This drink will help support gut health
Gas, abdominal bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and other stomach problems are common complaints for many people. While dietary changes can eliminate many of these symptoms, a simple cup of tea can work wonders. Real Simple found out from herbalist Rosalie de la Foret which herbal tea is best for digestion and the gut.
Which tea is best for digestion
“If I had to choose just one herb to support digestion, it would be chamomile,” explained de la Foret. “This delicate flower is a powerful gut helper.” Chamomile has a multitude of health benefits.
“Firstly, chamomile can stimulate the body’s natural digestive processes due to its slightly bitter flavour,” says the herbalist.
But it also calms the nervous system, helping us move from a stressful “fight or flight” mode to a calmer state. A 2019 study found that this herb is so effective at calming the nervous system that it helps with stress and sleep problems – which is why many people drink chamomile tea before bed.
Chamomile is also a champion for gut health thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, as shown in this 2022 review.
“This makes it a good choice for people with sensitive or reactive digestion – abdominal bloating, gas or discomfort after eating,” says de la Foret.
As an anti-inflammatory, chamomile is also good for boosting your overall immune system.
What tea is good for the intestines
Melissa
“Lemon melissa is a wonderfully invigorating and calming herb,” says de la Foret. “It is often used to relieve anxiety and tension, which many of us know can affect bowel function. It also gently stimulates digestion, increasing appetite and relieving lethargy after a meal.”
A 2022 review states that a number of plant compounds found in melissa have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that help support the gastrointestinal tract.
Ginger tea
“It’s warm and spicy, which helps stoke the digestive fire – especially helpful for people who tend to feel cold, heavy or experience signs of sluggish digestion such as abdominal bloating, gas or undigested food in the stool,” the herbalist explained.
And ginger’s ability to soothe nausea has been repeatedly confirmed by studies in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Fennel
“It is particularly good for relieving gas and abdominal bloating, and has a sweet, slightly liquorice-like flavour,” says de la Foret. “Fennel is particularly useful for those who feel tightness or abdominal cramps – its action is both soothing and gently stimulating.”
One study even found that it helps improve bowel motility in post-operative patients.
Bitters
“Just a sip or bite of something bitter before a meal can signal the entire digestive tract to get ready to go to work – from increasing saliva to triggering the production of stomach acid and bile and encouraging healthy bowel movements,” she says. “You can drink them as teas, tinctures, vinegar extracts or even add bitter greens to your plate. It’s a small change that can have a big impact on how you feel after a meal.”
In addition to bitter greens such as arugula, dandelion, endive and radicchio, cranberries, citrus peels, vinegars and grapefruit meet these criteria.
