Who knew that a little bit of gas is all it takes to feel uncomfortable? If you experience bloating, indigestion, and nausea a little more often than you like to admit, there’s a biological explanation. As it turns out, food moves through and empties slower for women compared to men, and this slow process can contribute to bloating and nausea. If you need a drink that helps soothe the stomach, here are five recipes to try at home!
1. Fruit Vinegars (Hong Cho)
It’s sweet, tangy, and delicious that you’ll wonder how vinegar can taste so good! Fruit vinegars are not a strange concept in the East, and they’ve had their fair share of popularity across Japan and South Korea.
But if you’re new to these drinkable vinegars, get ready to have your mind blown! Go to your nearest Korean or Asian supermarket, and you’ll most likely find Hong Cho – one of the most refreshing and popular drinkable vinegar concentrates. With this one tall bottle, you can find yourself using it in a variety of drinks or cooking recipes – the easiest and most common way is to sip it diluted in a glass of iced water.
What are the benefits of fruit vinegar?
Fruit vinegar is rich in antioxidants, prebiotics, and postbiotics, which are beneficial for the gut (goodbye bloating!), energy, and overall health. Fruit vinegar is also low in sugar, which makes it a great and healthier soft-drink replacement!
Ingredients
- Hong Cho (Pomegranate flavor – recommended!)
- Water, sparkling water, or other liquid of choice
- Ice (if desired)
Instructions
- Mix 1 portion of Hong Cho with 4 portions of water
- For a refreshing beverage, add some ice cubes & enjoy chilled!
2. Genmaicha
For a soothing cup of tea, genmaicha is warm, nutty, mild, and perfect for sipping while curling up in bed with a book! Genmaicha translates to “brown rice tea” and is also known as “popcorn tea” since the popped rice kernels appear mixed into bancha or green tea leaves.
What are the benefits of genmaicha?
Genmaicha is rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and gallic acid. These nutrients are excellent for balancing blood sugar levels, decreasing bad cholesterol, and promoting relaxation. Genmaicha is also low in caffeine, which makes it a fantastic nightcap to end the day! As for bloating, this tea is a diuretic that can help avoid water retention by flushing out excess water from the body.
Ingredients
- Sencha loose leaf tea
- 2 tbsp brown rice
- Ground matcha powder (optional)
- Water
Instructions
Making Genmaicha:
- Add brown rice kernels to a skillet and toast over medium-high heat until kernels start to brown (but not burnt!) You may notice some kernels popping up like popcorn.
- Turn off heat, let the grains cool, and transfer them to a bowl
- Pour in your sencha leaves and dust a layer of matcha powder
- Mix well and store in an airtight container
Brewing:
- In a tea kettle, boil water until it reaches between 175-185 degrees fahrenheit (80-85 degrees Celsius). If you don’t have a thermometer, you can let the water boil until you see some strings of bubbles floating up from the bottom of the kettle.
- Pour some of the water into your tea cup and give a gentle swirl to coat all sides. This will help warm the tea cup and help with the brewing process. Discard the water.
- Add 1 tbsp of genmaicha to a tea strainer and pour heated water into the cup. Steep for 3-5 minutes depending on desired strength. If you’re using a pre-made mix, you can follow the steeping instructions on the packaging.
3. Mugwort Tea
We always said that mugwort in skincare is excellent for relieving inflammation and soothing sensitive skin. As a tea, you can also expect mugwort to soothe your insides and your body! Mugwort tea has a perfectly mellow and subtly sweet flavor (gliding with oat and hay notes) that will make your rainy nights (or one of those blah days) more bearable.
What are the benefits of mugwort tea?
Mugwort is perfect for boosting energy, relieving stomach ailments like bloating and indigestion, relieving menstrual cramps and promoting a healthy menstrual cycle, calming nerves, promoting circulation, helping you get a good night’s rest, and regulating the digestive system by stimulating gastric juice and bile secretions.**
** If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an allergy to ragweed, we strongly recommend avoiding mugwort tea
Ingredients
- 1-2 tbsp mugwort tea
- Water
Instructions
- In a tea kettle, boil water until it reaches between 175-185 degrees fahrenheit (80-85 degrees Celsius). If you don’t have a thermometer, you can let the water boil until you see some strings of bubbles floating up from the bottom of the kettle.
- Pour some of the water into your tea cup and give a gentle swirl to coat all sides. This will help warm the tea cup and help with the brewing process. Discard the water.
- Add 1-2 Tbsp mugwort tea to a tea strainer and pour heated water into the cup. Let the mugwort infuse for 10-15 minutes depending on desired strength. If you’re using a pre-made mix, you can follow the steeping instructions on the packaging.
- Strain out the mugwort and enjoy!
4. Bone Broth (Felicia’s Chinese Sweet Corn Carrot Soup)
If a broth made with meaty joints and bones, vegetables, herbs, and spices suit your fancy, you’ll love this recipe! Bone broth can get misconstrued as a “health fad” in America, but in reality, it’s a staple base for traditional Japanese, Chinese, and Korean soups. And as it turns out, its origins can be traced back to Ancient China, Greece, and South American cultures.
What are the benefits of bone broth?
This flavorful liquid is jam-packed with amino acids, collagen, and B-vitamins like niacin and riboflavin, benefiting the digestive system (and calm bloating), immune system, skin, and joints. We even think this could be great for sipping during those cold days when you’re feeling under the weather or don’t feel like eating a full meal.
Ingredients
- Pork bones
- Pork ribs or pork spare ribs (optional)
- Sweet Corn (Washed, cut into chunks)
- Carrots (Washed, peeled, cut into chunks)
- Onion (Washed, peeled, cut into chunks)
- Herbs and spices (optional)
- Water
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash and rinse pork bones and ribs with hot water. You can alternatively parboil them to remove excess blood and fat. If needed, you can also trim off the excess fat using scissors before washing.
- In a stock pot, add in the rinsed pork bones and ribs, corn, carrot, and onion and fill the pot with ten cups of water or until all the ingredients are submerged. At this step, you can also add spices and herbs if preferred
- Bring the pot to a boil and skim off any excess impurities and foam floating on the surface until the broth looks clear.
- Turn down to low heat and simmer for at least 1.5 hours.
- When the soup is done cooking, ladle into a bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
5. Korean Sweet Cinnamon Punch (Sujeonggwa)
Dinner isn’t complete without dessert, and for Korean BBQ regulars, you’ll typically find a chilled cup of this delicious punch in place of your usual slice of cake. This sweet and spicy drink was once a drink served in the Royal Court during Korea’s ancient dynasties, but today, it’s a perfect way to surprise a few guests, warm up your body, or soothe your stomach after a heavy meal. Plus, it’ll make your kitchen smell delicious!
What are the benefits of Sujeonggwa?
Sujeonggwa uses cinnamon sticks and ginger which both have soothing properties to the body. That’s because cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that can benefit the body. Ginger is terrific for its antibacterial properties, as well as lowering blood sugar and cholesterol, relieving nausea, bloating, and indigestion, and acting as a natural pain reliever. And if we’re honest, this sounds like a perfect winter drink!
** Cinnamon contains blood-thinning agents so if you’re taking any medication, please consult a medical professional before trying this drink
Ingredients
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup of ginger, washed, peeled & sliced
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 7½ – 8 cups of water
- Pine nuts (to garnish)
Instructions
- Rinse cinnamon sticks in cold water and add them to a stock pot along with your ginger.
- Add the water into the stock pot, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Keep boiling for 20 minutes over high heat.
- Lower the heat to medium and boil for another 20 minutes. Be sure to be mindful of the water boiling over. You can leave the lid ajar if this happens or remove the lid entirely.
- Add the sugar and mix well. Let boil for another 3 minutes then turn off the heat.
- Let the mixture cool before straining out the cinnamon sticks and sliced ginger using a colander.
If drinking hot:
- You can ladle into a cup directly after boiling, garnish with pine nuts, and enjoy!
If drinking chilled:
- Transfer to a glass jar or glass bowl and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. The drink can last more than a week in the fridge!
- Once chilled, serve in a glass filled with ice and garnish with a few pine nuts on top. Enjoy!
To learn more about these drinks for glowing skin and body, check out our full video:
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