Which drinks support healthy digestion?
Written by
Stella Nilsson
Reviewed by
Prof. Benjamin Murphy, Ph.D.Making good choices when selecting drinks is important because they will impact your digestive comfort. Drinks can either soothe or irritate your gut lining; this is key for many people who are unaware that part of their bloating is caused by the drinks they consume. Knowing what constitutes a digestive-friendly drink is one way to prevent discomfort.
Herbal teas can provide potent digestive support. Peppermint soothes the stomach, helping to relax stomach muscles and ease cramping. Ginger helps to speed gastric emptying and prevent nausea. Chamomile contains apigenin, which calms inflamed intestines. These choices do not contain caffeine and generally offer therapeutic relief without side effects.
Hydration Heroes
- Plain water: 30-35mL per kg body weight daily
- Infused water: Add cucumber or lemon slices
- Coconut water: Natural electrolytes without added sugar
- Avoid ice-cold drinks which shock the digestive system
Probiotic Powerhouses
- Unsweetened kombucha: Choose low-sugar varieties
- Kefir: More potent than yogurt with diverse strains
- Fermented vegetable juices: Like beet kvass
- Consume consistently for 4+ weeks to colonize gut
Therapeutic Teas
- Peppermint: Drink after meals for muscle relaxation
- Ginger: Sip before meals to stimulate enzyme production
- Fennel: Reduces gas and bloating effectively
- Brew for 7+ minutes to extract maximum benefits
Limit sweetened drinks such as soda and processed juices. Sugar nourishes bad bacteria, causing dysbiosis. Artificial sweeteners create an imbalance in the microbiome. Alcohol increases acid production, harming the gut membrane. These drinks counteract efforts to improve digestive health.
Effective for maximizing the benefits of proper hydration techniques: drink throughout the day, always sip your beverage rather chugging large amounts, and the temperature of liquids matters, warm, more than cold, promotes digestion. Do not drink any liquids 30 minutes before meals to allow saliva and enzymes to do their job in the mouth and stomach.
Formulate uncomplicated processes, such as drinking warm lemon water upon waking. Replace the drinks that are causing you issues one at a time. Your gut will hug you for it with better feelings and consistency. Mindfully changing your liquid to support gut health and digestive health happens one sip at a time.
Read the full article: 10 Simple Ways How Improve Digestion Naturally
