Many people suffer from gas or bloating, which can occur in any person for various reasons, including overeating, eating too quickly, stress, and/or poor digestion. No matter what the reason is behind your belly being overly full, bloating can interfere with your daily activities.
In most cases, gas and/or bloating are only temporary, and there are a variety of easy-to-make home remedies that can help alleviate your symptoms. Natural beverages can be used to support your digestive process by relaxing your intestine, speeding food through the intestine, easing inflammation caused by food, and promoting the release of gas that is contained in the intestine.
If you are experiencing gas or bloating, here are eight different homemade beverages you may want to try:
1. Ginger Tea
For centuries, ginger root has been used as a natural remedy to enhance digestion. Two active constituents of ginger root, gingerols and shogaols, stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, decrease stomach discomfort, and speed up gastric emptying.
Benefits of Ginger Tea:
- Reduces trapped gas
- Increases the speed of digestion
- Reduces nausea
- Reduces abdominal discomfort
How to Prepare?
Add 1 inch of sliced ginger to 2 cups of water, then boil for 5-7 minutes. Allow it to cool fully before straining, and drink slowly and warm after meals.
2. Ajwain Water
In terms of developing a solution for digestive issues, ajwain is one of the oldest and most-adored Indian remedies. The compound found in ajwain is called thymol, and it has been proven to lead to the production of digestive juices, while also generating a decrease in the amount of gas created in the digestive tract.
Benefits of Ajwain Water:
- Decreases symptoms associated with indigestion
- Decreases the cramping of the stomach
- Helps to release trapped gas from the digestive tract
How to Prepare?
Boil 1 teaspoon ajwain in 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. Strain and drink warm.
3. Fennel Tea
Fennel seeds contain chemical compounds that can help relax the intestines. This can help reduce the bloating caused by gas trapped in your gut and improve your ability to digest food after eating heavy meals.
Benefits of fennel tea:
- Relaxes the digestive system
- Reduces bloating
- Freshens breath
- Helps with healthy digestion
How to Prepare?
Take 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds, smash them up, and place them into 1 cup of hot water. Let steep for 10 minutes and drink after meals.
4. Peppermint Tea
Using menthol found in peppermint can help to relieve tension within your intestines and allow gas to pass through them more easily, so that you do not have the same amount of stomach discomfort and cramping due to bloating.
Benefits of peppermint tea:
- Reduce stomach discomfort
- Help with digestive gas issues
- Help to decrease spasms caused by indigestion.
How to Prepare?
To prepare peppermint, simply place fresh leaves or a tea bag into a cup of boiling water and allow them to steep for 5 – 7 minutes.
Note: If you suffer from acid reflux, you should limit your use of peppermint, as it may make your symptoms worse.
5. Lemon Water
Warm water with lemon juice may aid digestion and promote regular bowel movements. Staying hydrated is important in preventing constipation, as it is one of the more common reasons for bloating.
Benefits of lemon water:
- Helps promote hydration
- Supports digestion
- May reduce the sensation of fullness
- Helps maintain regular bowel movements
How to Prepare?
To one glass of warm water, add the juice of half a lemon, drink first thing in the morning or after your meals.
6. Cumin Water
Drink cumin (Jeera) water as an ancient remedy to assist with digestion by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes, while at the same time decreasing gas formation after meals.
Benefits of cumin water:
- Better Digestion
- Less Bloating
- Decreased Acidity
- Increased Nutrient Assimilation
How to Prepare?
Combine 1 tsp of cumin seeds with 2 cups of water. Boil for 5 minutes; let cool slightly, and drink while warm.
Want better digestion? Explore 6 reasons to drink jeera water on an empty stomach.
7. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile promotes relaxation and helps with digestion in addition to having a calming effect on the body. As stress contributes to bloating, drinking chamomile tea can help reduce both stress and the feeling of being bloated, since it soothes both the mind and the digestive system.
Benefits of chamomile tea:
- Soothing digestive symptoms
- Reducing intestinal spasms
- Treating bloating due to stress
- Helping sleep better
How to Prepare?
Steep a few dried flowers (or a tea bag) in boiling water for 5 minutes before drinking.
8. Buttermilk with Roasted Cumin
Buttermilk is a traditional Indian style beverage that contains active, helpful bacteria beneficial to gut health. Additionally, roasted cumin will improve the digestive benefits of buttermilk while calming down the stomach after eating heavy or spicy foods.
By combining buttermilk and roasted cumin, you will:
- Have access to a natural source of probiotics
- Improves gut microbiome
- Supports digestion
- Reduces gas formation
How to Make Buttermilk with Roasted Cumin?
Simply mix one cup of buttermilk with ½ tsp. roasted cumin powder and a pinch of black salt (to taste). Drink this before bed or after lunch, whichever suits you best.
Don’t miss these incredible reasons to drink buttermilk every day!
Tips for Preventing Gas or Bloating Through Lifestyle Changes
Although your beverages may provide immediate relief, several daily habits can help with gas/bloated feeling as well:
- Be sure to chew food completely and eat slowly.
- Avoid overeating at one time.
- Try to keep active shortly after eating (e.g., by taking a walking break).
- Drink adequate amounts of water throughout the day.
- Limit your consumption of carbonated beverages.
- Minimize your intake of ultra-processed foods.
- Try to add fiber to your diet gradually instead of all at once.
Use techniques such as meditation/yoga/deep breathing to help manage your stress levels daily.
When should you consider seeing a physician regarding this?
Gas & a bloated belly are almost always just fuzzy things. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, you’d better contact someone in the health care business:
- Bloating that persists for weeks or more
- Severe pain in your belly
- Bleeding from your butt
- Losing weight unexplainably
- Throwing up a lot
- Frequently having problems (poop every day or no poop at all)
- Having trouble swallowing
These symptoms could mean an untreated digestive condition or illness and would prompt you to go to a doctor for medical help.
The Bottom Line
Gas and bloating are common issues that can often be managed at home. Drinks such as ginger tea, ajwain water, fennel tea, peppermint tea, lemon water, jeera water, chamomile tea, and buttermilk with roasted cumin may help relieve discomfort and support digestion.
While it is best to try different kinds of drinks to see which works best for you, it is much more important to address the root cause than to rely solely on home remedies for a persistent issue with gas or bloating. Additionally, by incorporating natural drinks into your daily routine alongside a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate fluid intake, and stress management, you will support your digestive system’s health and reduce discomfort.
FAQs
Q. Can I drink these remedies every day?
Yes, while you may want to limit your intake of jeera water, fennel tea, and buttermilk, they can be safely consumed daily. If you continue to experience symptoms after consuming them regularly, you should consult a medical professional for assistance.
Q. Is warm water better than cold water for bloating?
Warm water is most commonly used by some people to help stimulate digestion and relax the digestive muscles. When trying to relieve bloating/gas, warm water is often a better option than cold water.
Q. If I get gas often, what foods should I stay away from?
The foods that are among the most common are:
- Carbonated beverages
- Fried foods
- Beans
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Onions
- Artificial sweeteners
Q. Can stress lead to gas and bloating?
Yes, stress can slow digestion and alter the gut-brain axis, which can cause bloating, discomfort in the abdominal area, and excessive gas in some people.
Q. Is buttermilk good for an upset stomach?
Plain buttermilk is thought to contain probiotics that can help support digestion and promote gut health. Roasted cumin added to plain buttermilk is often added for flavour enhancement. People who cannot tolerate dairy should avoid buttermilk.
Q. How long does bloating usually last?
Bloating can be temporary and typically resolves itself in a few hours after gas has passed through the intestinal tract or after a bowel movement. If someone suffers from persistent bloating that lasts for several days or comes back frequently, they should contact a medical professional regarding their bloating issues.
Q. When should I contact my doctor regarding gas and bloating?
If someone has severe bloating, frequent episodes of bloating, unexplained weight loss, blood in stool, vomiting persistently, has a fever, or has severe abdominal pain, they should seek medical attention immediately.
Q. What type of drinks provide the fastest relief from gas?
Ginger tea, ajwain water, and peppermint tea are all fast-acting relief for those with bloating or gas. For some individuals, they may provide relief within 30-60 minutes by relaxing the intestinal tract and releasing any trapped gas.
(The article is written by Deepa Sarkar, Senior Medical Writer, and reviewed by Monalisa Deka, Deputy Manager, Clinical Health & Content, Medical Affairs)