Green Tea and IBS: Which Green Tea Is Best for IBS?

By - Aneeza Pervez

Green tea has many health benefits, from improving skin conditions to warding off cancerous cells. Also, green tea and IBS share a therapeutic relationship. It helps with shielding the gut and improves bowel movement. So, is green tea IBS-friendly? 

Green tea is considered safe for managing and preventing irritable bowel syndrome because of its anti-inflammatory nature, and good antioxidant profile. Drinking green tea for IBS helps soothe the inflammation in the intestines and ease bowel movement.

Nevertheless, green tea also contains caffeine, which is bad for IBS when taken in excess, leading to inflammation of the gut and IBS diarrhea. 

So, can I drink green tea with IBS? Which green tea is best for IBS? Here you will find comprehensive and science-backed information regarding “green tea and IBS.”

Green Tea and IBS

Almost 45 million Americans are suffering from IBS. Most people manage its symptoms with home remedies, low-potency drugs, fiber supplements, or laxatives. 

One of the best home remedies to manage the symptoms of bowel disorders is drinking green tea. Nevertheless, is green tea good for IBS symptoms? Green tea helps the IBS condition due to its unique medical properties. 

It has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it reduces the swelling in the gut and eases bowel movement. Moreover, it also contains a significant amount of plant-based antioxidants and vitamins that help to naturally heal the intestine and make it better over time.

Therefore, drinking green tea every day may help ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, relieve constipation, and maintain hydration levels in the body. 

However, it also contains a good amount of caffeine, which in excess may lead to inflammation or irritation of the stomach wall and IBS diarrhea. Therefore, moderation is necessary when consuming green tea for IBS. 

Is Green Tea High or Low FODMAP?

Green tea and its related products are low in FODMAP compounds. It passes easily through the intestines and assimilates well, which facilitates bowel movement and eases the IBS symptoms. 

FODMAPs are the small-chain carbohydrates (sugars) that are least or poorly absorbed by the intestine and lead to intestinal gas, abdominal pain, and difficulty in bowel movement. The higher the food with FODMAP, the more it will worsen your IBS condition.

Is Matcha Green Tea Ok for IBS?

Matcha is the finely grounded form of high-quality, and fully grown processed green tea leaves. It has a higher amount of antioxidants and polyphenols than regular green tea. Also, it is abundantly rich in probiotic content, which flushes the gut efficiently.

Matcha green tea and IBS are also good treatment plans. Matcha promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria and also provides an anti-inflammatory effect to the stomach and intestine lining, helping ease the symptoms of IBS. 

Moreover, drinking matcha tea improves digestion, reduces IBS flare-ups and helps soothe upset stomachs, and prevents indigestion. 

However, limit its consumption because it also contains caffeine, which is bad for intestine health at large. 

Is Decaf Green Tea Ok for IBS?

We know caffeine in green tea may aggravate the IBS symptoms, therefore, decaffeinated green tea is considered more healthy for gut health. Decaf green tea is a caffeine-free (still containing small content of caffeine) version of tea.

However, it is also lower in nutritional profile than regular high-quality green tea. Nonetheless, it helps the stomach in promoting digestion and easing bowel movements. As for IBS, decaffeinated green tea will not cause any problem, instead, it helps to ease its symptoms.

However, always choose high-quality decaf green tea for IBS cure and gut health. 

Green Tea Extract and IBS

Extracts of green tea leaves are usually available as tablets, capsules, or liquids. It drives directly from the green tea leaves, with the concentrated composition of polyphenols, antioxidants, and other nutrients which readily dissolves in your body and give you benefits. Taking green tea extracts in the tea may help relieve the IBS symptoms and promote stomach health.

Is Peppermint Tea Good for IBS?

Peppermint oil or herb tea is an effective remedy for the treatment of a wide range of stomach difficulties. It acts as an antispasmodic agent, which relieves the bowel muscles, so stuck stools can pass swiftly. 

Moreover, it helps to reduce bloating, indigestion, flatulence, tummy pain, and other stomach illnesses. It is backed by science to manage the IBS symptoms, reduce flare-ups, and facilitate bowel movements. 

Best Drink for IBS

Herbal teas can effectively cure IBS. Moreover, there are also some other best methods to cure the IBS condition, following are the best drinks for preventing the IBS condition:

How Do I Get My IBS to Calm Down?

Following are the few best methods to calm the IBS flare-ups and alleviate symptoms:

Conclusion

Green tea and IBS are an efficient home remedy and stomach illness combo. You can efficiently ease the symptoms of IBS by drinking green tea and its different variants. It may help more if you add manuka honey to your tea. Also, matcha green tea is best for the management of IBS symptoms. 

FAQs

Here are answers of few mostly asked questions by the people:

Is Lemon Water Good for IBS?

Lemon water or other citrus fruits are generally not considered safe for the IBS condition since they are rich in acidic content, which can aggravate stomach acidity. However, some studies suggest lemon water may help in the detoxification and cleaning of the gut, which can help IBS symptoms.

How Can I Cure IBS Permanently?

IBS is an incurable disorder; you can’t treat it permanently, but you can manage its symptoms with diet and lifestyle changes. Also, there are many prescription and over-the-counter medicines which help to lower the IBS symptoms. 

Is Black Tea Good for IBS?

Black tea is a good source of antioxidants and plant-based nutrients which help to manage and lower the symptoms of IBS. It improves metabolism, boosts immunity, and promotes digestion health, which may help in the management of Irritable bowel syndrome.  

Why Does Sweet Tea Exacerbate My Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Sweet tea may exacerbate the irritable bowel syndrome condition because it triggers the IBS flare-up and exaggerates its symptoms. Therefore, it is better to avoid sugar or take it in moderation when you have IBS.

What Will Happen if I Drink Green Tea Every Day?

Green tea is nutritionally packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals which help in fighting against free radicals, help lose weight, improve digestion, and promote wellness.