For the past year, I have embraced a simple yet effective morning ritual: a warm cup of ginger tea made with just ginger and water. I drink it first thing in the morning before anything touches my stomach (even coffee!).
Being from India has its perks. There’s a remedy for almost everything in your kitchen, and we are staunch followers of Ayurveda. Before making an appointment with a doctor for most issues, we try to find a cure in the kitchen. Growing up, ginger was always present in my household, whether in food, chai, or home remedies for colds and digestive issues. Yet, it wasn’t until I started drinking ginger tea every morning that I truly realised its potential.
My mornings have been chaotic for most of my professional life — a rushed cup of coffee, a hurried breakfast, and the inevitable bloating and sluggishness that followed. My skin was prone to blemishes, and I often felt as though my digestive system was crying out for help.
Ever since I got into remote working, the first change I made was starting slow. Every morning, I begin my day by boiling a few slices of fresh ginger in a cup of water. The spicy, earthy flavour of the tea is comforting and invigorating, especially in winter months when all you want is to sip warm drinks.
A few weeks into the practice, one of the first things I noticed was a reduction in bloating. For years, I had battled with that uncomfortable feeling of fullness that seemed to persist throughout the day. Within a few weeks of drinking ginger tea, that discomfort began to dissipate. Ginger, as it turns out, is a natural anti-inflammatory and carminative, meaning it helps to relax the gastrointestinal tract and alleviate bloating and gas. I started feeling lighter, both physically and mentally.
According to Dr Leke Asong, GP and Gut Health Specialist at Gut Health Medic, “Ginger has a long history of traditional use as a healing herb, both fresh and dry form. It is a highly revered root in ancient healing systems such as Ayurvedic, Tibetan, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Ginger is high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and polyphenols, and helps stimulate digestive juices. Antioxidants reduce inflammation, resulting in less bloating and gas.”
My digestion also saw a remarkable improvement. I’ve always had a somewhat sensitive stomach – and certain foods, especially takeaways, would leave me feeling uneasy for hours. Since incorporating ginger into my mornings, I’ve noticed that my digestive system feels more robust. Meals sit better, and I experience far less indigestion.
“Ginger also helps support the migrating motor complex (MMC), a recurring pattern of rhythmic contractions in the stomach and small intestine. The MMC moves undigested food, bacteria, cells, and secretions towards the colon. The phytonutrients in ginger also reduce gut inflammation. These actions optimise gut function to be ready for digestion. Starting your day with ginger water is highly effective. Our guts digest carbohydrates, protein and fat more efficiently after consuming ginger water,” says Dr Asong.
Dr. Peter Brukner, who is a nutritionist, dietitian and sports physician based in Australia – and the author of Fat Lot of Good – says ginger can help with balancing blood sugar levels. “This is very important because it helps keep your energy stable all day long. Ginger can also improve how the body responds to insulin, so the body can deal with sugars from food in a better way. Drinking ginger tea before your meals can help prevent blood sugar spikes after eating.”
