Are you bloated!!!???
We all have experienced bloated stomach and we all know it sucks hard. A bloated tummy defies our best efforts at dieting so that even though the scales may give the reading you desire, the tape measure doesn’t.
When you get bloated it can be caused for many reasons. Sometimes it’s for over eating or over drinking, or sometimes because of our PMS. However, sometimes the bloated stomach remains like forever. I’m gonna tell you the principal resons of why we get bloated, and what to do to get rid of it.
You can discard the ones that doesn’t apply to you, and and find out the reason of the problem. However, if you start doing all this stuff for more than 1 week and don’t see results, please go to your doctor.
Cause 1: Water retention.
A quick way to test for yourself if you suspect you may be suffering from fluid/water retention is to press your thumb onto your
lower leg for a couple of seconds. When you release the pressure gently feel to see if the skin has sprung back or if you
have been left with an indentation. If you can feel a dent this may be a sign of fluid retention.
Many remedies are available. Diuretics (water tablets) can provide temporary
relief but are not always the best solution as these can lead to dehydration and dizziness. A better solution is to cut down on
salt and alcohol intake and increase potassium levels. Good natural sources of potassium include fruit (especially bananas),
vegetables, pulses, nuts and seeds, milk, fish, shellfish, beef and poultry. If you are in the habit of adding salt to meals try
switching to low sodium alternatives such as LoSalt which is high in natural potassium and contains 66% less sodium than
regular salts. Drink at least 8 cups of water per day.
Cause 2: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Treating ibs and digestive problems can be difficult and treatments should be
discussed with your GP. However many home remedies and over the counter treatments are available and well worth trying.
If you suffer from ibs you will more than likely also have additional symptoms such as
● constipation
● abdominal pain
● diarrhoea
Some of the more common remedies you may be prescribed include anti-spasmodic tablets such as Spasmonal, Colofac and
Buscopan. As the title suggests these work by acting directly on the smooth muscle in the gut, causing it to relax. This
relieves painful muscle spasms of the gut, without affecting it’s normal motility.
Over the counter remedies such as peppermint oil capsules and peppermint tea are also useful for soothing the symptoms.
Charcoal products which are available from most health food shops are a popular choice for bloating and excess wind in the
lower abdomen. Other popular products such as Gas X containing Simethicone, can be extremely helpful in dispersing
excess gas and are available in a variety of forms including strips,softgels and chewable tablets.
Beano is a natural food enzyme dietary supplement that can help prevent gas before it starts. It’s available in either tablet or
liquid form and works on neutralising the gases caused by a variety of foods including beans, vegetables and whole grains.
Probiotic drinks and yoghurts may also be helpful by encouraging good bacteria and helping to maintain a healthy gut. It’s
worth incorporating these into your daily diet to assist digestion and keep ‘everything moving’. Activia is currently one of the
market leaders and is available from all leading stores and supermarkets. The recommendation is to consume one or two
pots per day for at least a fortnight. After this time the manufacturers are confident you will feel better with a noticable
reduction in bloating.
Cause 3: Stress:
Many people suffer from a ‘nervous tummy’ and most of us are familiar with that stomach lurching feeling or that urgent need
to rush to the toilet when we are anxious or under pressure.
Gulping food down too quickly can also create bloating by allowing too much air to be swallowed. Remember how you have to
‘burp’ a baby when he guzzles down the contents of his bottle?
Chewing gum and drinking fizzy drinks can all cause the same problem. Taking time to eat slowly and chewing food properly
can be helpful. Try eating smaller portions and putting the fork down between mouthfuls. You should also avoid drinking
through straws.
Relaxation techniques may be the best long term solutions to help to deal with bloating caused by stress.
When we are under severe stress the brain releases hormones that put an enormous burden on our digestive systems. But
different people may react in completely different ways and while some may be unable to eat a single morsel others won’t be
able to stop themselves raiding the fridge and gorging on comfort foods. It’s no wonder that stress has been implicated in
digestive disorders including cramps, diarrhoea, heartburn and bloating.
Cause 4: Food Intolerance
Food intolerance on the other hand is the inability of the body to properly break down and digest certain foods and
ingredients. It shouldn’t be confused with food allergy, wich is a much more serious thing.
One common cause of food intolerance is lactose found in cow’s milk. This occurs in some people who have a shortage of
the enzyme lactase. Lactase is needed to break down milk sugar and allow it to be absorbed into the bloodstream. The
symptoms of lactose intolerance can be mild or severe and include nausea, cramps, diarrhoea and bloating. A range of tests
are available through your doctor to detect lactose intolerance.
Anyone found to be intolerant to lactose will need to modify their diet and reduce their intake of milk and other dairy products.
Nowadays, lactose reduced milk and other products are available at most supermarkets. For those whose symptoms are
more severe, lactase enzyme may be prescribed in liquid or tablet form to aid digestion.
Certain other types of food are well known to cause excess gas, for example: onions; broccoli; cabbage and beans etc.
There are also a number of ‘hidden’ foods and food additives can also contribute to bloating and the best way of isolating
those responsible is to follow a careful elimination diet for 3 - 7 days.
References: beatbloating.com
