Everyone experiences temporary bloating throughout the day due to natural fluctuations in stomach acid, hunger signals, and water levels. However, many people also experience chronic bloating from a variety of causes.
Bloating can have negative impacts on your daily life. It’s hard to feel confident and comfortable in your own body when you’re constantly feeling puffy. Fortunately, there are several tips and tricks you can use to ease discomfort from bloating.
This article outlines several methods for reducing the amount of gas that builds up in the stomach after eating. as well as drinking water before meals to prevent excess gas production after eating.
Normal bloating is uncomfortable, but it’s not dangerous. However, it can lead to more serious health problems like chronic constipation or colon cancer, so it’s always important to ensure you’re vigilant in any changes in your bowel health, or just your health in general.
When looking at remedies to treat bloating, it’s important to know what’s causing that bloating. For example, if the excess bloating is caused by a lactose intolerance, which is very common, then you can eat lactose-free foods like soy milk and use lactose-free supplements like Lactaid pills to help relieve the discomfort until your body builds up its tolerance to dairy products.
Stay Hydrated
One of the best ways to reduce bloating is to simply stay hydrated. Few people drink enough water throughout the day, and as a result, many experience mild dehydration. This is particularly true for those who experience bloating, as dehydration is known to cause an increase in intestinal gas.
Therefore, drinking enough water throughout the day can help to prevent and treat bloating. Beyond just preventing bloating, staying hydrated is an important part of overall health and wellness because it ensures that your body has the resources it needs to function efficiently.
If you experience bloating from constipation or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), increased water intake may help with regularity. Beyond these common effects, staying hydrated can help you avoid headaches and cramps, improve brain function and mood, and improve skin health.
Change Up Your Diet
An immediate way to start reducing bloating is to change your diet. Simply eating less processed foods and more whole foods can make a significant difference in how bloated you feel during the day.
Eating a diet high in processed foods can cause your body to produce excessive amounts of gas and bloating. If you notice that certain foods that make you bloated, it’s worth noting that certain foods ferment in the gut longer than others.
For example, cabbage, broccoli, cabbage, beans, and cauliflower are known to be particularly gas producing foods. Therefore, consider changing your diet so that it consists of more whole foods and less processed foods. Doing so may help to reduce the amount of gas your body produces.
Try an Over The Counter Supplement
There are many supplements available over-the-counter that may help to reduce bloating. One such supplement is Beano, which contains an enzyme that breaks down natural compounds called galactosides found in beans, split peas, and other legumes that are known to cause excessive gas.
Beano is available in pill form and can be taken before eating legumes to reduce bloating. Another OTC supplement that may help to reduce bloating is a probiotic. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can be found in yogurt and other fermented dairy products.
However, it’s also possible to take a probiotic supplement in pill form. Probiotics have many positive health effects, and they’re particularly helpful for those who experience bloating because they promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.
Try a Probiotic
Another way to tackle bloating is to use a probiotic. Probiotics are live bacteria that can help to boost your immune health while also reducing bloating. If you suffer from chronic bloating, a probiotic supplement can help with digestion, reduce gas, and improve your overall health. There are many different brands of probiotic supplements, so it’s best to speak with your doctor about the best one for you.
Exercises That Combat Bloating
Exercises can help to combat bloating in a couple different ways. By increasing blood flow, it can help to decrease the amount of bloating that occurs due to constipation by moving things along more quickly.
Additionally, it can help to relieve gas pressure in the stomach by helping to move gas out through the intestines. Simply doing some light exercise like walking can help to relieve gas pressure and make you feel less bloated.
If you experience bloating due to IBS, certain exercises may exacerbate symptoms. Therefore, if you experience bloating as a result of IBS. it’s best to consult with your doctor to find out which types of exercises are best for you. However, in general, it’s best to avoid exercising during a flare-up as it can make symptoms worse.
Bloating can be a serious problem for many people, especially those with IBS or other digestive disorders. There are many different ways to reduce bloating. From eating foods that don’t cause gas to drinking plenty of water throughout the day. It’s important to be mindful of what you’re eating and how it’s affecting your body.
