Have you ever gone to slip into a pair of your favorite pants, only to find that they just aren’t fitting quite right and seem to be a bit tighter than you remember? You might be experiencing a common problem: bloating! So what exactly is bloating? Excellent question – let’s explore it!
Bloating is an irritating, yet common symptom that can be caused by a variety of things. Patricia Raymond, M.D., a gastroenterologist, explains that bloating can be caused from a number of things:
- Fluid retention
- Excess gas
- Constipation
If you find yourself experiencing bloating, here are some tips that Dr. Raymond recommends to help banish the bloat:
Stay away from soda. The bubbles in carbonated beverages cause your belly to pooch out. It is much better to stick to plain water.
Choose potassium-rich foods. Potassium helps regulate your body’s fluid balance, which helps prevent bloating. Foods high in the mineral include bananas, cantaloupe, mangoes, spinach, tomatoes, nuts and asparagus.
Keep your mouth closed. Be cautious of habits that cause you to swallow excess air such as chewing gum, drinking through a straw and talking while you’re eating.
Have some parsley. Add fresh, chopped parsley (a natural diuretic) to meals.
Cut out late night carbs. Starches like pasta and bread may cause you to retain water, so lay off them before you go to bed to prevent waking up puffy.
Have a probiotic. These “good bacteria,” which are found in supplements and in cultured milk products such as yogurt, can keep you regular and bloat-free.
Get active. Walking for at least 10-15 minutes can fight constipation. Physical activity keeps food moving through your digestive tract. Additionally, fluids are released when you work up a sweat.
Apply pressure. To help get rid of gas, try massaging your abdomen in the direction of your GI tract: Press your fingers near your right hip: slide up towards the ribs, across and down near your colon in a circular motion. Sounds funny, but some people say that this really works!
Do you have any other suggestions for preventing or alleviating bloating? Please share if you do!
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