How Does Green Tea Help with Bloating? 6 Amazing Benefits

We’ve all had those days when our stomach was unwilling to agree with us. Yes, we’re talking about bloating¹. The abdominal discomfort it causes, add to it the continuous burping, and top it off with the stomach pain, yes we’ve all hit that ceiling.

If you’ve had that moment when you’re ready to try just about anything to relieve bloating and gas, here’s something to your rescue: green tea.

Does green tea help with bloating? That’s a good question to start with. I know most people tend to be sceptical when they hear the words ‘green tea’ because it seems to be the solution to almost anything.

Well, hear us out on this one because this could be just the remedy you’re looking for to get rid of your bloating issues.²

How does green tea help with bloating? For starters, green tea contains a high amount of catechins and antioxidants which helps alleviate bloating and stomach issues.

Before we dive into the specifics of how green tea helps with bloating, let us first understand what is bloating and what causes bloating.

1. What Is Bloating?

So what does it feel like to have a bloated stomach? How do you know if you are bloated? Well in simple terms, bloating is the condition where your stomach feels full, tight, and swollen due to gas.

It takes place when your gastrointestinal tract, or simply the GI tract, is filled with gas.

It is accompanied by abdominal pain and discomfort. It is also common to burp frequently and have abdominal rumbling.³

2. What Causes Bloating?

Bloating doesn’t necessarily have to do with eating a full meal. One in ten Americans suffer from bloating daily even without eating a large meal.

A common cause of stomach bloating⁴ and gas is constipation. The longer the stool remains in the colon, the longer the time bacteria have to ferment it, producing more gas and more bloating.

People with irritable bowel syndrome tend to be very sensitive to gas and are more prone to bloating.

Consuming food that is difficult to digest can also lead to gassiness and bloating. So it is important to keep a note of the food that you are consuming.

Other causes include heartburn, giardiasis, eating disorders, food intolerance, and even mental health factors such as anxiety, stress, and depression.

3. Does Green Tea Help with Bloating?

As though green tea does not have a long list of benefits, here we have yet another benefit of drinking green tea, i.e., as a relief for bloating.

We already know green tea as a miracle drink for the myriad of health and skin benefits it provides. In particular, its aid in digestion is a major factor in alleviating bloating and its effects.

It is however important to note that iced green tea does not help with bloating as ice is known to cause spasms in the digestive tract which makes the body put too much energy into digestion.

So stick to a warm cup of green tea if you want to reap its benefit of reducing bloating. It is anti-inflammatory and it won’t increase gas as do some caffeinated drinks.

Along with knowing how green tea helps with bloating, it is also important to know the right amount of green tea to consume and the best time to consume it for the best results.

4. Ways Green Tea Helps with Bloating?

So we already know that green tea helps with bloating, now the real question is how does green tea help with bloating?

There are several ways in which green tea alleviates bloating. It particularly eases the digestion process and helps to clear out the gut which results in providing relief from bloating.

Here’s more on how green tea helps with bloating.

4.1. Aids in Digestion

Green tea is known for its medicinal properties which help to aid digestion and improve the digestive system leading to an effective breakdown of food.

This happens because green tea catechins increase the activity of the digestive enzyme called pepsin which makes our digestive system work more effectively.

As we know constipation is a common cause of bloating, maintaining an effective digestion process will help prevent constipation and bloating.

4.2. Reduces Inflammation

Although bloating and gas doesn’t seem like a very serious problem, if you are suffering from it frequently it could mean that there is some inflammation in the gut.

Digestive issues, bloating and gas could be indications of some problems in the digestive tract or that maybe the food that is being consumed is causing inflammation.

Green tea is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Hence green tea reduces inflammation in the gut which in turn reduces the process of building up gas.

It is also a simple and natural method to prevent gastrointestinal disorders.⁵

Although green tea does provide its benefits, it is always advisable to pay a visit to the doctor in cases of chronic inflammation to address the root of the problem.

4.3. Stress Relief

Stress, anxiety, and bloating go hand in hand, with one leading to the other. There is a pathway between the brain and the digestive system. This is why we often feel churning in the gut when we are stressed or nervous.

When we are under stress, it signals the brain to release a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol has many negative impacts on the gut which leads to bloating.

Moreover, when we are stressed or have feelings of anxiety, our heart rate is increased and we enter a state of ‘Fight or Flight’ response in order to escape the perceived threat.

This leads to the body shutting down all non-essential processes for survival in the body which means there is reduced blood flow to these systems.

The digestive system also falls under the non-essential processes which affect bowel mobility and result in bacterial imbalances in the gut, leading to bloating.

Hence if you’re wondering in what manner green tea helps with bloating, green tea supports the gut process by relieving stress due to its caffeine and theanine content.

In this way, it reduces the pressure put in the stomach due to stress and helps to prevent the slowing down of the digestive system.

4.4. Active Ingredients

Many of the natural nutrients are preserved in green tea as compared to black tea as green tea is less oxidized. The more the oxidation process, the higher the amount of natural nutrients lost.

Green tea is an antioxidant powerhouse and its combination with polyphenols present in green tea greatly improves digestion and in turn, helps to eliminate gas.

It also contains catechins which help to relieve the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract and help to get rid of the gas that is built up in the intestines.

4.5. Green Tea Promotes Healthy Bacteria

Although green tea doesn’t itself produce any bacteria, it boosts the healthy bacteria in the intestines which helps to improve digestion. This enables the digestive system to easily digest those foods that are difficult to digest.

Apart from green tea, other teas such as black tea and Oolong tea, from the family of Camellia Sinensis, also show this property of boosting the good bacteria in the intestine to aid in digestion.

4.6. A Natural Laxative

Green tea contains caffeine and for a lot of people, it stimulates and increases bowel movements, especially in the morning.

Although that seems like a good idea, it is advisable not to drink green tea first thing in the morning on an empty stomach as for some people it can cause nausea and sickness.

It is always advisable to drink green tea mid-morning or between meals, about an hour before or after a meal. It is also important to note that about 2-3 cups of green tea a day is recommended for best results.

5. Can Green Tea Cause Bloating?

There are instances where green tea causes bloating instead of alleviating it. This however is a result of drinking without boundaries. So if you are doing this, you need to do it right.

5.1. Drinking Too Much Green Tea

More often, drinking more than 3 cups of green tea results in building up acid in the stomach. This leads to acid reflux and bloating. Hence it is important to keep a good few hours of break in between cups of green tea to prevent bloating.

Drinking excess green tea also reduces the absorption of minerals into the body as tannins present in green tea tend to bind with minerals and prevent their absorption.

5.2. Adding Sugar to Green Tea

Green tea can be a little bitter for most people. Although adding sugar seems like the obvious thing to do, you might want to think again.

Sugar is rather difficult to digest by our bodies, especially processed and refined sugars. Fructose and sorbitol are common sugars that are present in a lot of processed food.

They tend to cause gastrointestinal distress which leads to bloating. Hence adding sugar to green tea will hinder the benefits of green tea on the gut and will only be counterproductive.

5.3. Adding Milk to Green Tea

Adding milk to green tea may seem unusual but some people do prefer it. However, adding milk to green tea can negate the benefits that catechins, present in green tea, have in reducing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and also in reducing gas.

So it is advisable to drink warm green tea without milk to reduce bloating.

6. Other Varieties of Tea That Reduce Bloating

Apart from knowing how green tea helps with bloating, it is also interesting to know that there is a huge variety of herbal teas that help to reduce gas and bloating. Here’s a list of some of the herbal teas as an alternative to relieve bloating.

6.1. Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is an herbal tea that has been served as a natural remedy for a long time for treating irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders.

Like green tea, it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe any stomach discomfort that can cause bloating.

Peppermint tea has also been found to reduce pain due to bloating and cramps.

6.2. Fennel Tea

Fennel tea⁶ has a flavour that is quite similar to liquorice root and is brimming with antioxidants. It has anti-inflammatory properties and hence can subdue digestive problems like bloating.

A study showed that fennel seeds and oil have been approved to be used as a treatment for stomach bloating, flatulence, and indigestion.

6.3. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea ⁷is prepared by simply steeping its flowers in hot water and is highly renowned for its ability to induce sleep, but little did we know that it also has nutrients that are known to ease the stomach muscles.

It is also known to tackle the negative effects of lactose to reduce bloating.

Furthermore, it possesses therapeutic properties as it gives a natural calming effect. This helps to improve mood and reduce stress which is important for the proper functioning of the digestive system to prevent bloating.

6.4. Ginger Tea

Ginger tea is made from the roots of the ginger plant and has widely been used as a home remedy for nausea and stomach issues.

It is a natural diuretic just like green tea and has good effects on gastric health which helps to get rid of bloating.

Ginger tea has been found to help eliminate the digestive tract more quickly as well as efficiently and hence reduces the feeling of a stuffed stomach due to bloating.

6.5. Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea is a good alternative if bitter tea is not your forte. It is prepared by infusing hibiscus petals in boiling water.

It is also free from caffeine and has a sweet and tart cranberry-like taste. Hibiscus tea is known to reduce water retention which in turn reduces bloating.

It also contains flavonoids that are responsible for regulating a hormone called aldosterone. This hormone helps in balancing water intake and electrolyte levels which are important to take care of bloating.

7. Final Note

Green tea is indeed one of nature’s best gifts because of its long list of benefits. The list is still incomplete as more studies are being conducted and much more is yet to be discovered.

Now that you know all about how green tea helps with bloating, look no further but instead join the crew of green tea enthusiasts and beat the bloat with a cup of warm green tea.

Read more from us here.

8. FAQs

Q1. What Kind of Tea Helps With Bloating?

Peppermint tea and peppermint have long been used to soothe digestive problems. This is one of the best teas for bloating due to its high concentration of flavonoids. Simply put, flavonoids help calm the bacteria in your digestive system that often cause high levels of gas and bloating.

Q2. Does Green Tea Help With Bloating and Constipation?

Yes, green tea helps in treating nausea, diarrhoea and constipation.

Q3. How Do I Release Gas From My Stomach?

Exercise, walking or doing yoga poses can help to release gas from the stomach.

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Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by ayeshayusuf