The days where we can wear big and comfy sweaters to hide bloating are long gone. We are now here facing the days of skinny jeans, fitted clothes and bikinis. The pressure of hiding our pouches is upon us. You might have experienced at one time, when you tried to zip up your jeans, you felt like you cut the circulation from your upper body to your lower. Don’t worry, you haven’t gained weight, you just have a bloating.
We’ve all been through it, especially on the days just before, on or after our periods. The sensation of swelling and fullness in the abdomen. This sensation doesn’t only manifest physically, but it can also affect our self-confidence and mood. So, why does bloating happen and what can we do to stop it?
We will all experience bloating. This is often caused by bloating from fluids, production of gas and occurs during digestion. Though, the production of gas is not to blame. It is how the body handles the gas. This is what gives the stomach that pouch and irritation.
For people that constantly get bloating, there is good news for you. You can reduce the appearance of bloating with some simple food and lifestyle changes. Try fighting of inflation with these bloat blocking foods.
Rice
Foods that are harder to digest or indigestible can cause gas buildup and bloating. Substituting these types of carbohydrates with fully digested carbohydrates such as rice and rice flour can help fight off bloating. Substituting starches such as corn, potatoes, oats and wheat with fully digested carbohydrates, limit the formation of gas in the gut.
Yogurt
Not all yogurt can fight off bloating. If you want to find yogurt that can fight off the bloat, find ones that have active cultures and probiotic. Consuming yogurt that contains active cultures regularly will increase the production of bifido bacterium and lactobacillus in the digestive tract. These are considered good bacteria, they can enhance digestion, reduce gas production and prevent belly bloating. The best source of active culture is plain yogurt. You can find also find them in plain low fat or non-fat yogurt. If this type of yogurts tends to be too bland for you, you can always add fresh fruit to add sweetness. Yogurts that are flavored usually contain little to no active culture.
Banana
Bloating is not always caused by gas build up in the gut. It can also be caused by a diet high in sodium. These sodium is usually present in junk food, processed food and fast food. When the body consumes too much sodium, we retain more water in the body. Hence an increase in water weight and bloating. Bananas contain potassium, potassium that can help counter the effects of sodium. Having a balanced potassium and sodium level in the body can help balance water retention in the body. If you experience bloating from the instant noodles you had last night, eat some banana in the morning to balance it out.
If there are foods that can fight bloating, there are also foods that can cause it. Processed food such as canned soups, bottled salad dressings, frozen diner and condiments are usually high in salt. The high sodium content of this food will increase the body’s need to store water. Beans and broccoli are foods that can increase gas buildup in the stomach. Sugar free anything is usually sweetened using artificial sweeteners with sorbitol, mannitol and maltitol that can cause gas and delayed digestion.
Eating habits can also cause bloating. Chewing gum, excessive intake of carbonated drinks, using a straw, eating too quickly and talking while eating makes you inhale more air. This leads to gassiness and bloating.
We all tend to get puffy now and then, but when you seem to constantly experience bloating and no remedy or even cutting down on gas causing foods; then it is time to consult a professional. Talk to your doctor, he or she will distinguish the cause of your continual bloating. This can be caused by celiac disease, gluten, lactose intolerance, urinary tract infection and irritable bowel syndrome; all of these diseases need proper testing to fully distinguish. Chronic constipation can also cause bloating. If you have not been able to have a bowel movement for three or more days, inform your doctor.
