Ginger tea, cinnamon tea, mint tea, warm lemon water mixed with honey, and chrysanthemum tea help keep the body warm and support stable digestion in cold weather.
Nutritionist Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, Department of Nutrition, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, said there is a tendency to be sedentary when the temperature is low but consume more greasy and spicy foods to keep the body warm. This combination causes the stomach and intestines to work harder, slowing down the digestive process, easily causing bloating, indigestion, and sometimes increasing the risk of heartburn or gastric reflux. Some of the herbal teas below can help warm the body and support digestion.
Warm ginger tea
Ginger contains natural substances such as gingerol, shogaol and zingerone that have the ability to stimulate intestinal motility, reduce bloating and indigestion. This spice helps speed up stomach emptying, thereby bringing a pleasant and warm feeling to the stomach after a meal. Ginger root also contains gingerol and shogaol, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, contributing to inhibiting the growth of gastrointestinal cancer cells.
Adults can drink 1-2 cups of warm ginger tea every day after meals, adding a little honey or a few drops of lemon to enhance the flavor and make it easier to drink. However, people with severe stomach ulcers should brew weak tea and avoid drinking it on an empty stomach to avoid irritating the stomach lining.
Herbal tea has the effect of warming the body and supporting digestion. Image: Ly Nguyen
Cinnamon tea
Cinnamon is rich in the compound cinnamaldehyde, which has the ability to promote increased blood circulation, bringing a warm feeling immediately after drinking. Cinnamon helps improve insulin sensitivity, reduces mild inflammation in the intestinal lining, and promotes digestion and energy metabolism.
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder into ginger tea or warm water, drink in the morning or when it’s cold to feel better. Cinnamon contains coumarin, so people taking anticoagulants should avoid this drink.
Mint tea
Mint tea or warm water mixed with a few dried mint leaves helps reduce bloating and indigestion after meals. Peppermint contains menthol compounds that help relax gastrointestinal smooth muscles, reduce spasms, and the feeling of abdominal tightness. Warm mint tea should be used after greasy meals or when the stomach is full. People with severe gastric reflux should limit it because mint can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, causing heartburn symptoms to increase.
Honey lemonade
Honey contains compounds with antibacterial properties, soothes the stomach lining while balancing intestinal bacteria, preventing mild inflammation. Warm lemon juice can stimulate the secretion of digestive juices, supporting the digestion of food.
Mix a spoonful of honey and a few drops of lemon juice into 200 ml of warm water, drink in the morning right before meals to increase effectiveness. People with stomach pain or reflux should limit drinking lemon juice and instead drink ginger tea.
Chrysanthemum tea
Chamomile contains apigenin and bisabolol – two compounds that have anti-gastric spasm effects, reduce mild inflammation, and contribute to soothing the feeling of bloating and indigestion after meals. Regularly drinking chamomile tea can reduce symptoms of mild digestive disorders. Patients can drink a cup of warm tea at night before going to bed.
Expert Huyen advises everyone to maintain an amount of warm water of about 1.5-2 liters per day combined with herbal drinks or natural spices to help circulate blood and stabilize the digestive system. Avoid overusing drinks that are too spicy or have high caffeine such as coffee or strong tea because they can cause increased stomach acid secretion.