A "digestif" or a post-dinner beverage is something that spans cultures. It can extend a special meal, leading to more time with friends and family. One gastroenterologist dishes that a digestif can also literally help you digest your food, as the name may imply. "After a large meal, someone may experience bloating, sluggishness or indigestion [and want a] way to stimulate digestion and ease discomfort," sharesDr. Aditi Stanton, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist with Gastro Health. "A post-meal drink can soothe the GI tract, promote relaxation and help jumpstart the digestive process to relieve these symptoms."Of course, it depends on what you sip. Digestif menus at restaurants are often filled with dessert wines, cocktails, liqueurs and caffeinated beverages like cappuccinos. However, doctors and dietitians suggest you opt for an unheralded option instead if you're looking to avoid or ease post-meal stomach issues. They shared the after-dinner drink that can help you with digestion, how much to drink and other ways to improve your "gut feeling" after eating.?SIGN UP for Parade’s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self?
The After-Dinner Drink That Can Help Digestion, Gut Health Experts Say
Drs. Connor and Stanton credit certain compounds in peppermint for its near-immediate digestive health benefits.
The digestive benefits of peppermint tea go beyond its composition, though. "The warmth and aroma can have a soothing effect on the nervous system, encouraging the body’s natural 'rest and digest' response," shares Kathleen Benson, CSSD, CPT, RDN, a registered dietitian at VNutrition.
Amanda Sauceda, MS, RD, the owner of The Mindful Gut, even loves resting her peppermint tea cup on her stomach when she's feeling a bit bloated after dinner. "The nice thing about peppermint tea is that it's accessible, lower cost and risk, making it a nice option when you’re not feeling well," she says.
"For everyday use, one to two cups of peppermint tea made from leaves is plenty to get mild digestive benefits," Benson notes.
Wait, what? OK—It might help to understand what the research does look at, and how it differs from the peppermint tea you might pick up at the grocery store. Most of the peppermint products used in the studies on digestive benefits were oil.
What's the difference? "Peppermint tea is an infusion," Dr. Connor clarifies. "The amount of active menthol you get is relatively low and varies wildly depending on the brand, how much tea you use and how long you steep it. It's a mild intervention—fine for mild, occasional bloating."
"These are designed to survive the stomach acid and dissolve lower down in the intestines, delivering a much higher, standardized dose of peppermint oil right where it's needed to stop spasms," Dr. Connor explains. "You can't drink enough peppermint tea to replicate the effect of one of those capsules. For simple, post-dinner discomfort, a cup of tea is fine. For a medical condition, you need a medical-grade product."
Other Benefits of Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea may have some benefits beyond helping with digestion. Benson reports that these additional perks of peppermint tea might include:
Though naturally caffeine-free, some people may find the smell of menthol mildly energizing.Fresher breathSupport relaxationReduce tension headaches (for some)Gently reducing milk supply during weaning from breastfeedingFewer sugar cravings and lower added sugar intake ("It offers a pleasant, slightly sweet flavor on its own," Benson shares.)Related: 10 Weird Ways Your Body Tells You That You Need More Fiber, According to Registered Dietitians
Dr. Connor says the esophageal sphincter is like a muscular lid that keeps the acid in your stomach. "If you relax that lid, you're essentially inviting stomach acid to splash back up into your esophagus, which is the very definition of heartburn," Dr. Connor explains.
"It’s best to avoid or limit it if that's a concern," Benson says. "Those with gallbladder issues or very young children should also be cautious, and anyone sensitive to peppermint should, of course, skip it."
5 Other Tips To Support Digestion
Digestion doesn't begin after your last bite. "Digestion starts in the mouth," Dr. Stanton points out. "Chewing food well enhances mechanical digestion and allows the brain-gut axis time to signal fullness, which helps prevent overeating."
2. Get moving
Not down for a stroll? She suggests light stretching and breathing exercises instead. "These help the body transition into a calm, parasympathetic 'rest-and-digest' state."
4. Try a warm compress
No teacup? No problem. "If you’ve had a very large meal and are feeling stuffed, then consider a warm compress," Sauceda suggests. "Something warm on your stomach can be helpful for easing any discomfort you may be feeling."
5. Drink plain water
Circling back to after-dinner drink menus: They're full of digestifs that don't support digestion. "Skip the alcohol and skip the soda," Dr. Connor says. "Alcohol is an irritant to the stomach lining. Carbonated drinks pump you full of the very gas you're trying to get rid of."
Up Next:
Related: The Super Popular Fitness Tool a GI Doc Swears by for Gut Health (Yes, Really)
Sources:
Dr. Aditi Stanton, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist with Gastro HealthDr. Brynna Connor, MD, a healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.comAs a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. BMC. Kathleen Benson, CSSD, CPT, RDN, a registered dietitian at VNutritionAmanda Sauceda, MS, RD, the owner of The Mindful GutPeppermint. LactMed.Hence then, the article about the after dinner drink that actually helps digestion was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The After-Dinner Drink That Actually Helps Digestion )
Also on site :