Drinking tea for digestion is a popular practice in many parts of the world, particularly by people who prefer natural remedies for common conditions.
Tea and Digestion
Digestion is the process by which we absorb and metabolize food that we consume, but it can be a delicate process, one that is interrupted by shifts in metabolism, hormones, and dietary intake. Our other lifestyle habits and pre-existing conditions can also affect the efficacy of our digestive system. Improving digestive efficiency can mean that more nutrients are bioavailable, in addition to eliminating symptoms of constipation, bloating, cramping, hemorrhoids, excess flatulence, nutrient deficiency, and diarrhea.
While there are many pharmaceutical solutions for poor digestion, these can often have other unwanted side effects. As a result, natural solutions like tea, which have a minimum of negative side effects, are becoming more popular as a solution for digestive issues. [1]
Did you know that there are around seven major types of teas? Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Best Tea for Digestion
The best tea for digestion includes the following:
Let us discuss them in detail below.
Ginger Tea
With a huge amount of antioxidants, including the active ingredient gingerol, this herbal tea is able to soothe any discomfort or excess acidity in the stomach, helping to improve digestive efficiency and easing the passage of bowel movements, thus eliminating problems with constipation and bloating. [2]
Chai Tea
Due to the presence of certain spices in chai tea, including peppermint, cloves, and ginger, among others, this tea is able to increase digestive speed and increase metabolism of food. There are also anti-inflammatory properties in many of these spices, which can reduce gut inflammation and balance the bacterial environment in the gut. [3]
Green Tea
This tea variety has a high level of catechins, which can increase the production and activity of pepsin, a digestive enzyme that can aid in the breakdown of proteins in the food we eat. This can increase the bioavailability of amino acids, which are the building blocks for many compounds in our system. [4]
Chamomile Tea
This tea is recommended all over the world for its effects on excess flatulence and indigestion. It is a sedative tea, which can relax the stomach muscles, which are often tensed and locked up, resulting in the symptoms of stomach upset and constipation. [5]
Senna Tea
Known as an effective laxative, senna tea is often consumed if you are unable to pass hard or obstructed stool. It can relax the digestive muscles and promote the smooth passage of bowel movements, helping improve overall gut health. [6]
Turmeric Tea
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, and this antioxidant is responsible for alkalizing the gut, and thus reducing the effects of acid reflux disease and other problems that can cause inflammation in your gastrointestinal system. [7]
Peppermint Tea
By increasing the release of bile and other digestive juices in the body, peppermint tea can help ease the passage of food through the small intestines, reducing symptoms of constipation. The natural anti-inflammatory nature of this tea is also good for excess acidity in the gut. [8]
