When it comes to easing the discomfort of a bloated belly, recommendations abound. Some of them—like hibiscus tea, probiotics, and ginger—really can be effective. However, it’s not always easy to find them when you’re out and about—which, let’s face it, is often when you need their help the most.
One solution? Green tea. It’s anti-inflammatory and packed-full of antioxidants—and, thanks to catechins other compounds—has been shown to soothe the digestive tract. Moreover, green tea has mild diuretic and laxative properties that help flush sodium and toxins from the body, both of which can ease the discomfort of bloating. Best of all, green tea is widely available nearly everywhere you go.
Green tea with milk?
I am obsessed with drinking coffee with milk. One of my favorite moments of the day is the first coffee in the morning—and it must be doused in milk, of course. But ever since abdominal swelling has become a near-constant in my daily life, I’ve been considering swapping my usual post-lunch coffee for a cup of green tea. Naturally, however, I’d want to add some milk. While I don’t mind the earthy flavor of green tea, I think the comforting, creamy addition of milk would make my coffee swap all the easier. But I wonder: would adding milk destroy all the reported health benefits of green tea?
To find out, I reached out to Leticia Carrera, a nutritionist and biochemistry expert. Luckily, she quelled my fears immediately: “The properties of green tea do not vary with the addition of milk,” she said. “In principle, if the milk is high quality, there is no issue with adding it to tea.”
Carrera seems to be a fan of tea in general, and was encouraging about my plans to make a switch. “Tea—especially green tea—has interesting properties. It is anti-inflammatory, high in antioxidants, and is stimulating because it has caffeine,” she explained. “However, at the same time it contains L-theanine which supports the production of GABA, a neurotransmitter that enhances the feeling of calm.”
Milk, green tea, and inflammation
What’s more, new science shows that milk may even increase the green tea’s anti-inflammatory benefits. “This is a very interesting debate because for years there has been talk that adding milk decreased the antioxidant activity by interrupting the absorption of chlorogenic acids, or polyphenols, in the bloodstream,” nutritionist Laura Parada notes. “But now research has emerged that claims that the proteins in cow’s milk may enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of the polyphenols present in coffee and tea.”
