Sip on these tummy-loving beverages and beat the bloat
One of the most common health complaints are digestive issues. From constipation to flatulence, it’s no fun. But sometimes a natural remedy is only a cup away, so Fit has rounded up 4 of nature’s superstar drinks that help digestion.
Lemon Water
You can’t get a tip easier than this. Simply squeezing lemon juice into your water is delicious and a great help for the digestive system.
Sipping lemon water aids in digestion as the atomic composition of the beverage is similar to saliva and the hydrochloric acid found in our digestive juices. It also helps break down bile and prevent excess bile in the body, assisting the liver. This is particularly helpful for those healing from digestive illnesses as when the body struggles with digestion and processing our food a large burden is placed on the liver, so it may need an extra kick to get going. So when life gives you lemons, grab one and get squeezing!
Peppermint Tea
No list of natural digestive aids would be complete without peppermint tea. Peppermint is highly soothing to the digestive tract, with the active ingredient menthol having anti-spasmodic effects.
You can enjoy peppermint tea brewed as a comforting hot drink or chilled to be a refreshing cool beverage, in order to get the benefits. It can help settle an upset stomach, ease nausea, relieve stress (which in turn effects your digestive system), help excessive gas in the GI tract and stimulate digestion.
If you suffer from Coeliac Disease or gluten intolerance and accidentally get some gluten into your system, having a pot full of peppermint tea may help to ease your symptoms and reduce recovery time.
Liquid Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a deep green power food that ranks highly on the tummy love hit list. For general health it is awesome, aiding the building of healthy red blood cells (it has an almost identical structure to haemoglobin), delivering magnesium to help keep our bodies alkaline, cleansing the liver and reducing inflammation.
More specifically for the digestive system, chlorophyll helps break down gas, which often accumulates and causes discomfort if you have gut problems or poor digestion. A general recommendation is to take 2-3 teaspoons of a liquid concentrate mixed into a small glass of purified water and sip throughout the day.
Aloe Vera
All hail the aloe vera plant! Yes it is an incredible antidote for sunburn, but when the juice is taken orally is has the same anti-inflammatory effects on the gut, functioning as a digestive healer.
It soothes internal inflammation and helps heal the GI tract from the inside. It is also a natural aid in relieving constipation. Take a serving (usually about 50ml) daily, best on an empty stomach. You can shot it straight or pop it in some water, green juice, a smoothie or with your chlorophyll drink.