Does anybody know if it's OK to drink kombucha when you're on drugs for RA?
I'd like to try kombucha for my IBS, but I'm on methorexate (17.5mg) and hydroxycholoroquine.
The kombucha I've bought is organic and pasteurised.
Kombucha: Does anybody know if it's OK to drink... - NRAS
Kombucha
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jigsawpuzzler
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Kim-NRASNRAS
Hi there 🙂 before trying any nutritional supplements, we would usually recommend seeking advice from your rheumatology team to be absolutely sure there will be no issues, however I realise that is likely easier said than done! You could always try asking your local pharmacist too. Hopefully there will be others on here that have tried it and can share with you their experiences!
Yes, talking to my rheumatology team is definitely easier said than done, but asking the pharmacist is a good idea. Thank you.
there’s not much (any) evidence from reputable source that is does anything good, and can upset your digestive system. Personally I tried it and to me it tastes disgusting, unless you add extra sugar which defeats the purpose.
I just noticed you said you have bought pasteurised kombucha, which will have no live bacteria or yeasts - so no different from a vitamin drink.
Oh no. I don't need anything that will upset my digestive system. I was hoping it would do some good.
Try the unpasteurized one for your GI tract It is safe and gives you probiotic
Have you tried it then, LuzyCLL? And are you on methotrexate?
yes I am on methotrexate and Sulfasalazine, I drink kombucha often. It is easy to make your own from strong black (or green) tea, then add fizzy water and or fruit juice.
OK. I'll look into it. Thanks.
Yes, it's pasteurised, so does that mean it's OK?
Means that there are no live probiotic cultures, so it is just a vitamin and mineral drink.
if you have IBS keep your food as simple and unprocessed as possible, and avoid excess anything. The more varied the better to allow your gut to develop what it needs.
OK, so basically the kombucha I bought is no good for what I wanted it for
you need the probiotics to help your GI tract… not sure why they would pasteurize it, for long shelf life? It keeps for weeks in the refrigerator.
I didn't even realise that I'd bought a pasteurised version until I studied the bottle after I'd got it home, but it does seem to defeat the object of the whole thing.
I sometimes drink Kombucha and I take hydroxychloroquine and blood pressure tablets it didn’t occur to me to ask anyone about taking it but I haven’t noticed any problems other than the last time I used it I had heartburn which has put me off ot a bit.
That's not good that it gave you heartburn. I'm going off the whole idea of trying it now!
it tastes very nice - I’ve still got two little bottles in the fridge - I bought them in Waitrose.
I tried making my own a few years ago - very easy to do but we couldn’t keep up with the rate of production - I used to ‘burp’ the bottles but I was a bit worried that the bottles would explode in the fridge so in the end I gave up.
Have live youghurt instead maybe?
Yes, maybe. I've considered trying all sorts of things while I'm waiting to see a gastroenterologist, but hard to know what might help.
That’s exactly what I decided to take when I didn’t get on with the kombucha 😊
I have Fage Total which contains live cultures. I did wonder though that this may also work against medication by boosting the immune system.
Yes, I think it's worth a go too!
“8 evidence based health benefits” ? I couldn’t find anything reputable or reliable, just anecdotal studies on small numbers of people.
Which just means that they contain lactobacilli- which would be dead in pasteurised products. This article, from a reputable journal, is much more balanced.
thelancet.com/journals/lang...
Thanks for the link to the article. I've just read it.
I got a bee in my bonnet about trying kombucha after reading that Tim Spector (of Zoe fame) recommended it, but maybe it wouldn't benefit me after all. Especially the pasteurised one!
I have a huge amount of time for Tim Spector, and think he gives the most sensible advice around. We try to follow his suggestions, especially the one to eat as many different foods as possible to develop your own gut flora.
But he is generally talking about people who do not have immune system disorders, so we have to be just a tiny bit more careful. My issue with a lot of Kombucha is that it is made and sold in uncontrolled conditions, and you don’t know how it is stored. Apart of course from the pasteurised stuff which doesn’t have the same qualities. So it’s not the stuff itself, or the idea of probiotics, but the quality control.
We eat unpasteurised cheese, ferment our own bread, and stuff like that. But always from known sources. Perhaps you should make your own!
Yes, maybe I should make my own.
I'll certainly look into it, but I'll try the one I've bought first to see what it tastes like.
Thanks for this. It's all very confusing because this makes it sound great, but people have such different opinions about - and there was me hoping for a miracle cure!
I have tried all of the gut microbe enhancing supplements. Every one of them upset my stomach, possibly my gut is very sensitive after years of taking drugs.
Essential oils have the same effect, they make me nauseous and can bring on a migraine.
It's so hard to know what to do for the best, isn't it?
I've had IBS D for forty years now and have tried everything including the low fodmap diet. Nothing helps much, although I'm now taking loperamide every day, which has helped a bit.
My GP referred me to the gastro department at the hospital last October, but still waiting for an appointment.
reading about your referral from oct I was referred in nov 22 told to follow up if not heard anything by 14 feb rang gastro dept and was told they are dealing with referrals from June 2021!!!
Oh dear. I found out yesterday that the wait here is at least a year as well - and that's just for the first appointment.
I have kefir. I get heart burn sometimes which indicates to me I need bacteria. Also I buy a good quality probiotic Gut health so important isn't it
Work in progress anyway My daughter is involved in setting up a kamboucha brewery It's doing well but I don't feel it gives you anything more tbh Quite pleasant surely any gut support is better than none
I tried kefir for a month and thought it was delicious, but I don't think it helped at all.
Interesting that your daughter is involved in a brewery. Should do very well as kamboucha definitely seems to be very popular just now.
If you don't mind me asking, which probiotic do you buy?
I use Good Health Naturally for a few of my supps
Swansons maybe ok there are so many also Nutri Advanced. Had a helpful consultant to chat to but haven't used there for a while
. Also Dr Sarah Myhill has a shop on her site, she was a gp before going into more natural. She gives explanations under products respect her I get her bone health mix
Daughters brand of kamboucha is Laid Bear Honestly, I did feel it's kind of flavour of the month lol sort of,thing excuse the pun
🤔 it's knowing what you're looking for re no caffeine etc I'm following eating rainbow as much as poss
ps. If had leaky gut like I did, I used Sustain powder from Nutri and had great improvement generally and with embarrassing wind But it's full of b vitamins too I believe it's the l-glutamine that heals the saggy Gut junctions but don't quote pls but maybe worth reading up
do you mind me asking, what improvement do you hope to feel from eg kefir Is a month long enough
Thanks for all your advice relating to products, Jeppy. I'll look into them all.
I'm just trying to find something that will improve my gut health so I'm not dashing to the loo three or four times every morning.
I've suffered for 40 years and I've had enough of it. Can't go on holiday etc and it appears that there's a very long wait to see a gastroenterologist. I tried the low fodmap diet for months but it didn't do much good and neither did the mebeverine from the doctor. Or the kefir. I thought a month on that would show if it would benefit me though.
yes. I gained quite a lot from a good keniesiologist So thorough Expensive mind And could take any foods veg products anything and woukd test it some think its quackery but I was quite impressed and I'm quite discerning
Good luck!! I'm bad with wheat and lactose. I can do sourdough though the sustain powder I feel really helped initially. Like a milkshake. Just got email from Good Health Naturally they put they have a consultant there too but unsure how thorough. Sarah Myhill knows her stuff
Thanks for all this further information.
I've never heard of a keniesioligist before - another thing to look into!
even if one little thing helps its worth it with keniesiology you can feel if you respond 'weak or strong' Oh the very informed lady did 'bio resonance ' wow. Mind boggled. Her equipment amaxing. Ahead of time I think
Cheery! '
I was always advised to avoid kombucha as it potentially boosts the immune system, so works against the meds we take to lower the immune system. Also it contains caffeine so can cause issues with the gut. I would advise against making it at home, as you’re unable to do so under sterile conditions, and risk harmful bacteria or fungi also reproducing. The advice is to try shop bought where strict procedures are followed. If you are taking diabetic meds you have to be cautious as kombucha lowers the blood sugar. However even if not diabetic you should be watching out for symptoms of low blood sugar. Many supplements bought over the counter can interact and be harmful when taking meds, so we should always check with our specialists or gp. A pharmacist will be able to state if it’s safe with your meds, however they won’t have the knowledge as how your specific condition will be impacted by the supplement, so your rheumatologist needs to advise.
Thanks for this, Maureen.
Turns out this whole kombucha business is far more complicated than I'd realised, so maybe I should just put the idea on hold until I can talk to my consultant about it in April!
Good morning, have a look at the article from the ZOE study. joinzoe.com/learn/kombucha-... Tim Spector has lots of ways to improve gut health/microbiome.
You could try Kefir and it tastes better. Here is an article on that.
cambridge.org/core/journals...
Thank you for these links.
I have tried kefir, but it didn't seem to do much, although it was really lovely, and a lot of fruit and veg don't do me any good at all.
woukd something like juice plus capsules be kinder
Possibly, yes.
I stick to live yogurt for my gut bacteria. I've tried Kombucha and thought it disgusting.
I'm a Zoe fan to some degree, but everything should be evaluated with your disease in mind.
The best advice for me was to avoid eating between seven at night and seven in the morning to give my gut chance to get on with its work without new onslaughts of food. I've had an overactive gut for years and this seems to have cut the activity down to manageable levels. But that's just me.
The evidence for foods, adding specific foods or excluding foods is extremely poor. It's mostly anecdotal, observational retrospective studies (can you remember what you ate several days ago?) and on small numbers. Zoe is aiming to gather information from thousands on a daily basis so should improve the evidence base.
Yes, live yoghurt for me too
Can I ask what live yogurt you use?
Information about that seems to be quite confusing as well.
Sarah Myhill did a culture in her shop to do own
yes. Many kid you a bit like 'authentic Greek not many say Live Cultures on it! And have loads of sugar especially silly low fat ones
I asked Aldi if they could do one lol.
Wel, it was worth asking!
😂 well since seen the island ic variety probably coincidence or they are asked more im sure. Great Aldi
Hello, I drink BREW Dr. Kombucha. I love it! It is a live probiotic which comes in about 3 to 4 different flavors. I have not had any problems what so ever in drinking it.
That sounds good. Is it available in the UK?
I do not know if it is available in the UK. I am in the US.
OK. I don't think it is available here, but it's great that you've found one you love.
i used to make my own live yogurt but ended up with far too much once the family had left home.
I often buy a local live version which is made in Wales, Llaeth y Llan, nice and tart flavour, not too runny.
Wales is a bit far for me to go, but I'm sure somebody must make a live version where I live.
Would love to go to Wales though, but not just for yogurt!
Please read the rest of this BBc report about the "Dr Sarah Myhill" its from 30 January 2023 and not good. Her name rang a bell with something I'd read before and then make up your mind about her as clearly the GMC has views as does the courts.
" A private doctor who put false claims about Covid-19 treatments online has been banned from practising for nine months after a medical tribunal.Sarah Myhill, based in Powys, posted videos and articles advocating taking vitamins and other substances in high doses, without evidence they worked.The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found her recommendations "undermined public health". She was also selling the substances she recommended on her website.The tribunal found some of her recommendations had the potential to cause "serious harm" and "potentially fatal toxicity".She did not attend the hearing in Manchester.Dr Sarah Myhill said she had no intention to appeal the GMC decision and would continue to work as a naturopathic physician. She added that the use of nutritional supplements was "extremely safe" and she would continue to advocate the use of dietary and lifestyle changes to improve health.The tribunal was told she uploaded a series of videos and articles between March and May 2020, describing substances as "safe nutritional interventions" which she said meant vaccinations were "rendered irrelevant". GP's online trans clinic follow-up care''
etc etc
Wow. That's not good, is it? Especially the bit about 'potentially fatal toxicity. Very worrying.
I've used it and been fine with it. I eat kimchi and all sorts of ferments. Usually in small amounts though.
That's interesting. I've only recently found out about all these ferments. I'm way behind the times!
Take it slowly to begin with. Kimchi is my favourite, or fermented milk products.
OK. I will. Thanks.
I drink it all the time. It has very little sugar which is perfect. Some taste like vinegar so I don’t get those ones but some have a little stevia in them. There are better ways to get pre and pro biotics in my view but I like it because it’s a low/no sugar fizzy alternative. I don’t drink alcohol or eat/drink sugar so I love it.
That's good that you've found something you love.
I've only just found out about kombucha, so I'm way behind the times, and I need to do a lot of experimenting having read all the comments on here.
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