20/10/2022
Bloating happens to the best of us.
You know that uncomfortable feeling when your stomach is distended and your pants are too tight? Yeah, that's bloating. It's different from carrying around a few extra pounds—when you're bloated, your belly might look larger, but it's usually just trapped air. And while we all experience it from time to time, some people are more prone to bloating than others.
There are a few different things that can cause bloating, including overeating, eating too fast, swallowing air, smoking, drinking through a straw, chewing gum, and drinking carbonated beverages. Some medical conditions can also cause bloating, such as celiac disease, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, constipation, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and ovarian cysts. Hormonal changes during menstruation can also lead to bloating.
If you're someone who tends to experience bloating on a regular basis, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the symptoms. For one, try to avoid foods that are known to cause gas and bloating, such as Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carbonated drinks, Dairy products (for those who are lactose intolerant), Fried foods, Onions, and Soda crackers. Chewing food thoroughly and drinking plenty of water are also good habits to adopt. And last but not least, regular exercise can help keep everything moving along smoothly—literally.
Bloating sucks—there's no two ways about it. But if you're someone who suffers from bloating on a regular basis, there are things you can do to reduce the symptoms. If you'd like to learn more about bloating and how we treat it, reach out, we're here to help!