You may feel bloated in the hot weather but 'magic' drink can help

Warm weather can improve people's moods, according to a University of Michigan study. It can also improve sleep and gives us more Vitamin D, according to the National Institute for

Health and Care Excellence (NICE). So there's plenty of reasons to like it - including the fact it looks nice. But while every cloud has a silver lining, every sun, well, has a cloud.

Battling through sleepless nights and sweating profusely are just two of the less appealing aspects of extreme heat. Yet there's another unexpected side effect to consider: bloating.

BLOATING IN HOT WEATHER It's quite common to experience minor swelling from the sun's rays - take your fingers, for example, a place where you might've noticed a slight

puffiness. However, stomach bloating is the biggest issue. But take heart - for those feeling abnormally bloated during a hot spell, there's no need for concern. In fact, it's a

common bodily response and isn't harmful. WHY DO WE GET BLOATED IN HOT WEATHER? The most straightforward explanation is that in our quest to stay hydrated, we often rapidly drink cold

beverages – which contributes to the bloating. Dr Pamela Mason, a nutrition expert part of the Tea Advisory Panel, told the Mirror: "Hot weather can cause bloating for several reasons.

Firstly, the heat causes the blood vessels and capillaries to dilate allowing more fluid to fill in the interstitial spaces between organs and tissues." She added: "Secondly, there

is some, emerging, evidence that hot weather can change the bacterial mix in the gut which can lead to digestive problems such as diarrhoea and constipation which redirects blood flow to

the gut." Lastly, Dr Mason highlighted: "Thirdly, a heat wave can cause us to gulp down cold drinks causing bloating. For women all year round, bloating is more common before and

during menstruation." Dr Mason said that "in most cases this is not dangerous," although it can lead to discomfort and the desire to alleviate symptoms. WHAT CAN WE DO TO DEAL

WITH BLOATING IN HOT WEATHER? Dr Mason pointed to one 'magic' beverage for tackling bloating. It's tea, particularly black and ginger varieties. Dr Mason noted: "Black

tea, so your cuppa (with or without milk) can help with bloating because of its flavonoid content. Tea flavonoids can reduce inflammation in the gut so helping to reduce bloating." She

added: "Tea flavonoids can also improve the microbial mix in the gut by reducing the ratio of less healthy bacteria to healthy bacteria. Less healthy bacteria in the gut can contribute

to bloating. "Ginger tea has the ability to reduce indigestion which in turn can help reduce bloating too. But if you drink black tea, stick with it, as its flavonoid content can help

overall health, including gut health." To further combat bloating, Dr Mason suggests "eating more fibre (if you have constipation) and getting plenty of exercise". She

advised: "Also eat mindfully – slowly and chewing carefully so as not to bloat yourself with gas. Most importantly stay well hydrated but it's best to drink non-fizzy drinks such

as tea of all kinds and water. "Sipping a warm cup of tea is helpful for bloating in part because you cannot gulp it down plus it's packed with many health and wellness

benefits."