Ginger Tea for Bad Gas, Stomach Bloating and Better Digestion
Ginger is a popular medicinal herb and cooking spice used throughout the world with many beneficial properties.
The plant is known as Zingiber officinale and its aromatic and pungent rhizome has been used as a natural remedy for centuries.
Eating the fresh root, or drinking tea made from the herb, is particularly helpful for digestive problems, like abdominal pain, bloating and excessive gassiness.
Ahead is how to use ginger tea to improve your digestion, prevent belly bloat, clear trapped intestinal gas and relieve flatulence problems.
Ginger Root Tea for Better Digestion
Tea made from ginger is one of the best herbal remedies for improving digestive function and preventing heartburn, stomach ache and indigestion after eating.
Fresh ginger in your meal, or ideally made into a strong tea, stimulates saliva, bile and gastric juice production to begin the proper breaking down and assimilation of the food you eat.
Scientific studies showed ginger consumption lead to “a significant increase in gastrointestinal motility” and it “possesses carminative effects, decreases pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, reduces intestinal cramping, and prevents dyspepsia, flatulence and bloating”.
Phenolic compounds in the herb, like gingerol, shogaol, zingerone and various other volatile oils, are primarily responsible for its beneficial effect on your digestive system.
These substances accumulate in your gastrointestinal tract and exert their positive effects during digestion. Given this, the ideal time to drink ginger tea would be just before or during a big meal.
It’s a far better choice than coffee, which hampers the digestive process and increases your risk of GERD, bloating, intestinal cramps and flatulence.
Natural Cure for Bloating
By improving digestion, ginger tea will naturally reduce the amount of excess stomach gas resulting from a poorly digested meal. But can it have a positive effect if you already have a problem with bloating?
Belly bloat and abdominal cramps are usually caused by tension, spasms and contractions in your gastrointestinal tract as it reacts to something you’ve eaten or had to drink.
Research studies show ginger root has spasmolytic effects and smooth muscle relaxing properties that assist in releasing gases and digesting food trapped in constricted intestines.
By gently relieving abdominal contractions, ginger tea can be a beneficial natural cure for bloating, stomach cramps and even constipation.
Tea made from ginger rhizome is also anti-inflammatory and combats belly bloat, abdominal pain and cramps due to intestinal irritation and inflammation.
Helps Stop Excessive Flatulence and Smelly Gas
Drinking ginger tea is also a good preventative against both gassiness and those really smelly farts all of us want to avoid in social situations.
By improving digestive function throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract, there is much less chance of undigested protein getting stuck in the colon. This stops it putrefying into hydrogen sulfide and other noxious compounds that make such bad smelling farts.
If you are experiencing rotten egg gas frequently then try drinking strong ginger tea. For best results have it just before or during main meals, especially ones high in protein.
Farting too much can also be caused by a very common sensitivity to lactose in dairy. Herbal teas like ginger and fennel are less useful here but this article on why milk causes gas has something that can help.
Otherwise healthy vegetables, such these 10 prime suspects, can also be behind of excessive flatulence, as can these flatulence causing fruits.
When to Drink It for Best Results
While you can use ginger root tea as an emergency herbal remedy for stomach bloat, bad gas and other tummy troubles, it’s more effective when taken as a preventative before a meal.
If you are going to have a big lunch or dinner with lots of protein, cruciferous vegetables, beans or dairy products that cause gas, then try drinking a strong cup of ginger tea before you start eating.
This soothes your gastrointestinal tract, enhances digestion and helps prevent stomach acidity, bloating and flatulence in the hours that follow. There’s detailed instructions on how to make ginger tea at home here.
Some resources suggest drinking ginger herbal tea before bed. This may be helpful if digestive problems are keeping you awake, though it can be a little energizing so before a meal is usually much better.
What Is Ginger Tea Good For?
I hope this look into the gas-relieving properties and digestive benefits of ginger tea has encouraged you to give it a try or enjoy it more often. It tastes great and works when you need it to.
Fennel tea is another effective alternative, particularly when you’re very gassy and bloated. Though for improving digestion and soothing an upset stomach, ginger tea is hard to beat.