Bloating, unwanted gurgling, heaviness in the stomach and digestive discomfort… If these symptoms are part of your daily life, it may be worth taking a closer look at your diet. Keep in mind that staying well hydrated always benefits digestive function. With that in mind, certain drinks are worth prioritising, as they actively support digestion. Which ones should you choose? Here are 10 essential drinks that aid digestion.
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Drink for better digestion no1: sparkling water
It is often said that when digestion feels sluggish, nothing beats a glass of sparkling water. And the reputation is well-founded: carbon dioxide genuinely gives digestion a boost. Sparkling waters are also highly mineralised, and certain minerals noticeably improve digestive function. This is particularly true of waters rich in bicarbonate, such as Saint-Yorre or Quézac. Worth mentioning too are waters rich in magnesium, as this trace element has a positive impact on intestinal transit. Rozana or Badoit can therefore be interesting options for those with sluggish digestion. One caveat: waters high in sodium are not recommended for people with high blood pressure.
Drink for better digestion no2: herbal teas
Traditional remedies have their merits: yes, certain herbal teas are particularly beneficial for digestion. But it all depends on the choice of plants. Look for those with carminative properties (meaning they stimulate salivary and gastric secretions) and eupeptic qualities (boosting digestive function). Think peppermint, fennel, anise, liquorice, verbena or artichoke. These plants are packed with molecules that stimulate digestion, helping to ease stomach cramps and bloating. Drinking hot liquids also helps dissolve fats more effectively in the stomach, leading to smoother digestion overall.
Drink for better digestion no3: the Weight Loss Tea
Third on our list of drinks that support digestive function: our iconic Weight Loss Tea. It combines 9 plants known for their benefits on digestion and weight management:
- Lemon, whose natural citric acid stimulates the secretion of gastric juices.
- Hibiscus, traditionally used in Africa to prepare bissap. It gently regulates intestinal transit while also helping to balance cholesterol levels.
- Peppermint, whose antispasmodic properties help ease bloating and colon sensitivity.
- Grapefruit, rich in antioxidants and enzymes, boosts metabolism and supports digestion.
- Green anise, with its digestive and diuretic properties, helps reduce bloating. It supports digestion and may also contribute to a natural appetite-suppressing effect.
- Orange helps regulate the digestive system.
Drink for better digestion no4: vegetable juices
As well as being very on-trend, vegetable juices are packed with detoxifying and digestive benefits. Here again, it all comes down to how they are prepared and which vegetables you choose. A few key points:
- It is better to make your own vegetable juices rather than buying shop-bought versions, which lose most of their nutrients during the pasteurisation process.
- It is better to use a blender than a juice extractor. The fibre found in vegetables plays a direct role in digestion: it captures dietary fats and stimulates transit.
- The choice of vegetables matters greatly. Carrots provide carotenoids that support liver and intestinal function; spinach, a gentle laxative, helps resolve transit issues and promotes peristalsis (the movement of food through the digestive tract); celery has carminative and stomachic properties (helping to combat heartburn and stomach heaviness); and artichoke, whose hepatoprotective benefits are well established.
Drink for better digestion no5: the Slimming Fat-Burning Drainer
Sometimes digestion is slowed by an excessive intake of fatty foods, which are hard to process and put the body’s organs under significant strain. Our Slimming Fat-Burning Drainer can support the fat digestion process, thanks to its high caffeine content (cola, matcha and guarana). Caffeine stimulates the secretion of gastric juices in the stomach, thereby promoting the breakdown and digestion of food. Caffeine is also known to act as a mild laxative, making it ideal for regulating transit. To enjoy the benefits of our drainer, simply dilute one capful in a large glass of water and drink it with your meal. A one-month course not only helps restore smoother digestion, but also helps manage dietary excess and support potential weight loss (by neutralising dietary fats).
Drink for better digestion no6: ginger and lemon infusion
Another ideal drink for difficult digestion: an infusion made with lemon and ginger. As mentioned earlier, lemon naturally contains citric acid, which stimulates the secretion of gastric juices. As for ginger root, it has been used for centuries for its many wellness benefits. Chinese women in particular consume it during pregnancy to ease morning sickness. More specifically, ginger protects the gastric mucosa, helps address biliary and pancreatic insufficiency, and supports healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels. An infusion combining ginger root, lemon zest and juice, and hot water is therefore a go-to drink for better digestion.
Drink for better digestion no7: green tea
A true classic among wellness drinks, and one that fully deserves its reputation. Green tea, in addition to being rich in antioxidants and tannins, is also a genuine digestive aid. It stimulates the liver (and therefore bile secretion), limits fat absorption and has a positive effect on gut health (catechins support cellular tone). The ritual of a cup of green tea — especially with a hint of mint — is therefore well worth adopting at the end of a meal, both for the pleasure it brings and for its digestive virtues.
Drink for better digestion no8: kombucha
An “exotic” drink that is growing increasingly popular. Love it or hate it, there is no denying that kombucha, originally from Mongolia, is one of the best drinks for healthy digestion. It is a fermented beverage made from kombu, a slightly gelatinous seaweed that is rich in bacteria. The kombu is placed in a jar of lightly sweetened tea and left to ferment for several weeks. After fermentation, the tea transforms into a subtly sparkling drink — and more importantly, one that is loaded with probiotics. And it is these probiotics that make it so valuable, as they support the digestive process by positively contributing to the bacterial population of the gut flora. Regular kombucha courses are therefore recommended for anyone who suffers from sluggish digestion.
Drink for better digestion no9: the Slimming Detox Infusion
As you will have gathered, regularly drinking herbal infusions can have a positive effect on digestive health. Our Slimming Detox Infusion is no exception. Its added benefit: it acts positively on the body’s emunctory organs, supporting the elimination of organic waste (detox action) and smoother digestion. It contains, among other things, couch grass, well known for its purifying action: it is both a natural diuretic that boosts the elimination of toxins through urine, and a cholagogue — meaning it facilitates the flow of bile into the intestines, thereby stimulating digestion. Our herbal blend also contains meadowsweet, a plant used for centuries to reduce gastric secretions and soothe heartburn, as well as acting as a gentle anti-diarrhoeal. A cup of our Slimming Detox Infusion after each meal supports better digestion and a lighter feeling. Best enjoyed as a one-month course.
Drink for better digestion no10: coffee
Did you really think we were going to forget it? How could we not mention coffee, the ultimate end-of-meal drink! Beyond the pleasure it brings, a small espresso genuinely supports digestion. Scientists have studied the benefits of this beloved beverage at length, and the findings are impressive:
- Drinking coffee stimulates the production of gastric, biliary and pancreatic secretions.
- Coffee (and especially the caffeine it contains) supports the motor activity of the colon. It therefore acts as a gentle laxative.
- It may also have positive effects on gut flora by encouraging bacterial proliferation.
- Finally, drinking coffee could reduce the risk of certain digestive issues such as gallstones and pancreatic stones.
That is why sipping an espresso at the end of a meal always seems to make digestion feel that little bit easier!
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