Hi there, I suffer from C and bloating and slight acid reflux so no peppermint tea for me. I drink a cup or two of fennel tea a day and another tea called Yogi Stomach-Ease tea (my absolute favorite). I start off the day with a cup of chamomile though (just to give myself a calming start). I hardly ever drink while I eat - either 30 mins before or toward the end of the meal (if I am having a glass of wine for ex.). I drink a few glasses of room-temperature water in-between meals (sounds like I'm drowning here...). Basically I have a glass of something standing next to me on the table at work (never "force" myself to drink of course). In regards to the vegetable fennel - I eat it with basically everything. Yes, I have heard that the vegetable aids digestion (as do the seeds I imagine, but haven't used them in cooking yet). I slice it thinly and put it raw on a sandwhich with tuna or tahini, I cook it in the oven, you name it. Always have a few bulbs of fennel in my fridge. Feel that it helps me. Sorry for the long answer - hope it can help you as well. ciao, mary