Does homemade kombucha contain too much fluoride to risk drinking it? How about commercial brands? Will they eat away at the enamel on your teeth and cause dental issues over time?
Given the devastating health effects that fluoride can wreak, particularly on growing children, it is certainly right to be troubled about the potential for high fluoride levels in kombucha, a traditional Russian drink made from fermenting plain black tea (or a combination of black and green tea) and sugar.
The Fluoride Action Network lists black and green tea consumption as the sixth top reason for fluoride overexposure. Consumption of fluoridated water is #1. The reason is that the leaves of the tea plant tend to accumulate high levels of fluoride which they take up from the soil. Excessive intake of tea, particularly bottled or instant tea, has been known to cause a painful bone disease called skeletal fluorosis.
I am no stranger to the devastation of skeletal fluorosis. The picture above is of a cow crippled by fluorosis in Polk County, Florida just a few miles from where I live.
The cause of widespread fluorosis in cattle in Central Florida in decades past resulted from the creation of phosphate plants in the 1940s.
Raw phosphate contains high concentrations of fluoride estimated between 20,000 and 40,000 parts per million or 2-4% of the ore.
When raw phosphate ore is processed into water-soluble phosphate via a chemical reaction with sulfuric acid, large amounts of fluoride are vaporized into the air which can contaminate surrounding land with toxic fluoride in the form of hydrogen fluoride and silicon tetrafluoride.
As a result of the land contamination from the phosphate industry, the cattle population of Polk County, Florida dropped by 30,000 between 1953 and 1960. Farmers fearing for the health of their herds caused an estimated 150,000 acres of cattle land to be abandoned.
According to the former President of the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association:
“Around 1953 we noticed a change in our cattle… We watched our cattle become gaunt and starved, their legs became deformed; they lost their teeth. Reproduction fell off and when a cow did have a calf, it was also affected by this malady or was a stillborn.”
With one of phosphate’s primary uses being the production of commercial fertilizers, the possibility of fluoride residues being absorbed by commercial tea crops being repeatedly treated with phosphate-based fertilizers is a very real concern. It is already known that dairy cattle can suffer the effects of severe fluorosis simply through the use of mineral supplements made using mined phosphate.
In addition, commercial crops are treated with an array of pesticides and herbicides, 150 of which include fluoride according to the Organic Consumers Association. The category “Fluorine Insecticides” includes Cryolite, Barium hexafluorosilicate, Sodium hexafluorosilicate, Sodium fluoride, and Sulfluramid and the herbicides Trifluralin, Fluometuron and Benefin (Befluralin) (EPA, Aug 97).
Is Organic Tea Safe?
With the potential for high levels of fluoride in the soil and uptake by commercially grown tea plants, it seems best to avoid drinking commercially grown tea as much as possible.
What about organic tea?
While studies on fluoride levels in organic tea are sparse, the results are very encouraging. In tests performed on organic tea by the Weston A. Price Foundation, levels of fluoride in organic tea were found to be very low compared with commercial tea and even lower in kombucha brewed with organic tea.
According to the USDA, commercial black tea was found to contain fluoride at levels of 3.37 parts per million (ppm) in 2005.
Tests on organic tea made with filtered water by the Weston A. Price Foundation found fluoride levels nearly 75% lower at .94 ppm and even lower in kombucha brewed with organic tea (.9 ppm). The testing was performed by Soil Control Lab, Watsonville, CA.
These results suggest that fermentation of the sugar tea water into kombucha may potentially remove some of the fluoride from the tea perhaps via absorption from the kombucha culture itself.
How Does Kombucha Compare with Fluoridated Water?
Probably article statement from Orawellness generated the most concern:
One 16 ounce serving of kombucha can contain as much fluoride as 6 gallons of fluoridated water.
I’m comfortable challenging this conclusion in that the article only addressed the worst of all possible scenarios and did not include available data on organic tea. I’d like to provide some balance by providing you with a simple layout of the Orawellness data contrasted with a best case scenario using data on fluoride in organic tea published by the Weston A. Price Foundation.
In summary, the worst-case scenario of 200 mg of fluoride per gallon of kombucha estimated by OraWellness translates to 25 mg of fluoride per 16 oz serving. While this is indeed high, two other sources measured significantly less even when commercial tea was used.
The Weston A. Price Foundation measured an even smaller amount of fluoride when organic black tea was used to brew the kombucha.
So does a 16 oz serving of kombucha contain as much fluoride as 6 gallons of fluoridated water?
No, not if organic black tea is used.
And, if organic white tea is used, the already low levels of fluoride are reduced even further as white tea is made up of the buds and very young leaves of the tea plant and contain less fluoride than even organic green or black tea.
How to Drink Kombucha Safely
The Fluoride Action Network says that the ideal goal of consuming tea safely without excessive levels of fluoride is an attainable objective.
The key is for consumers who drink tea and fermented teas like kombucha to be aware of how to source and brew these healthful beverages. This is not such a different task than learning to source quality meats, vegetables or dairy.
Ultimately, enjoyment of the many anti-oxidant, enzymatic, and probiotic properties of fermented kombucha tea is the goal. At the same time, minimizing excessive fluoride exposure is very important.
With that in mind, here are 10 ways to brew your kombucha and drink it too.
10 Ways to Avoid Fluoride in Kombucha
- Source high-quality organic tea. It is important to avoid commercial tea grown with the use of pesticides, herbicides and commercial fertilizers that contain potentially high levels of toxic fluoride from industrial waste sources. Tea grown organically will only take up natural fluoride present in the soil which will be at much lower levels. Traditional cultures have consumed tea and kombucha grown in organic soil where the natural fluoride is in balance with other minerals for hundreds of years safely and with no ill-effect.
- Consider using mostly organic white tea. Older tea leaves not only contain fewer anti-oxidants but they also contain up to 20X more fluoride! Making kombucha with higher quality, young tea leaves will boost the health effects of the fermented tea while also minimizing fluoride. White tea is made with the leaves and buds of the tea plant and would be the highest quality of all and also lowest in fluoride. In my experience, approximately 20% of the tea used to make kombucha needs to be black tea to achieve optimal fermentation, so using a small amount of high quality organic black tea with the rest organic white tea and filtered water would be a very low fluoride strategy. Click here for the brand I use.
- Check the country of origin where your tea was grown. The World Health Organization lists areas of the world where the groundwater is naturally high in fluoride such that it affects the fluoride levels of crops. These areas include large parts of Africa, China, the Middle East and southern Asia (India, Sri Lanka). If you aren’t sure of the source of your tea, call the company and ask and only buy from areas where the tea is not grown in a known fluoride belt.
- Steep your tea water no longer than 10 minutes. Longer steeping times appear to increase the fluoride content of the tea water. The minimum time for steeping is 5-10 minutes in my experience, so set the timer and remove the tea from the tea water immediately when time is up.
- Avoid bottled kombucha from the store. There is no way to know if commercial kombucha is made with high quality, young tea leaves or not. Most likely it was not as older tea leaves are cheaper than young ones. In addition, it is unknown how long the tea was steeped in the sugar water. As a result, it is best to make your own kombucha where you can control the quality and reserve the bottled kombucha for an infrequent occasion. In fact, I have reviewed lab results for one of the most popular kombucha brands on the market (tested by a blog subscriber who sent me the results) and it was off the charts high in fluoride. I contacted the company and got no response in return! Best to avoid commercial kombucha in my opinion.
- Use only nonfluoridated water for making kombucha. This recommendation goes without saying, but I have come across people who make kombucha with tap water that is filtered with a device that does not remove fluoride, so it bears mentioning.
- Make kombucha with other herbal teas: Yerba maté and rooibos (red tea) both make excellent kombucha according to Hannah Crum of Kombucha Kamp. Neither of these herbs have high fluoride uptake.
- Maximize fermentation time. Ferment your kombucha as long as possible as it seems likely from early test results that the fermentation process itself removes some of the fluoride from the tea. The suggested time for fermentation is 7-10 days under home temperatures between 65-80F, so opt for a longer fermentation time rather than a shorter cycle. Longer fermentation results in a stronger drink, but you can dilute with a bit of filtered water or bubbly spring water if necessary to cut the taste.
- Drink kombucha in moderation. Drinking kombucha with abandon is not a good idea. I personally do not allow my children to drink more than 4-8 oz per day. I myself do not drink more than 12-16 oz per day. Even healthy beverages should not be consumed to excess. Addiction to any food or drink even a beneficial one that has been consumed for generations by traditional cultures is not a healthful practice. Also, remember that fluorosis from tea has only been found in excessive tea drinkers, with bottled and instant the absolute worst likely because old, low quality, commercial tea leaves were used.
- Learn to make other fermented beverages. Kombucha is not the only game in town when it comes to fermented beverages. Water kefir, beet kvass, fermented lemonade, switchel, orangina, root beer, and ginger ale are just a few of the others. Learn to make other healthful beverages that your family will enjoy and then you won’t be dependent on just drinking kombucha for the probiotic and enzymatic benefits it confers.
I will stay abreast of any further testing on the amount of fluoride in kombucha and various types of tea as it becomes available. For now, I consider home-brewed kombucha made with organic tea to be an extremely safe beverage. The benefits of kombucha far outweigh any risks from fluoride provided proper precautions are taken to source high-quality tea and brew it properly.
References
(1) Why We Don’t Drink Kombucha
(2) Water Sanitation and Health
(3) Fluoride Content in Black Tea, White Tea, Oolong and Green Tea
(4) Top Ten Sources of Fluoride
(5) The Phosphate Fertilizer Industry: An Environmental Overview
(6) Kvass and Kombucha
(7) Toxic Fluoride
(8) Fertilizer abstracts
(9) EPA Questions and Answers about Fluoride
More Information
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Does Kombucha Prevent Grey Hair?
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Thank you so much Sarah for your careful research into this matter. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!!!!
THANK YOU for this – I was getting concerned!!
thank you! does this fluoride uptake happen in spices too? or just green and black tea.
I was waiting for your rebuttal on that one……Thanks!
Jessica Ealson pls read this
OH, just stop eating and drinking anything.. really.. is anything safe? Make sure your article says to just stop drinking tea altogether.. and heaven forbid you actually eat food of any kind.. it’s all tainted.. don’t breath the air either.. it’s contaminated too..
Mr. Hoess did not read the article.
Would u mind telling us what brand of organic tea you personally use?
Thank u!
Sure. Here’s the link to the organic tea I am currently using for kombucha making and am very happy with. http://amzn.to/1cNChqt
Do you use just white tea now or is there a black tea link you can share as well? I noticed in the last few days just how much the kombucha was helping me. My allergies are back with a vengence! I’m not sleeping as well and my energy levels are down.
I am going to brew a batch today!
Yes, you can get organic black tea as well. Here’s what I use:
Use organic tea. Why wouldn’t you use organic anyway?
Michael- They aren’t telling you to stop doing anything. They’re giving people the information so they can make an educated decision on what they do and don’t want to put into their body. Don’t like the information their giving you? Don’t read it or take it to heart! Still wanna drink your tea? Good, drink it! Nobody’s stopping you.
My thing is, every so often somebody comes out with something like, “don’t eat the yolks in eggs – they’re high in cholesterol. Don’t eat fish – they have mercury” and then we find out that the cholesterol in the egg is not harmful and the selenium in the fish detoxes you of the mercury.It would not surprise me if we hear of some study finding out something good about the fluoride in tea. My point is, people have consumed kombucha and teas for hundreds of years with good results.Trust traditional foods. Believe that the fruits of the earth are good. Buy organic tea…and stop worrying.
Yes, people have been drinking tea for centuries, and also eating beef and fish, but the earth is not the same as it was centuries ago. There are toxins in the air, the ground and the sea, so you can’t compare yesterday with today. However, you can strive to avoid toxins or take things that can cleanse your body. Take chorella supplements before eating fish. Look into apple pectin to pull out toxins. Brush your skin. Sit in a dry sauna. Take organic sulfur flakes. I’d rather do this than get sick.
Fluoride is a poison, there will never be anything good about it. I believe it caused my thyroid problem which went untreated for many years. You just don’t know how that alone affected my life, robbing me of energy so I could not do simple things like clean house and wondered what was wrong with me. It could also be the cause of my infertility and I have no children because of that. I know someone that had their horses die because of fluoride in the water. No, there is no good about it, no how no way. Fluoride played a huge very negative role in my life and countless others.
Thank you so much for this! I was hoping you would touch on this subject.
Thanks for this, Sarah. I’d really be interested in how much increase in fluoride there is with long steeping of organic teas. I usually leave my tea in the brew until it cools. The levels are so low that it’s hard to believe steeping it longer would make a major difference.
There are two types of fluoride: naturally occurring in tea is calcium fluoride and in drinking water and fertilizers is potassium fluoride. Calcium fluoride doesn’t dissolve in water very well, while potassium fluoride dissolves and becomes highly reactive.
The two main forms of fluoride found in liquid tea are free fluoride ions and aluminium fluoride complexes. The fluoride compounds used for artificial water fluoridation are hexafluorosilicic acid, sodium hexafluorosilicate, and sodium fluoride. All three are highly water soluble.
Adding calcium in the kombucha brew should help render most of those free fluoride ions.
You’d have to add a lot of calcium to bind all of the fluoride ions. Seawater has high concentrations of calcium and magnesium, but even so about half of the fluoride in seawater is in the form of free fluoride ions. Also, up to half of ingested calcium fluoride is broken down by stomach acid, with almost complete absorption of the resulting free fluoride ions, mostly after binding with hydrogen.
That’s what I was thinking, Malgorzata! I had learned this somewhere but am having a hard time finding sources.
thank you for this information! I will lean more on the other fermented beverages, and use more white tea. I really enjoy ginger beer/ale
Believe me Michael…we are trying as best as we can to NOT consume the contaminated stuff, but our government makes it difficult when it keeps dumping toxic carcinogenic fluoride in our drinking water in the name of dental health. Nothing is 100% safe, but we try to avoid the bad stuff as much as we can. Sites such as this keeps us well informed in making our choices for our health and our children’s health. So if this irritates you, then go right ahead and eat and drink whatever you want.
Oh my goodness……doesn’t this all get so exhausting? I too have been concerned about this news since I received the email from ora-wellness. I am 5 months into booch brewing and I absolutely love it. So to read that it now may not be as safe as we thought frustrates the crap out of me.
I don’t know if I simply subscribe to too many blogs or what, but every week I feel like I learn that something I thought was good is no longer good. No,this is not a dig at Sarah. She is an amazing source of info. I am simply speaking in general. Eat carbs, don’t eat carbs, eat this but don’t eat that. The following week we will learn that is wrong too; we should be eating that over there.
Its tiring! Not that I would ever go back to eating the way I used to, but I do have to admit I miss the “ignorance is bliss” part of eating like that. I had no idea I was eating crap and I was so happy. Now I switch to real food and its, dont eat peanut butter, its filled with mold. Don’t eat fruit, too much sugar. Nope, this week that’s wrong, eat plenty of fruit. Don’t eat carbs, do eat carbs. Its all so stressful! Now they want to mess with my booch, too???
I think I’ll go sit in the corner and sulk. This is all too frustratingly annoying!
“Like” “Agree” It’s exhausting, sometimes.
Agreed! (Although, I am still thankful to Sarah for the service she provides to us all.)
I found myself with the same frustration. I decided that I am going to do my best and not let worry take over. Sometimes this means not letting myself read too much or get “too educated” because I can get way too wrapped up in what is right. That’s all you can do. Also, I don’t think that we give genetics and stress enough credit in how it affects health. Simply said, I think there is fuller picture of all that affects our health. Ultimately, we have influence over our health but we don’t have control. If we fool ourselves into thinking we have control, we will lose our minds and be filled with guilt when something goes wrong. Peace of mind will take you far!
While it IS frustrating to learn that past main stream information isn’t as truthful as it should be, the alternative of being miss-educated or uniformed would be much worse. I am very thankful for people like myself who research, research, research in order to find out these things, as well as, just who is benefiting from this kind of incorrect information floating around. I think that roughly 100% of the time the hidden factor is money and the profit from keeping an entire population in the dark in regards to preventative health is substantial.
So, while it is extremely irritating I believe we should point that accusatory energy not at those doing the research, but those avidly concealing the truthful information from the public in the first place.
Great article!
Thank you for your timely post. I saw the articles posted against kombucha and I was troubled. Now, I am not.
Thanks so much for the post. Since I read this I have been on my co-op page and Amazon looking for an organic white tea. But I’m having a hard time figuring out where they are grown. And then so many of them our from China. Would you care to share what brand you like to use? Thanks for all the great information!
Hi Sarah-
I follow the 1/2 black, 1/2 green tea instructions explained in your video. Do I replace the black with white? Replace the green with white? Use only white?
Thanks for the info.!
Blessings,
Mary