New Year, New Consumption Methods: Kombucha
Kayla Zadow
Cannabinoid-infused drinks are great for those looking for a non-smoking consumption method, especially if you’re not sold on the pace of typical edibles. Similar to edibles, the THC & CBD in beverages are digested and absorbed through our stomach membranes where they are able to interact with our endocannabinoid systems, introducing all of their beneficial properties to the body. Unlike most edibles, however, cannabis drinks are made with water-soluble encapsulation, allowing the body to digest them much more quickly and increasing their bioavailability.
We have all kinds of THC, CBD, or blended beverages, but we wanted to feature one that we are particularly excited about: a Goji Grapefruit Kombucha produced by Impromptu. We love when producers try new things and this kombucha is a first on the legal market. Delightfully tart, this goji and grapefruit fermented sparkling tea has a lovely ratio of 2mg of THC and 20mg of CBD. Ingredients include organic cane juice, grapefruit extract, ginger tea, black carrot extract and organic goji tea, making this kombucha as health-conscious as it is tasty.
Kombucha is a naturally fermented tea, using a similar fermentation process as beer, wine or cider, and contains beneficial bacteria helpful for digestion. Full of antioxidants and probiotics - or live bacteria - that boost the health of intestinal cells, improve immune function, and aid in digestion.
Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, are bright orange-red berries that come from shrubs native to China. Some health benefits that have been found related to goji berries are an overall feeling of well-being and calmness, better athletic performance, improved sleep, weight loss, immune system boosting ability, and an increase in antioxidants (Pathak., 2020).
Studies have shown grapefruit has a positive effect on the gut microbiome due to the polyphenols it contains, like naringin, that boost the production of short-chain fatty acids, help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, and increase the presence of commensal bacterial that live in harmony with healthy gut bacteria (Igumnova., 2020).
With its 1:10 CBD: THC ratio, this kombucha will depending on your tolerance, either provide a light high or just a calming effect. As we know, CBD and THC work best and are most bioavailable when combined, so we love to see a little bit of THC in a CBD-dominant beverage. If you love kombucha or are trying to make gut health a priority this year, swing by for one of these!
Reference List:
Igumnova, A. (2020, December 16). Super-Fruit: 12 best fruit for health, digestion and gut bacteria. Atlas Biomed blog | Take control of your health with no-nonsense news on lifestyle, gut microbes and genetics. Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/best-super-fruit-with-health-properties/#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20grapefruit%20has,harmony%20with%20your%20good%20bacteria.
Pathak, N. (2020, September 21). Goji berries: Health benefits and side effects. WebMD. Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/goji-berries-health-benefits-and-side-effects