Kombucha is the latest healthy drink that’s appearing on the shelves to help with a variety of ailments. It’s a fermented fizzy drink, and fermented food is supposed to be good for the gut.

It is said to help with cholesterol, give you a flatter tummy and even help with cancer.

It’s fermented cold tea and is sour and fizzy, and often comes with bits of yeast floating in it. It contains lots of healthy bacteria.

It contributes to the balance of microbes in the gut, but there are many different varieties out there so buyer beware! It is a brewed drink made from black tea, sugar, water and a slimy product called a scoby which helps to ferment the drink. When it’s consumed it helps to bolster the bacteria in the gut.

The bacteria in kombucha are a far cry from it’s Chinese origins, and some bottles contain up to 5 teaspoons of sugar which really negates any beneficial properties.

Filtered products may look more appealing which have the bits of yeast removed, but it’s best to have the drink with the bits still in as they contain most of the goodness.

If you feel really adventurous you could try making your own, kits are available on line from around £20.