March 4, 2018 by Heather

How to Beat the Bloat

It’s not uncommon to wake up in the morning with the flattest tum and sculpted waistline, only to find yourself looking like you’re 3 months pregnant by the evening. And the timing of our bloated belly couldn’t come at a worse time as that is usually the social time of the day when we’re trying to slip into a little party dress and head out for the night!

Not only does abdominal bloating look bad in that little number we’re trying to put on, but it also brings with it a lot of physical discomforts. The good news is that research suggests this common problem is a condition that is easy to avoid.

What Causes Bloating?

It is a common myth that bloating in the stomach for a healthy adult comes from fluid accumulation. Temporary bloating is caused by intestinal gas and is something that most people have from time to time. Some chronic cases of chronic bloating are caused by a medical condition such as liver or heart disease.

And no matter how many sit-ups or crunches we try to do during the day, it’s not going to force our tummy to go down. A lot of it has to do with our eating habits and lack of physical activity.

Here are a few basic causes:

Constipation

Not enough exercise and too little fiber or fluids can lead to constipation, which in turn is responsible for bloating and stomach discomfort. If you’ve made an effort to up your intake of fiber but are still constipated and suffering from a bloated belly, then it’s probably because you’re not balancing it out with enough fluids.

Carbonated Drinks

Fizzy drinks are not only full of sugar (even the diet ones) but they can also cause gas to get trapped inside your belly. If a flavored drink is what you’re looking for, try adding a slice of lime, lemon, or cucumber to water instead of a fizzy drink.

Too Much Sodium

Processed food has barely any fiber and is loaded with sodium, which causes bloating. Always eat fresh by preparing meals yourself with plenty of whole foods, and when looking for frozen or canned foods, choose items that say’s “low sodium” totally no more than 1,500-2,000 mg of sodium per day.

What You Can Do to Ease the Symptom of Bloating

If you often find yourself bloated even when taken every precaution such as, limiting sodium, avoiding fizzy drinks, eating plenty of fiber and drinking plenty of water – there are still a few things you can do to ease the bloat.

Some studies suggest taking anti-bloating teas and foods to help fight bloating. This includes peppermint tea, ginger tea, fennel tea, hibiscus tea, lemon tea or chamomile tea to name just a few.

Studies also that eating plenty of gut loving foods such as probiotics found in yogurt or fermented foods can keep the stomach happy. Adding parsley and fresh mint to your food helps as well, and tastes great, too!