Teas That are Foolproof Bloating Remedies
"I thought you were going to wear your new dress on your date tonight," I said to my friend.
"Well I was, but I woke up so bloated today. I can barely zip it up—it looks awful," she replied, frowning. She was trying to brush it off, but I could tell she was disappointed, heading into date night self-conscious and preoccupied.
This scenario is all too common: Bloating, often caused by excess gas in the intestines, constipation and hormonal fluctuations, not only causes people to feel self-conscious about their appearance, but it can also be physically uncomfortable. Thankfully, it's not too difficult to banish the bloat and lose weight. All you need to do is head to your kitchen and fix yourself a cup of tea; but not just any combination of leaves and botanicals will do. To reap the benefits, you'll need to sip a variety that either fights back against stomach-swelling inflammation or water retention. Here's the full list, compliments of a revolutionary new book, The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse, which shows you how to eat and drink—and still shrink!
Ginger Tea
We like: Bigelow, Tazo, Yogi
If the flat stomach you saw in the mirror before hitting the sheets seems to have vanished overnight, inflammation–often brought on by spicy foods, dairy and chemical additives–may be to blame. According to numerous studies, ginger, traditionally used to ease stomach pain, blocks several genes and enzymes in the body that promote bloat-causing inflammation. If you prefer the taste of chai tea, typically made from a blend of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger, that may also do the trick—but may be less potent.
Bilberry Tea
We like: Alvita, Celebration Herbals
Consuming bilberries, a northern European cousin to the blueberry, may help reduce bloat-inducing inflammation according to Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. To come to these findings, researchers divided participants into two groups; one group was given a diet that included an equivalent of 1.5 cups of blueberries, while the other group followed a control diet that didn't include the fruit. At the end of the experiment, the bilberry-eating group had significantly less inflammation than their counterparts who didn't munch on the berry. Since the fruit is native to Northern Europe, it isn't widely available in the US. To reap the benefits, enjoy a few cups of bilberry tea. We're willing to bet the results will be similar.
Hibiscus Tea
We like: Alvita, Bigelow, Good Nature
Having a hard time buttoning those jeans that just fit a couple days ago? Breathe easy: you didn't actually pack on the pounds. Your new paunch is likely a result of eating some salty foods or hormonal fluctuations—both scenarios can cause the body to store sodium and fluids. Luckily, science has a solution: According to numerous studies, flavonoids and other compounds found in the hibiscus plant help to counteract bloating by influencing how aldosterone, the hormone that regulates water and electrolytes balance, affects the body. Enjoy a cup of hibiscus tea and watch your pooch slowly–but surely–deflate.
Fennel Tea
We like: Alvita, Traditional Medicinals
According to a 2015 Journal of Food Biochemistry study, foeniculum vulgare–better known as fennel–has major inflammation-fighting properties. Fans of the mild, sweet licorice-flavored tea have long used it to treat gas and other gastrointestinal issues, too. While the U.S. National Institutes of Health has no stance on fennel's medicinal effectiveness, Germany's Commission E, an official government agency similar to the FDA that focuses on herbs, says that the plant can indeed be an effective flatulence-fighter.
Lemon Tea
We like: Bigelow, Celestial Seasonings, Lipton
Feeling a big as a blimp? Burst the bloat with a hot cup of lemon tea. What makes it so powerful? D-Limonene, the major component of citrus rind oil, is commonly found in the brew. The extract has been used for its diuretic effects since ancient times, but until recently there were no scientific findings to back the assumption.
