Strands or small pieces of our live kombucha SCOBY or 'mother' may appear in your booch. While they may seem weird the first time, you see them in your drink, rest assured, these are signs of a natural, healthy kombucha that is unpasteurised and full of goodness. They are perfectly normal and safe. In fact, it's a good sign of a very healthy kombucha!


BLACK & GREEN TEA

Found in Remedy Kombucha, Remedy K!CK, Remedy Immune+ Shot, Remedy Energy Shot

In kombucha makin', the first and very important step at Remedy is to brew a huge pot of tea. And, well, everyone knows that green tea is good for you, right? The reason for this is because of all of the healthy antioxidants that naturally occur in green and black tea. Tea antioxidants, otherwise known as polyphenols, may help your body fight illness. They're seriously the REAL lesser-known powerhouse of a good kombucha.

In science-speak, antioxidants have been found to scavenge for free radicals in the body and prevent them from causing cell damage. Some tea blends have less or more polyphenols depending on quality, which can even be impacted by what season the tea was harvested!

Polyphenols also vary on the tea type (i.e. green, black, oolong, jasmine or hibiscus). We select the highest quality organic tea for our brew. We use a mixture of certified organic green tea for its high polyphenol properties and certified organic black tea for its rich superior taste.

Keen to know more about polyphenols? Read up on one of our fave ingredients here.


APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV)

Found in Remedy Sodaly, Remedy Switchel ACV, Remedy Digestion Shot

We love apple cider vinegar AKA ACV for many reasons: it can aid digestion, it can help regulate and stabilise blood sugar levels, and it may promote good heart health and help keep cholesterol low. While we love this ingredient, we don't necessarily love necking it straight! This is why we use ACV as a base to make some of the best-tasting fizzies, Remedy Switchel ACV and Remedy Sodaly.

We could talk about ACV for hours, but nobody wants that. You can check out this nifty dedicated blog post if you're interested in learning more. Fun!


GREEN COFFEE BEAN EXTRACT

Found in Remedy K!CK, Remedy Energy Shot

Green coffee bean extract is derived from raw coffee beans that haven't been roasted yet. Its chemical profile is pretty different to roasted coffee beans. When left raw, green coffee bean extract contains high levels of a group of antioxidants known as chlorogenic acids, which can help lower blood pressure and may reduce your risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

While green coffee bean doesn't have AS much caffeine as their roasted counterpart, it t has a slower, more enduring caffeine kick that will power you through the day (or night!). A much nicer option than taurine and guarana – nobody likes those energy drink shakes!

 

GINGER

Found in Remedy Switchel ACV, Remedy Digestion Shot, Remedy Kombucha Ginger Lemon

The word superfood gets thrown around a lot. Like A LOT a lot, and sometimes hard to tell the difference between a fad and the real deal. When it comes to superfood superhero status, ginger is the OG. It's one radical rhizome that has stood the test of time for hundreds, if not thousands of years, in traditional and herbal medicine. Here at Remedy, we're huge fans of ginger and have made damn sure it's a key ingredient in some of our fan favourites. 

With anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, it's said that ginger can help fight infection and is a great natural option to support your immunity. SCIENCE SPEAK: Ginger is also a diaphoretic, which means it works from the inside out to heat your body which is just what you need when it's wet and chilly outside

The main reason ginger is so g-damn great is that it is anti-inflammatory and full of antioxidants. It's also well known for its calming effect on your gut – you bloody ripper. 


STEVIA & ERYTHRITOL

Found in all Remedy drinks

Ever wondered how our Remedy bevvies have a sweet taste without having any of the sugar? We add a touch of plant-based sweeteners, stevia, and erythritol (aka fermented glucose) at the end of the natural fermentation process. This adds back a hint of sweetness and balances out the flavours after we naturally brew out all of the sugar in our drinks. The stevia and erythritol we use are 100% natural (no artificial sweeteners over here!).

Stevia is a plant that belongs to the chrysanthemum family, which grows in Paraguay and Brazil. It contains no fructose yet is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Erythritol, aka fermented glucose, is a naturally occurring nectar commonly found in pears, watermelons, grapes and other fermented products like wine (yum), cheese (double yum) and soy sauce (all the yums). Both stevia and erythritol have been used as natural sweeteners in many parts of the world for hundreds of years, so it's not a new thing.

 

ACEROLA CHERRIES

Found in Remedy Immune+ Shot

Acerola cherries (also known as Barbados cherries or West Indian cherries) are one of the highest natural sources of Vitamin C. They initially gained popularity in 1940, when Puerto Rican scientists discovered that these little cherries contained up to 100x more Vitamin C than oranges (wowza!). We use acerola cherries in our Remedy Immune+ shot, so you can get 25% of your Vitamin C RDI from just one little mini but mighty shot!

 

QUINOA SPROUTS

Found in Remedy Immune+ Shot

Sprouted quinoa in your drink? We know it sounds strange, but they're a pretty magic ingredient. Quinoa sprouts are high in Vitamin B6, which can not only improve mood but may help with brain development and keep the nervous system and immune system healthy. That's a big yes from us. 

GINSENG

Found in Remedy K!CK, Remedy Energy Shot

This ingredient looks spooky, but it's a root that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries! Ginseng doesn't just contain antioxidants; it may also help with brain health, immune function, and blood sugar control and can fight tiredness and increase energy levels.  


Healthy Ways to Curb Sugar Cravings

Written by  Jacqueline Alwill,  Remedy Drinks Accredited Nutritionist @brownpapernutrition 

Are sugar cravings hitting you hard each day, and you want to stop them in their tracks? Let’s look at some of the common culprits contributing to sugar cravings and how you can say goodbye to those cravings for good.

1. AIM FOR 2 + 5 EVERY DAY. Let’s get back to basics, friends. The foundations of a healthy diet begin with consuming two servings of fruit and five serves of vegetables (minimum!) per day. But did you know that most Australian adults don’t consume anywhere near this amount? Only 5% meet this target (Source: ABS). So why is this important for curbing those sugar cravings? Well, it’s pretty simple. Without a diet rich in fibre from fruit and vegetables, our blood sugar levels are peaking and dropping throughout the day. When we have fibre-rich foods, however, starting with fruit and veg (but also including all foods from the plant kingdom - nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, whole grains), this slows the rate at which sugar is released into the bloodstream, allowing our cells to absorb it more efficiently and keeping our blood sugar levels stable. So, if you’re struggling with sugar cravings but also struggling to eat your 2 + 5, then start here. 

2. MAKE SIMPLE SWAPS: Love an afternoon soda but find you’re STILL craving sugar after the sugary soda? Time to swap that crazy sugar-coated can for something natural, guilt-free, satisfying, charged with goodness and without sugar. Meet Remedy Sodaly - your new fizzy friend that’s FULL OF FLAVOUR and contains beneficial prebiotics from apple cider vinegar. Why do I want apple cider vinegar in my soda, you say? Well, apple cider vinegar, with its juicy prebiotic pectin and acetic acid, helps to slow the rate your food is emptied from the stomach to the small intestine, allowing our body to regulate glucose better. PLUS, prebiotics provide the fuel for trillions of beneficial bugs in our gut so they can work their gut and health lovin magic, helping to regulate our appetite and blood sugar! Neat right? You’ll find Remedy Sodaly in all your favourite flaves, including Lemon Lime & Bitters, Raspberry, Orange, Lemon Squash, Guava and Passionfruit at your local grocer. Try making the swap the next time you're craving something sweet but want to make it right!   

3. DON’T SKIP MEALS: Ever thought you were doing the right thing by eating a small meal or skipping a meal to save on calories? Mmmmm, what about when you eat double or more at your next meal, though? Or skip lunch only to find your sugar cravings are cranking after dinner. Those cravings are behaving this way because you haven’t given your body the fuel it needs throughout the day. The result? The sugar fiend emerges. The lesson? Don’t skip meals. Your body and your blood sugar levels will thank you for it. 

4. FIBRE FIRST: If you feel like you’ve ticked all the boxes so far and wondering why you’re still craving sugar after your meal, try shuffling the way you consume your meal around ever so slightly. Start the meal with your most fibrous component – hello, big bowl of salad. Follow this with your protein and fats BEFORE you eat your starchy carbs such as potatoes, rice, pasta etc. (these break down to sugars in our body). Consuming your fibre first helps to buffer and slow the breakdown and absorption of the starchy carbs and their sugars, resulting in a more even delivery of glucose to the bloodstream. PSA. If you’re really clever, have a Remedy Sodaly with apple cider vinegar 20-30 minutes before your meal to reap the benefits! 

5. HIT THE SACK: You’ve likely experienced a day of feeling hungry for sugar after a night of poor quality or not enough sleep. Sleep is the low-hanging fruit for health, but we’re increasingly battling to reach out and grab it, so we find ourselves seeking out those energy-dense high-sugar foods and drinks to combat low energy. Not only that, but reduced sleep can affect the production of hormones, including those involved in regulating our hunger. Ghrelin, our appetite-stimulating hormone, rises with poor sleep, whilst leptin, our hormone responsible for helping us realise satiety, is lowered. The changes in how each is regulated are the perfect storm for hunting down sugar from the minute we wake. 

5 Simple Ways To Boost Your Immune System

Words by  Jacqueline Alwill, Accredited Nutritionist @brownpapernutrition

It feels like summer only just started, and already the weather is starting to change. As much as I love the cooler months: delicious, comforting food, nights in with the family and cozy clothes, it can also be a time of coughs, sniffles and sneezes. As we approach the months ahead, it's important to keep our immune systems strong and healthy.

Here are my simple ways to boost your immune system right now:

1.    GET OUT INTO SUNSHINE… We’ve had plenty of lockdowns and indoor time in the past two years to know that our bodies don’t thrive on being all cooped up. Rather getting out into the great outdoors and soaking up a juicy beam of Vitamin D rich sunlight is just one of the ways we can naturally and easily boost our immune system. Vitamin D is a prohormone/vitamin which plays an important role in immune function, with Vitamin D deficiency associated with an increased susceptibility to infections. Aim for: 10-15 minutes off-peak sunlight daily with as much skin exposure as possible in this time frame. Think of the big hitters like exposing your back and tummy to really max the experience. 

2.    FUEL YOUR IMMUNE CELLS. Your gut houses close to 70% of immune cells… 70%!!!!!! Feed those babies! Rather than thinking of your gut as a place to pass the food through one end and out the other, switch your thinking and understand that your gut - and the trillions of commensal bacteria, or microbes, that live there - is the engine room for your health. Especially your immune health. Focus on a diet full of fibre rich wholefoods, low in refined foods and sugars and pack the fridge with pre and probiotic-rich foods. Prebiotic food sources., - think leeks, onion, garlic, dandelion, barley, oats, artichoke, asparagus, green banana, and flaxseed. Wondering where to find the sources of foods and drinks with probiotic effects? Keep on reading my friend…

3.    LOVE THE LITTLE LIVE CULTURES in foods and bevvies such as sauerkraut, natural yoghurt, miso, kimchi and of course my / your absolute favourite - kombucha too. Want in on the ultimate hack to help boost your immunity? Well, friend and fellow Remedy lover, Remedy Drinks has JUST released REMEDY SHOTS, including Remedy Immune+. SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS! They are a VIBE. Remedy Immune+ Shots are a powerful long-aged kombucha brew, boosted with natural vitamin-rich ingredients and 25% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C from acerola cherries (#yum) plus blakeslea trispora, a beta-carotene super producer, which converts to Vitamin A and can help boost immune function. They’re a super convenient size, contain no sugar (for real), packed with flavour, organic and the perfect on-the-go pick me up for your tastebuds and immune system.

4.    MANAGE STRESS BEST. Oh, that old chestnut eh? Y.E.S. As a nutritionist, I’ll never stop reinforcing the importance of managing stress to improve immune function. Stress (external and endogenous) both short/sharp and long term/chronic can compromise the immune system and its nifty response. Absolutely EVERYONE needs to find stress management practices to look after their mental health and immune system. Do whatever it is that makes you switch off from stimulation, stress, thinking, analysing, processing, just over-doing. Try out simple breathwork techniques, stretching, bush hikes, reading a book, journaling, yoga, stretching, cooking… oh and if you’re cooking then one final thing!

5.    GET THOSE ANTIOXIDANTS ACTING inside your body, against free radicals which compromise immune cell health. Enrich your meals and snacks with antioxidant food aplenty. Don’t know where to start? Think COLOUR. #eattherainbow friend! Go for plenty of berries, apples, green tea (hello did you know green tea is in Remedy Kombucha too!?!?!), nuts and seeds, kale, cabbage and dark leafy greens, beetroot and most deliciously DARK CHOCOLATE.