After a long day or at the start of your morning, a cup of tea can really warm your insides and soothe your soul. This may be because of the many health benefits that tea can provide. Certain teas like green or turmeric tea contain inflammation-fighting antioxidants. On the other hand, there are a number of teas that work to improve digestive health. Let’s take a look at these gut-friendly teas and what they can do for your health.
What is tea?
Not every tea is created equal. This is because the only actual “teas” are those that are brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. These official teas are black, white, and green teas. Any other teas are considered herbal concoctions brewed from the flowers, roots, bark, and seeds of other plants.
That doesn’t mean that herbal “teas” are lacking in health benefits though. For example, chamomile tea is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties that stem from its flavonoid content. It has also been used to help those with the common cold and to help with sleep and relaxation. This tea however, is considered high FODMAP so should be avoided by those on a low FODMAP regimen.
Teas for gut health
There are a number of teas that work to help keep the gut healthy. Here is a short list of some of those teas that can help improve digestion.
- Peppermint tea: Peppermint tea is not only delicious, but research shows it may also help those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It does this by relieving inflammatory pain. One type of peppermint tea is peppermint boldo tea from Casa de Sante which can help with gas and bloating.
- Ginger tea: Ginger tea is often used to alleviate nausea. It has also been shown to help with gas and bloating.
- Turmeric tea: Turmeric tea is made from the golden spice turmeric that holds potent anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been shown to help with belly pain and bloating.
- Gyokuro green tea: This tea contains a large number of catechin antioxidants, which helps stimulate production of digestive juices in the gut. This in turn helps you better digest food and absorb nutrients from the food you eat.
Oolong tea also holds antiseptic properties that can help prevent the growth of bad bacteria in the gut. However, oolong tea is considered a high FODMAP tea option. Read below for more information on teas that are safe on the low FODMAP diet regimen.
Teas and FODMAPs
According to Monash University, the following teas are safe on the low FODMAP diet in a 250 milliliter or 8 ounce serving size.
- Black tea leaves/bag, weak
- Chai tea, weak
- Dandelion tea, weak
- Green tea, strong
- Herbal tea, weak (fruit-based with chicory root)
- Peppermint tea, strong
- White tea leaves/bag, strong
To brew a weak tea, just add the tea leaves or bag enough to add color to the water. The average tea will need to steep from about 1-3 minutes for white, green, black, and oolong teas, up to 5 to 7 minutes for herbal tea blends. Steeping for longer periods of time will not necessarily made the tea stronger, but will only make your tea taste bitter. Therefore, you can make stronger tea by adding another tea bag or more tea leaves.
Take home message
A hot cup of tea can help start or end the day on a warm and cozy note. And the health benefits don’t stop there. Certain herbal tea blends can help the gut stay healthy by reducing inflammation and in turn reducing symptoms like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea as well as nausea. Therefore, stock up on some gut-friendly teas today to keep your gut feeling its best.
