Hi ! 

Every month we explore the who, what, where, when and why of an important topic so by the end of the month, you’ll have more information and confidence to make meaningful changes to eat and live better with IBD.

This month’s theme: Teas & Herbal Teas

Quick recap:  You tea connoisseurs know that herbal “teas” aren’t technically “teas” but “infusions”. However, for our purposes, we’re covering herbal infusions with our tea series. Last week we talked about three of our favorite teas: Ginger, Peppermint and Chamomile.

Week 1: How about a cup of tea? 🫖

Week 2: Peppermint, Ginger and Chamomile Walk in to a Bar...

From Scott… 

Growing up, my mom drank coffee and my dad tea. They were in an eternal battle, like waffles versus pancakes. I felt it best to remain impartial, so I stayed out of the fray and drank neither.

As I got older, and particularly after developing gut issues, I was attracted to tea’s health benefits. However, I tried a bunch of tea and wasn’t crazy about any of them, so I didn’t stick with it.

Then, a friend of mine gave me a box of Holy Basil tea as a gift. He had been struggling with Crohn’s for longer than I had, so this felt like an incredibly strong endorsement.

I gave it a shot and really enjoyed it. I started with very weak tea and gradually upped the strength by steeping the tea for more time. Sipping it in the morning legit calmed down my unsettled, raging stomach. It wasn’t a miracle cure, but it definitely helped.

And with that, I found my first ‘tea’. Although I don’t really think of it as tea as much as a warm healing beverage. Besides Holy Basil, these are three of my go-to hot beverages:

• Ginger Plus. Most often I have fresh peeled ginger mixed with hot water. If I’m feeling fancy (or really, if we have fresh turmeric), I similarly peel turmeric root and add that with some black pepper. Black pepper improves the bioavailability of turmeric, meaning we reap more of its anti-inflammatory health benefits.
• Peppermint. As Colleen discussed last week, peppermint can soothe an upset gut by relaxing abdominal muscles. Some people take peppermint supplements for this very reason. For me, I love the taste of peppermint. I fell in love with peppermint tea at a Japanese tea garden in NYC. There was little on the menu I felt comfortable eating, so I ordered tea, and I’m glad I did. I have yet to find a peppermint tea I love as much as that one. If you have any suggestions, please let us know!
• Hot water. No tea on hand? No problem. Hot water is my go to when I’m out and about. Simple but soothing. Add lemon if you wish. It’s not my go-to, but others swear by it to calm their guts (my sister included).

The simple act of adding tea in the morning to soothe an upset gut was in some ways the inspiration for this newsletter. At WBF we believe that small changes can significantly impact our health, and ultimately our lives. Adding tea to my routine was one such small change that really helps me feel better.

So, here are some tips to help you make tea part of your life:

1. Loose or bagged? I’ve grown to prefer loose tea because it’s more flavorful and I can control how much tea to use. One of my favorite gifts of the last few years was a basic tea steeper (Thanks, Mom and Dad!) because it makes drinking loose leaf tea so much easier. I love it.
2. To keep your tea hot, drink from a thin cup (e.g. fine porcelain) versus a thick mug. A thinner cup will help your tea stay hot longer. Or do what I do and drink from a travel mug. This way I don’t have to worry about it getting cold or spilling. Plus, I can travel with it, allowing me to slowly sip and soothe throughout the day.
3. Beware of water temperature. Boiling water (200-212F) is best for black tea, whereas green tea fares better with cooler water (150-180F).

Go here to learn more about how to brew the perfect cup of tea.

Coming up later in the month:

Bertina’s brewing up something special for us… stay tuned!

In the meantime, we wish you a very happy and healthy holiday!

P.S. One humorous tea misstep that had me channeling Ron Burgundy was absentmindedly bringing a full bottle of hot tea to Disney World in peak summer instead of cold water. 

“Hot Tea was a Bad Choice!”

________

Did you know that smoothies are one of the simplest and tastiest ways for people with inflammatory bowel disease to consume wholesome foods, including fruits, vegetables and other high-fiber foods, like nuts and seeds EVEN while following a “low-fiber” diet.

Learn everything you ever wanted to know in our book Smoothies to the Rescue!  

Check it out

Do you have a question about these topics, or something else? Just reply with your question to this email and it may appear in an upcoming newsletter.

In good health,

Colleen, Bertina & Scott

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is in no way intended as medical counseling or medical advice. Results may vary