Does Tea Help with Constipation? A Comprehensive Guide April 3, 2023 00:38

Does Tea Help with Constipation

 

Good digestive health is the secret to good health. Without a good digestive system, your body system cannot obtain the essential nutrients and eliminate waste. So, it becomes crucial to take care of your digestive system by treating all sorts of digestive issues on time. 

While constipation is a common digestive issue, it can cause discomfort and disrupt your daily lifestyle. Also, it can lead to different serious health issues such as anal fissures, haemorrhoids, and rectal prolapse if left untreated. Thankfully, there are numerous home remedies including drinking your favourite teas to ease difficult bathroom experiences.  

Yes, you can try drinking tea to help with constipation before reaching out to over-the-counter medicines that may include side effects. So how does tea help with constipation? Well, tea contains numerous healthy compounds that can stimulate the digestive system and promote regular bowel movements to ease constipation.

In this blog, we will look into the relationship between tea and bowel movement and identify the role of the beverage in relieving constipation. Keep on reading. 

How can tea help with constipation? 

When it comes to offering you the perks for constipation relief, the beverage follows several mechanisms. Understanding how tea can help you with constipation can help you in deciding the best way to make use of the beverage when you encounter the symptoms of constipation. So, let’s explore tea mechanisms to relieve constipation. 

  • Keeps You Hydrated to Promote Regular Bowel Movements

Did you know dehydration is one of the leading causes of constipation? Dehydration leads your stool to become hard making it difficult to pass, which causes constipation. So, it is important that you keep your body hydrated all the time. This will help to soften stool and promote healthy bowel movement. 

While drinking plenty of water is always a good choice to stay hydrated, tea can be a great addition to your diet. Alongside staying hydrated, drinking tea adds health perks from its antioxidant content.  

In addition to tea, including fiber-rich foods in your diet aids bowel movement further as those foods help to increase the size and weight of your stool to make it bulky making it easier to pass through the digestive system. Therefore, while tea itself benefits greatly, combining it with fiber-rich foods may do wonders for quick recovery from constipation.  

  • Tea offers Laxative Properties 

Numerous teas contain a compound with natural laxative properties. One of the key compounds in the tea that acts as a natural laxative is anthraquinone which aids to increase the contractions of the intestinal muscles and helps to ease the stool movement inside the digestive tract.

Being said that, it is important to consider that anthraquinone has also been identified to have adverse effects on human health. So, we encourage you not to over-consume the beverage to avoid the potential risks. Drinking at a moderate level is certainly beneficial.  

  • Caffeine aids Digestive System

Caffeine in the tea also acts as a natural stimulant to relieve constipation. To do so, caffeine triggers contractions in your intestinal and colon muscles which eventually helps the waste to easily move through your intestines and aid bowel movement.  

In addition, caffeine also boosts the release of digestive enzymes which helps in effective food breakdown and smoothens digestion. This helps in preventing the waste buildup in the intestine that may result in constipation.  

Types of teas that can aid in constipation relief 

Now we are aware of the wonderful properties of tea to help with constipation. However, it is also important to note that one tea may work better than another when it is about providing you relief from constipation.  So, what tea helps relieve constipation most effectively?  We will find out next. 

  •  Black Tea 

Black tea is considered the “King of tea” when we talk about the tea with the most caffeine, the stimulant which has been identified to improve the digestive system and promote bowel movement. So, with its abundant caffeine, black tea may help you for quick recovery from constipation.  

Black tea is also a rich source of theobromine and theophylline compounds which are also similarly praised for their characteristics to stimulate the digestive system. To do so, those compounds stimulate the digestive tract’s muscles which in turn helps ease the stool movement through the colon.  

Plus, black tea also contains tannins, which contain a laxative effect and soften the stool making it easier to pass. Furthermore, astringent properties of tannins help to reduce inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract and help relieve constipation.  

  • Green Tea 

Green tea is less processed than black tea which results in minimal caffeine comparatively. However, the caffeine level is adequate to promote your bowel movement. 

In addition, green tea also possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to the abundant catechins in the beverage. Inflammation in the digestive tract slows down digestion which may lead to constipation. So, drinking green tea can also help you to prevent and relieve constipation by reducing digestive tract inflammation. 

  • Tulsi Herbal Tea 

Produced from the flowers and leaves of the ayurvedic tulsi plant, tulsi herbal tea is also praised as a natural remedy for digestive issues.  

Similar to green tea, tulsi tea also helps to relieve constipation by reducing inflammation. The healthy compounds behind excellent anti-inflammatory properties in tulsi tea are camphene and eugenol compounds. 

Tulsi herbal tea also improves your digestion, thanks to essential oils and enzymes in the tea to aid the smooth breakdown of foods and prevent constipation.  

  • Lemongrass Herbal Tea 

Lemongrass herbal teas are made from Lemongrass herbs. These herbs contain essential oils that contain mild laxative effects. In addition, lemongrass herbal tea also comes with anti-inflammatory properties that help improve digestion and soothe the gut. Therefore, the mild laxative effects and anti-inflammatory properties of lemongrass herbal tea bond to help you fight off constipation.  

  • Mint Tea 

Mint tea is a good source of menthol, which is known for relaxing the muscles in the digestive tract and promoting regular bowel movements. This makes mint tea an ideal tea to battle constipation. Additionally, mint tea can also help you relieve from bloating and cramping that comes with constipation. To offer this perk, antispasmodic properties in mint tea come into act. 

How to consume tea for constipation relief? 

To make the most of the benefits from the above-mentioned best teas to help with constipation, we have some useful tips to incorporate the beverage into your daily routine. Let’s go through them.  

  • Tips for maximising hydration benefits 

We mentioned earlier that keeping your body hydrated helps to maintain a healthy digestive system and drinking tea is an ideal way to hydrate. We encourage you to drink tea without adding excessive sugar to get the maximum hydration benefit as sugar can potentially dehydrate your body. In case you require to adjust the flavor profile, try using lemon or honey as they are more beneficial options.  

  • Dosage guidelines for teas with laxative effects

Now we know that the laxative effects of the teas are the heroes behind its constipation-relieving perks, however, they may have side effects too. So, it is important to use them in moderation. 

To avoid the side effects, start with small amounts and then gradually increase the dosage as needed. In general, one cup of tea is adequate to provide you relief from constipation. In case tea is not magical for you, consult with your healthcare provider before deciding to increase the dosage of tea for its laxative property.  

  • Safety precautions when using tea as a laxative 

Though tea is considered a safe beverage for relieving constipation, it does come with some potential risks. This is why it becomes important to take necessary precautions to avoid those risks. 

We encourage you to stop drinking the tea if you notice any side effects including diarrhea and abdominal pain. Upon identifying the side effects, consult with your healthcare provider immediately. The side effects are more common with those on medication or medical conditions. So, always talk to your doctor first. 

Other lifestyle changes to promote regular bowel movements 

A healthy lifestyle is also crucial for promoting regular bowel movements and eventually preventing constipation. So, what lifestyle changes to follow for improved digestive health and reduce risks for frequent constipation? Let’s find out.     

  • Dietary modifications 

For healthy digestive health, we encourage you to follow a high-fiber diet plan to promote regular bowel movements. Fiber contributes to bulky stool which makes it easy to move through your digestive tract.  

Some of the foods to consider for high-fiber diets are whole grains, avocados, berries, apples, and legumes. However, be mindful not to make a sudden increase in fiber intake as it may lead to gas and bloating. So, consider increasing fiber intake gradually. Also, make sure to drink plenty of fluids to aid the fiber moving through your digestive system. 

  • Exercise and physical activity 

Including regular exercise and physical activity in your daily routines helps promote regular bowel movements by aiding to stimulate the muscles in your digestive tract. So, we encourage you to aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise in your daily routine.   

  • Stress management techniques 

As surprising as it may sound, the fact is that stress can also lead to constipation. This is because chronic stress disrupts your digestion or digestive health which can lead to constipation. So, follow the stress management techniques to avoid the consequences. Some common techniques you can easily approach are deep breathing, yoga, or meditation. Also, you can engage in the activities that you love to help manage stress.  

Conclusion 

Incorporating tea into your daily routine can be a delicious way to promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation. The numerous healthy compounds are the hero in the tea to stimulate the digestive system and prevent trouble going to the bathroom.  

If you are looking for antioxidant-packed tea to help constipation, you can purchase them from Danfe tea. At Danfe, teas are cultivated in the high Himalayan region of Nepal where the pristine climate and mineral-rich soil ensure the highest quality tea leaves packed with healthy nutrition and compounds. With our tea, you can experience a distinctive Himalayan flavor while improving your gut health to fight constipation. 

FAQs 

What should I drink when I'm constipated? 

You should stay hydrated to relieve constipation. While drinking plenty of water is always a good choice to stay hydrated, tea can be a good alternative as it has a mild laxative effect to promote bowel movements.  

Which tea works as a laxative? 

Numerous types of teas work as a natural laxative. Some of the common teas to consider are black tea, green tea, tulsi tea, and mint tea.  

Does drinking warm water help constipation? 

Drinking warm water stimulates your digestive system which helps in the movement of stool in your intestines. It also helps to soften stool making it easy to pass. So, drinking warm water does help you to relieve and prevent constipation.  

Is coffee or tea constipating? 

Though caffeine in coffee or tea is a natural stimulant that aids promote regular bowel movement, excessive intake may lead to dehydration. As dehydration is one of the leading causes of constipation, coffee can be constipating at times.