Many people start their day with a cup of coffee or tea, but this routine may not be the best for your digestive system. Caffeinated beverages consumed on an empty stomach can sometimes contribute to issues like acidity and bloating.

According to nutritionist Sonia Mehta, incorporating specific, gut-friendly drinks into your morning regimen, about 15 minutes before breakfast, can help restore digestive balance and minimize discomfort throughout the day. She also suggests rotating these options to provide your gut with varied plant compounds.

Here are five morning drinks recommended to support a healthy digestive tract:

1. Warm Lemon Water 🍋

• Preparation: Squeeze half a lemon into a glass of warm water.
• Benefits: The gentle warmth helps stimulate bowel muscles, which can reduce bloating. The citric acid in lemon signals the liver to release bile, which is crucial for digestion.
• Frequency: Safe to drink every morning.

2. Cumin (Jeera) Water

• Preparation: Typically, cumin seeds are soaked overnight, and the water is consumed in the morning.
• Benefits: Cumin is known to improve digestion by accelerating enzyme release. This helps break down complex carbohydrates more efficiently, preventing them from fermenting and forming gas.
• Frequency: Five to six mornings per week.

3. Ginger with Honey Water 🍯

• Preparation: Mix a small amount of ginger juice or grated ginger with warm water and a teaspoon of honey.
• Benefits: Ginger helps improve gastric emptying (the process of food moving from the stomach to the small intestine) and prevents gas formation. Honey can help soothe the stomach lining, making this drink particularly helpful for those who experience morning nausea or acidity.
• Frequency: Can be taken daily.

4. Aloe Vera Juice with Water

• Preparation: Mix a small quantity (no more than 30 ml) of pure aloe vera juice with water.
• Benefits: Aloe vera possesses natural cooling and healing properties that can help reduce inflammation within the digestive tract, which may, in turn, prevent acid reflux.
• Frequency: Three to four times a week to avoid the body becoming dependent on it.

5. Soaked Fenugreek (Methi) Water

• Preparation: Soak fenugreek seeds overnight. In the morning, drink the water and chew the softened seeds.
• Benefits: Fenugreek seeds are rich in soluble fiber. This fiber creates a protective coating on the stomach lining, which helps reduce acidity. The fiber also acts as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria that maintain smooth digestion.
• Frequency: Three to four mornings per week.