Naturopath Sophie Pihan reveals the drink she says best relieves bloating and a swollen stomach after eating too much.
Intestinal bloating is often linked to diet. They are defined by an accumulation of gases in the intestines, which are generated by digestion and which are not properly eliminated. As proof, this situation often appears after a hearty meal. If after a meal at grandma’s or a rich dinner at a restaurant, your stomach is swollen and painful, try this digestive drink.
Our naturopath Sophie Pihan reveals her best anti-bloating combo. This drink, to be enjoyed hot or cold, is excellent after a very rich meal. Its main ingredient, “ginger is the digestive stimulant par excellence“, underlines the expert. Ginger is a root plant with a slightly spicy and peppery flavor. It stimulates the production of bile by the liver, which facilitates digestion and gastric emptying. The WHO also recognizes the use of ginger against digestive disorders. Ginger can thus reduce abdominal cramps, gas production and nausea after a heavy meal. But how to take it?
Ideally with lemon. “Lemon stimulates digestive enzymes and bile production, in addition to providing vitamins to the body“, adds Sophie Pihan. The skin of the lemon, provided it is organic, is ideal for facilitating digestion. It contains more digestive enzymes and numerous minerals which will support and stimulate liver functions. Besides, lemon is very easy to find”. The best drink for digestion when the stomach is heavy is therefore a combination of ginger and lemon. You can prepare your digestive drink as an infusion or with a juice extractor.
With a juice extractor: place a piece of ginger (3 to 5 cm) in the juice extractor. Once the concentrated juice is collected, add water to about ¾ of the glass. Add the equivalent of a tablespoon of lemon juice before eating. “In this form, after a very rich meal, the drink will quickly soothe a swollen stomach.” And it’s ready in 2 minutes. Or as an infusion: fresh ginger can be grated or cut into small pieces, after being peeled. “Bring a little water to a simmer, add the ginger, lower the heat as soon as it starts to simmer. Do not boil the water, at the risk of losing the benefits of the ginger. Filter. Add the lemon juice (1 to 2 tablespoons), ideally when the drink has cooled to benefit from the vitamin C, then enjoy. You can add a few leaves or a tablespoon of cold peppermint hydrosol to your drink to make it even easier to drink. digestion.”
If you are planning to entertain friends around a raclette or a pizza evening, prepare a ginger-lemon drink in advance to offer to your guests at the end of the meal. “In a liter of water, infuse a whole piece of ginger without the skin. Leave to cool for ten minutes and add the juice of a whole lemon as well as a tablespoon of organic lemon peel. After the meal, offer this drink to your guests, and their digestive system will thank you.”.
