Getting Rid of Bloat

There is nothing more unnerving than waking up in the morning with a flat stomach only to find it has doubled in size by the early afternoon! If you’ve ever experienced a similar experience, then you know how uncomfortable it feels to be bloated. From a tight feeling in your stomach to excessive gas, the symptoms of being bloated can definitely put a damper on feeling healthy and energetic.

1.Drink water: When your body detects that you aren’t drinking enough water, it will do its best to retain, which will make you look and feel bloated. Drink enough water and urinate 4 to 6 times per day and you will notice your bloated feeling subside as you properly hydrate.

2. Portion control: Be mindful while eating. Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly and eat until you are satisfied, not until full. Only eat when you are physically hungry, not just when you are bored or someone offers you a delicious looking cookie.

3. Cut down on salt: Consuming too much salt can cause your body to cling to water, which leads to bloat. Stick to eating natural foods such as fruits and vegetables. If you do eat a packaged food, make sure to check the sodium content on the package. Always pay attention to how much salt you are eating for overall good health.

4. Less alcohol: Alcohol is dehydrating and can wreak havoc on your digestive system, which will lead to indigestion and bloating.

5. Relieve constipation: It’s important to have regular bowel movements daily. A build up of waste in your digestive tract can cause severe bloating. Eat a diet high in fiber and make sure you are drinking water to lubricate your system.

6. Get rid of the chewing gum: Chewing gum will lead to swallowing excess air. More air in your system will cause you to feel bloated and cause a build up of gas causing not only bloat but pain.

7. Testing for food sensitivities: If you do experience indigestion, gas and/or bloating frequently, monitor what foods you are eating and implement an elimination diet which can help you figure out which foods are causing the problem. Start by eating natural foods (vegetables, fruits, lean meats) and as you add in dairy and grains, take note of how you feel after each meal.

8. Remove carbonated drinks: The air bubbles in carbonated drinks will give you ALOT of gas! When you cut out carbonated beverages (soda, fizzy energy drinks, sparkling water), you will have less gas in your system, which means less bloating in your stomach and you will appear thinner.