Ginger, Licorice & Peppermint: Your New Best Friends to Beat Bloat

We’ve all been there: you enjoy a delicious meal, but an hour later, you feel uncomfortably full and bloated. You might even have known it was coming, but decided in the moment it was worth it… until it wasn’t. Bloating can happen for many reasons: eating too fast, food sensitivities, or even stress. So, what can you do about it? Start by minimizing triggers like those and giving your digestion some extra love with natural remedies. Among the best options are ginger, licorice, and peppermint - three natural digestive aids that have stood the test of time. Let’s explore why they work and how to make them part of your routine.

Ginger: A Classic for a Reason

Ginger isn’t just for adding to your winter latte. This spice has been used for centuries in everything from tea to soups, and for good reason. It’s well-known for soothing the stomach and research in this area has shown that ginger can help to speed up digestion, reducing the buildup of gas in your gut that leads to bloating.

One simple way to try it? Sip on ginger tea after a meal. Even chewing on a small piece of fresh ginger can work wonders (although this can be an acquired taste!).

Licorice: Your Grandma’s Go-To

When you think of licorice, you probably picture the sweet black candy that your grandma used to carry around in her handbag. Always a little warmer than palatable when she pulled them out to hand you one. But there’s more to these little treats than meets the eye, and that’s licorice root. This natural digestive aid has been used in traditional remedies for centuries. It contains compounds that can help soothe inflammation in the gut, promote a calmer digestive system and prevent or reduce bloating. It’s even been shown to help with the healing of peptic ulcers. If you suffer from heartburn or indigestion alongside bloating, this is also a great natural aid to help reduce your symptoms, as it can help to protect your stomach lining against acid damage and promote healing.

You can find licorice in teas or supplements such as our Bloat Control and Acid Relief which are formulated to tackle specific digestive problems. Licorice can affect blood pressure - so if this is an issue,  just ensure you’re using Licorice DGL. This is the deglycyrrhizinated version, which does not contain the component that affects blood pressure. This is the type of licorice used in all of our digestive supplements.

Peppermint: The After Dinner Essential

There’s a reason why you’re always left some mints on your table at a restaurant after dinner. They’re not worried about your breath, they’re thinking about your digestion! Or you might get offered some peppermint tea instead. This is because peppermint is known to help relax the muscles in your digestive tract, making it easier for gas to move through and less likely for that bloat to set in!

Peppermint oil can be especially helpful for people with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) who suffer from painful cramping and bloating on a regular basis, noted in one study as a “safe and effective short term treatment”. 

Putting It All Together

These three ingredients are easy to work into your daily routine. Have a cup of herbal tea, add fresh ginger to your cooking, or keep licorice root on hand for when you need it most. Small, consistent habits like these can make a big difference in how you feel after meals.

And if you’re looking for something even easier, there are supplements that combine these ingredients with other digestive-friendly compounds to give you targeted support. Our Bloat Control  supplement is one example, developed to ease discomfort and make feeling good a little more effortless, because who has time to feel uncomfortable all day?

A Few Other Tips to Keep in Mind

In addition to the above, there are a few everyday habits that can also make a big difference when it comes to bloating:

• Slow down when eating: Chewing thoroughly and taking your time with meals can prevent you from swallowing extra air.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking water (but not too much during meals) helps digestion run smoothly.
• Watch your triggers: Some foods, like beans, carbonated drinks, or dairy, might not sit well with you. It’s worth keeping track of what works for your body and eliminating what doesn’t. As you improve your digestion, you might be able to reintroduce those trigger foods over time without experiencing the same consequences.

Why It’s Worth Trying

The beauty of these natural remedies is how simple they are. You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle to feel better, just a cup of tea or a little extra care during meals can make all the difference.

So if bloating is something you struggle with, why not give ginger, licorice, or peppermint a try? They’ve been trusted for generations and might just gain your trust too.

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