A Gut Doctor's Go-To Gut-Friendly Drink (No, Not Water)

Now that the nights are longer and the sun is beginning to shine (hooray!), thoughts of warm comfort foods will soon be replaced with thirst-quenching drinks and snacks. While water is deemed one of the best ways to prevent dehydration and support overall health, it's not the only way.

The catechins in green tea, most notably epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), provide anti-inflammatory benefits1. They have also been shown to absorb into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract effectively, where those same inflammation-modulating properties can help manage or reduce the risk of GI disorders2.

Along with antioxidants, the phytochemicals in green tea help feed Akkermansia muciniphila, a microbe that lines the intestinal walls.

While all green tea varieties support gut health, Singh says he particularly likes jasmine green tea because of the relaxing floral smell. Given what science has discovered about the gut-brain connection3, the calming properties of the tea may soothe not only the stomach but also the mind.