Have you ever noticed that your body is being moody? Like one day you wake up with a gorgeous summer body, and the next day your pregnant-like belly pops up out of nowhere? Ladies, rest assured that you are far from alone especially since bloating among women is more common than you think.
But who is the culprit? Is it gas? Hormones? Or indigestion? Let’s figure it out together!
- Fizzy drinks are held responsible…
Soda lovers, we don’t want to disappoint you; but the gas found in soda bubbles fills your digestive system and can be trapped in your intestines for a long time causing bloating. Oh, and let’s not mention the excess sugar in soda that plays a major role in bloating.
- Eating too much fatty food
We guess you are wondering: “First soda, and now burgers?”. We are sorry to break that to you, but yes consuming a lot of fats can make you feel bloated because, unlike other types of food, fat takes longer to be digested by the body. This means that it will stay there for a while leaving you bloated.
- Salt is not innocent
Just like spicy, sugary, and fatty food, salty food can leave you with a baby bump. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to completely stop consuming salt. You can give your body its needs, but make sure not to overconsume as this will preserve water in your body, leaving you bloated and with other threatening health problems.
- Food intolerance can be really disturbing
And lactose intolerance is at the top of the list. Keep an eye on the food that is causing stomach aches, gas, and bloating, and try to avoid it as much as possible.
- Constipation plays a key role
Most of the time when you are constipated, you feel bloated and this is normal! In fact, certain food, dehydration, and changes in diet can make your stomach tight and full.
- Stress and anxiety have been found guilty!
Until today, researchers haven’t found the exact relationship between stress, anxiety, and bloating, but this doesn’t mean that they have nothing to do with our bloated belly. Notice how when you’re stressed out your baby bump suddenly shows. See, we told you.
- Overeating and eating too fast…
These two unhealthy habits can cause indigestion, which will automatically press your “bloating mode” button.
Eating fast can make you swallow more air that will more likely be stuck in your intestines and cause bloating.
- Consuming too many carbs isn’t a good idea!
If you are wondering what made you bloated and caused water retention in your body, remember what you had for lunch. Yes, that’s probably it! You ate too many carbs in one meal…
Carbs, especially complex carbs, take longer to be digested which will leave you full and bloated.
- Perhaps your hormones are behind it all
Check your period calendar as bloating can be a symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and the menstrual cycle. In fact, PMS can make you retain water which in turn leads to bloating.
How to beat off bloating?
The first step towards preventing bloating is to know the main reason behind it. However, the below 11 tips will help you big time:
- Take a stroll after eating and exercise regularly
- A warm bath can be a relief
- Yoga can help!
- Practice mindful eating
- Stay away from processed food
- Drink plenty of water
- Add fiber to your diet
- Herbal teas such as dandelion tea, peppermint, chamomile, ginger, and turmeric can ease bloating
- Avoid food you are intolerant to
- Don’t overconsume fizzy drinks, alcohol, and caffeine
- Stick to a healthy meal at night
Ladies, we all agree that bloating can be a nightmare especially if it’s accompanied by discomfort; but the aforementioned tips can directly bring you relief! However, if you ever notice that the bloating lasted for more than 3 weeks, you have chest pain, severe stomach ache, or any other alarming symptoms, consult your doctor immediately as it might be “more than a normal bloating”.
