We have all felt it after eating a big meal or overindulging on foods we know don’t agree with us . . . Belly Bloat. And for many of us it isn’t easy to beat.
In fact, there were times I wasn’t able to fit in my regular clothes, I looked six months pregnant, and the discomfort left me unable to sleep.
I tried exercise and over the counter medication, but often resorted to just wearing different clothes. On my quest to beat belly bloat, I’ve tried just about everything, and I’ve found a few things that help.
But, when you feel like you’ve tried it all . . . Before you give up and resign to living with a bloated stomach, try these ideas to defeat belly bloat.
Avoid Chewing Gum
Chewing gum forces you to swallow air. The excess air can end up in your stomach and can make bloating worse.
Reduce Evening Carbohydrates
If you have belly bloat in the morning, research shows this can be caused by too many carbohydrates the evening before. If you eat carbohydrates earlier in the day when you are active your body has time to digest them.
Quit the Soda Habit
Soda and other carbonated beverages are an obvious culprit, but it’s often hard to break the habit. Find a no fizz alternative.
Add Potassium Rich Foods
Potassium in food can improve belly bloat by helping your body have better fluid control on a cellular level. You’ll get the most potassium from foods such as avocado, tomatoes, spinach, and many nuts and seeds.
Avoid Fake Sugars
Artificial sugars – or artificial anything for that matter – is hard for your body to digest. Even a small amount of these fake sugars can cause unnecessary bloating and larger amounts can cause cramping and stomach pain.
Add a Probiotic
Probiotics can greatly benefit your digestive system. They can help you balance the good and bad bacteria in your but which is important to decreasing bloating. The yogurts advertising digestive benefits don’t actually have enough probiotics to balance your gut – you need fermented vegetables like kimchi or a supplement.
Drink Tea
Instead of drinking juice or coffee which can irritate the gut and bladder, try switching to tea. Green tea and peppermint tea has the most evidence behind it to improve digestion.
Don’t forget – you must have your nutrition in order for any of these to help improve your digestion.
If you need help figuring out what foods may be causing you inflammation and irritation, contact a Health Coach for guidance. We can work together to identify your food triggers and find yummy substitutes for those foods you love but don’t love you back. Click the link below to find about more about working with a health coach.
Belly bloat doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your body. Use these strategies and win your battle with bloat.
