Is Ginger Tea Good For Constipation? (What Science Say)

Growing up, my mom always used ginger tea as a natural remedy.

Have a cold?

Drink ginger tea.

Want a smoother voice?

Drink ginger tea.

But how about constipation?

Can ginger tea help with constipation?

Let's find out.

What Science Says?

Ginger has been the go-to when it comes to digestive issues, including constipation.

Yes. They indeed help.

But how?

First of all, it helps boost your gastric motility.

Fancy words, right?

But what it actually means is that whenever you eat, foods you've eaten will move through your digestive system easily and faster.

This means that your body will not hold on to the food and make you constipated.

Rather, it helps you reduce constipation by boosting your digestive metabolism.

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences found that taking ginger extract (GE) for 8 weeks helped people who sometimes get constipated.

It made their constipation symptoms better, helped them go to the bathroom more often, and improved their quality of life.

In addition, some compounds inside ginger tea, like gingerols and shagaols, can trigger the right receptors to speed things up.

Ginger can also increase or boost the activity or production of digestive enzymes in your body.

Another amazing discovery about ginger is that ginger tea, made from ginger root, can positively affect your gut microbiome.

In case you don't know, the gut microbiome comprises the community of tiny living things inside your intestine.

These tiny living things called "microorganisms" help boost your digestion, nutrient absorption, immune defense, inflammation control, and overall health.

This makes it a cornerstone of human health.

By drinking ginger tea, you help balance the gut microbiome, decreasing the number of bad bacteria and increasing your good bacteria.

So in conclusion, drinking ginger tea not only helps reduce constipation, but it can also help you reduce inflammation, support your gut health, and protect you against gut diseases.

Can You Have Too Much Ginger Tea?

Yes, any good thing can be bad for you if you overdo it.

Although ginger tea is safe for most people in typical food amounts, taking too much ginger tea can have bad effects on you.

According to UCLA Health, you can eat up to 3g to 4g of ginger per day.

If you are pregnant, however, you may want to limit ginger to 1g per day.

If you take more than 6g per day, you may experience unwanted gastrointestinal problems, like heartburn, diarrhea, and reflux.

In the worst-case scenario, too much ginger can cause bleeding, since it has anti-platelet properties, which can thin your blood.

Who Should Be Extra Careful (Or Skip Ginger)?

You can typically eat ginger safely when eaten in normal amounts, like in food and recipes.

But you need to be cautious of it when in high amounts.

For example, those who take blood thinners like aspirin should avoid drinking it, since ginger also causes a blood-thinning effect.

Or if you're in doubt, just talk to your doctor beforehand.

For instance, in my case, since I was taking blood thinners, I was doubtful of whether to drink ginger tea or not.

So I asked my doctor about this, and he said to just "monitor my condition."

Since there are no reported bleeding cases so far.

Still, don't use my story as your excuse to drink ginger tea; it's still best to discuss it with your doctor first.

Johns Hopkins Medicine stated that ginger, when eaten in large amounts, can affect insulin and lower your blood sugar.

So people with diabetes should take ginger in normal amounts.

Another group of people that needs to be cautious of ginger is pregnant women.

Since there's a study that mentions a potential risk of miscarriage when eaten in large amounts.

Again, limit your consumption to about 1 g of ginger when pregnant.

Moreover, Healthline advises against giving ginger to kids under 2 years old.

So in a nutshell, the groups of people that should avoid or be cautious towards ginger amounts are:

• People taking blood thinners
• People on high blood pressure medications
• Diabetic people
• Pregnant people
• Children under 2 years old

When to See a Doctor?

If you've tried home remedies and lifestyle tweaks (like drinking more water and moving your body) and you're still blocked up, or if it happens a lot, it might be time to call your doctor.

They can figure out the cause and help you find the best way to feel better.

How Do You Even Make Ginger Tea?

Making ginger tea is easy peasy!

You can grab tea bags or use fresh, dried, or powdered ginger.

You can check out the full recipe here.

Conclusion

Ginger can indeed help with constipation, possibly by boosting how your gut moves.

When eaten in normal amounts, it is considered safe.

However, certain groups of people should stay cautious when eating ginger in large amounts, such as pregnant women and diabetic people.

And don't expect it to be the "magical drink" that solves all your problems.

When your constipation just doesn't go away or becomes a persistent problem, speak to your doctor to relieve it.

If you want to learn more about ginger tea's proven health benefits, read it here.

This article was originally published in Brewteaful Moments. Read it here.