5 Ways to Beat the Bloat

Battle of the bulge happens to the best of us!  Whether its mid-menses or post-plateful, bloating can be more than just annoying – it can be downright painful!  Bloating is when your belly feels swollen after eating , due to excess gas production or disturbances in the movement of the muscles of the digestive system.  It is described as often causing pain and a "stuffed" feeling.

No one likes to feel bloated. Beyond that, no one likes to look bloated either! Clothes fit differently (or don’t fit at all) and your attire may be accompanied by an unwavering look on your face that screams discomfort. So, how do we bypass the balloon feeling? We found the top 5 ways to battle the bloat so you can get back to living your best life yet!

Opt for smaller and more frequent meals.  Give your body time to digest without filling up and “topping off”.  Your body uses food as energy so consume nutrient-dense options that your body will actually utilize, meaning less waste sitting in the gut causing that bloating feeling and appearance.

Un-invite inflammation. If you’ve been snacking on foods that you have slight allergies or intolerances to, you can bet that bloat is going to ensue. It is your body’s way of telling you that it is inflamed and fighting off what it believes to be a foreign substance attacking your body!  Ditch the difficult-to-digest foods and stick to what your body enjoys effortlessly.

Banish the Burps.  You may not be able to get rid of belching altogether but sucking in less air can help immensely with relieving and reducing issues of bloating.  Do not endlessly drink through straws with little to no beverage on the opposite end. Also, if you can, avoid or lessen your intake of carbonated drinks.

Supplement with… a supplement.  Talk with your physician to learn about which dietary supplements can assist you with regulating your gut health and food tolerance. They also can help regulate your parasympathetic system which is known for “resting and digesting” functions of your body. Digestive enzymes can help actively break down the properties of foods that are otherwise causing you to puff up.

Take regular trips to the loo.   If you aren’t already having a bowel movement at least once per day, you are likely feeling the effects of toxins building up and pushing out your stomach area.  This could very well be why your mid-section feels not just enlarged but also your body feels overall fatigued. If you notice issues of constipation, share this with your healthcare professional as regular build up of waste can be very painful and even dangerous.

No matter your body’s response and untimely reaction via bloating, consider speaking to your primary care physician to see about options for symptoms diagnoses and next steps to rectify or at least reduce the issue significantly, if not completely.