Natural And Other Remedies For Gas
Two products on the market can help with food-related gas and bloating. Both products are packaged forms of the enzymes needed to break down the problematic carbohydrates. Lactase, found in products such as Dairy Ease and Lactaid, can be taken with dairy foods to help break down lactose and lessen gas. Beano helps digest the indigestible carbohydrate in beans and other gas-producing vegetables.
Natural remedies for gas include:
- Peppermint tea
Take Digestive Enzyme Supplements
Certain over-the-counter products may also help with bloating, such as supplemental enzymes that can help break down indigestible carbohydrates.
Notable ones include:
- Lactase: An enzyme that breaks down lactose, which is useful for people with lactose intolerance.
- Beano: Contains the enzyme alpha-galactosidase, which can help break down indigestible carbohydrates from various foods.
In many cases, these types of supplements can provide almost immediate relief.
If youre interested in trying a digestive enzyme supplement, a wide .
Summary
Many over-the-counter products can help fight bloating and other digestive problems. These are usually digestive enzymes that help break down certain food components.
When Is Bloating Cause For Concern
If the above tips don’t help get rid of your bloating and you’re experiencing chronic and painful bloating, Dr. Sonpal says that could be a sign of a larger health issue like celiac disease , certain forms of cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, or a perforated GI tract. In this case, he recommends seeing your doctor or a gastroenterologist for an evaluation.
Dr. Dweck adds that while temporary and mild bloating is, again, totally normal during the second half of your cycle when progesterone is elevated, it should typically resolve with the onset of your period, or shortly thereafter.;If the bloating worsens or is persistent throughout your cycle, it could be caused by an underlying condition, like an ovarian cyst, gastrointestinal distress, or even ovarian cancer, so it’s important to talk to your ob-gyn.
Read Also: Do Bananas Help With Bloating
Don’t Multitask When Eating
“I’m almost never just eating a mealI’m also on my computer or watching television or scrolling through my phone,” admits Lindsey Metrus, Byrdie’s senior editor. After a lifetime of bloat, she decided to try traditional Chinese medicine to ward off some of her discomfort. It turns out, the distraction was part of the problem. “Multitasking with some sort of digital distraction leads to overeating or scarfing down food hurriedly, which translates to poor digestion. It’s also one of the main reasons people face spleen qi deficiency,” according to Emma Suttie, D.Ac., AP.
Metrus continues, “I made it a point to enjoy as many meals as I could peacefully and undistracted, focusing on chewing each piece of food since breaking down foods before they get to the spleen means the spleen has less work to do.” Not only will chewing slowly encourage healthier;digestion and, in turn, less bloat, but it will also speed up your metabolism .
Properties Of Three Spices
- All spices are kapha-vata destroyers. Also improves your digestion.
- Cumin helps in relieving bloating along with abdominal pain.
- Fennel is sweet enhances the taste of tea and relieves bloating as well as constipation.
- Ajwain helps in relieving pain caused by gas, makes you feel lighter and increases appetite. It also improves the taste of your mouth.
Recommended Reading: Why Does Salad Make Me Have Diarrhea
Replace Sodas With Water
Fizzy, carbonated drinks contain gas that can build up in the stomach. The carbon dioxide that makes soda and similar beverages fizzy can also cause bubbling and bloating in the stomach.
Sugars or artificial sweeteners in the diet can also cause gas and bloating. Drinking water eliminates these issues and helps to treat constipation as well.
What Causes Bloating During Menopause
During early menopause, you will see a significant fluctuation in hormone levels, which can result in a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, weight gain, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. One of the primary shifts that you will experience is a drastic change in your levels of estrogen. Estrogen is the hormone that is responsible for keeping the right levels of bile and water in the body. When these levels begin to fluctuate, your body will respond by storing more water, leading to bloat. When estrogen affects bile production, your body will digest fats differently, which can result in higher levels of flatulence in the digestive tract.
There are other issues that can lead to gas and bloating in your 50s that are not directly related to the level of hormones in your body.;
Don’t Miss: How Long Can An Ibs Flare Up Last
Other Ways To Reduce Bloating
Bloating is a very common problem, but can often be resolved with relatively simple changes.
There are several strategies that can help reduce bloating, outlined in this article.
If you have persistent digestive problems, then you may want to consider a low-FODMAP diet. It can be incredibly effective, not just for bloating but for other digestive issues as well.
However, make sure to also see a doctor to rule out a potentially serious medical condition.
Causes Of Stomach Bloating
It can be challenging to determine the cause of stomach bloating. Some known causes of stomach bloating include:
- Excess gas in the intestine
- Small intestinal bacteria overgrowth
- Irregular amounts of microorganisms in the bowel
- Sensitivity or intolerance to food
- Sensitivity of perception to digestive tract
- Spinal curvature of the lumbar spine resulting in lessened abdominal capacity for gas;
- Gastroparesis, a motility disorder that delays the stomachs ability to empty itself
- Anxiety, depression, and other gut-brain connections
Recommended Reading: Does Bananas Cause Bloating
Tip #: Stress Management
Like I’ve said, our guts are smart! A lot of people call them our second brain and they can get thrown out of whack if we’re feeling extra stress at home, work, etc. So, I think a good first thing to do is check in with your stress level and to learn how to cope with that. I love journaling to help work through my stress and anxieties. If you don’t journal you should! I talk more about the benefits of journaling and give you over 40 prompts to start with in my blog post on how to journal!
Who Knew Dehydration Would Trigger Your Bloat
Dehydration forces your body to retain water and swell. And its a common phenomenon. In fact, it is estimated that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Whats worse is that sometimes getting rid of excess water can be more difficult than releasing gas. Dehydration can even cause your face to bloat. No, thank you!;
Read Also: Bananas Gassy Stomach
Easy Ways To Debloat After Overeating
It happens to all of us. While you may follow a healthy diet every day, there are some days where you may splurge a little bit. There’s no problem with indulging in some treatsone day of “bad” eating isn’t going to have any long-term effect on your health or weightbut that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the effects of a binge the next day. Whether it’s on vacation, a special event, or a holiday gathering, binge eating or overeating can cause some uncomfortable symptoms, such as bloating, digestive discomfort, and fatigue.
While these symptoms will be temporary, there are some things you can do immediately after eating to speed up your recovery. To help reduce bloating and flatten your stomach after a splurge, we put together a list of expert-recommended and science-backed tips that can provide some immediate relief. Read on, and for more on how to lose weight, you won’t want to miss The Best Ways to Lose Belly Fat for Good, Say Doctors.
Make Water Your Main Beverage
Skip the bubbles and boozeat least in the short term. It may sound counterintuitive, but staying hydrated discourages water retention because your body isnt struggling to hold on to the water it has. Because alcohol can be dehydrating , it can make you feel bloated. Drinking carbonated beverages can also lead to a buildup of gas and make you feel puffy, so take a break from seltzer and other fizzy drinks.
Also Check: What Does It Mean When You Keep Having Heartburn
Natural Tips On How To Get Rid Of Bloating After Eating Fast
Bloating causes many people to feel uncomfortable after eating. Both factors gas buildup in intestines and water retained in the body can cause you to have abdominal distention. Bloating is usually caused by unabsorbed food that is fermented in the colon. The fermentation produces gases which cause irritation.
Fortunately, measures such as pushing the gas out, adjusting the diet and taking some medications can help reduce the symptoms of bloating. The article below will give you all that, but first, let’s find out some more information about the bloating.
What Actually Is Bloating
Bloating occurs when there’s a buildup of “excessive amounts of gas and air,” explains Niket Sonpal, M.D., an NYC-based internist and gastroenterologist. “Bloating is the term used to describe when the stomach feels distended or enlarged after eating or drinking,” he tells InStyle. “It can also develop when a person eats too much, or if they have a sensitivity to a type of food.”
Bloating is also a very common occurrence during your time of the month and can include abdominal distention, cramping, fullness, and the inability to suck your stomach in, says New York-based gynecologist and Midol partner Dr. Alyssa Dweck, M.D.
Recommended Reading: Can Align Probiotic Cause Nausea
Look At Supplements And Medications
Some supplements, such as iron, can cause constipation and other symptoms of indigestion. This can increase bloating. Potassium, on the other hand, may reduce bloating by helping to balance the bodys sodium levels .
Medications may also cause side effects that affect GI function or cause indigestion. If this happens, a doctor or pharmacist can suggest alternatives that are more gentle on the digestive tract.
Although it is not common, bloating and swelling of the abdomen can signify a severe medical condition. Liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, heart failure, kidney problems, and some types of cancer can cause bloating.
Bloating that continues for days or weeks may indicate a health issue that needs medical attention. It is advisable to speak to a doctor about ongoing bloating that does not go away over time.
People whose bloating occurs alongside these symptoms should seek medical advice:
- appetite changes or trouble eating
- bright red blood in the stool
- black or dark maroon stools
What Foods Make Your Stomach Bloat After Eating
That can lead to gas, bloating, and pain. Its in lots of foods in the form of high fructose corn syrup, and it happens naturally in some like fruit as well as honey, onions, and garlic. A food diary can help you keep track of how you feel after you eat certain foods and figure out if this is a problem for you.
Recommended Reading: Omeprazole And Ibs
Dr Chose 3 Herbs To Cure Bloating
To get rid of the problem of bloating, the doctor has chosen three spices which are commonly used in food and drink. These spices are cumin, carom seeds and fennel. Their use enhances the taste of our Indian cuisine and has many medicinal benefits. These spices are the easiest and most effective in blotting.
What Causes Stomach Bloating After Eating
Bloating occurs when gas becomes trapped in the intestines. Its surprisingly complex, as there are many factors that can lead to this trapped gas . Some of these include:
An imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Even small alterations in bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract can have a significant impact on gut function.
Chomping down food or eating in a hurry can cause air to be swallowed, leading to gas and bloating.
Emotions . If youre stressed during meal times, food sits in your stomach for longer. This is because your bodys attention is redirected to manage your nervous system. And it can become a vicious cycle: in one study, women with moderate and severe intestinal bloating reported higher levels of anxiety and depression .
Diet. Carbohydrates including lactose, fructose and fibre tend to be the main bloating culprits. The small intestine doesnt always absorb them properly, which means they move into the colon to be fermented by gut bacteria. This fermentation causes gassiness and bloating .
Changes in bowel habits. Constipationor simply having fewer bowel movements than normalcan cause bloating. This is because the;slow movement of food through the gut encourages more fermentation .
Food intolerances or sensitivities can mean your body finds it difficult to digest certain foods, leading to bloating. Some of the common intolerances are gluten, lactose and salicylates, but food additives such as MSG, caffeine and alcohol can cause problems too.
Recommended Reading: Heartburn After Taking Antibiotics
Why You Experience Bloating After Eating
As mentioned, you usually do not need to worry about feeling bloated after a meal, but if it happens quite often, you may need to dig deeper into the details to identify the underlying cause. Here are some of the most common reasons:
1.;;;;;;; Food Intolerance
How people react to certain food is quite fascinating. Some people can eat anything without noticing any problem, while others are more sensitive to certain food and end up feeling bloated. If you experience this on a regular basis, this could be because you are intolerant to certain types of food. Yeast, gluten, milk, and fructose can all cause stomach bloating in some people.
2.;;;;;;; Overeating
One obvious reason of dealing with bloating after eating is to eat too much. Overeating will most often result in flatulence and bloating. This happens because your digestive system fails to break down the food when there is too much of it. The best solution is to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day.
3.;;;;;;; Lack of Digestive Enzymes
4.;;;;;;; Eating Fatty Food
If your diet includes too much of fatty food, you are surely going to deal with bloating after eating. Your body takes a lot longer to process high-fat meals. Fat moves slowly through your digestive tract and increases the chances of you feeling bloated. You should consider eating leaner food, such as grains and produce.
5.;;;;;;; Eat Too Fast
6.;;;;;;; Irritable Bowel Syndrome
7.;;;;;;; Coeliac Disease
Sort Through Your Vegetable Drawer
Even though they’re filled with health-promoting nutrients, there are a number of veggies that contain sneaky belly-bloaters that may be contributing to your ever-clinging food baby: White onions, artichokes, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage. Put them into a do not eat pile until your belly bounces back.
You May Like: Can Prenatal Vitamins Cause Diarrhea
Behaviors Food Choices And Activity
Eating behaviors and other habits such as gum chewing, gulping foods and drinking with eating can cause us to swallow air. Bulky foods such as lettuce, cabbage, and dense breads not chewed into small enough pieces increase swallowed air.
Typically, swallowed air contains oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. It tends to not have a foul smell, but it does contribute to the discomfort associated with gas.
People vary widely in how sensitive they are to gas production. Keeping a food record to document incidences of gas in relation to foods eaten can shed light on whether food or behavior may be aggravating the situation.
Tip #: Remember It’s Normal & Temporary
While in the moment it can seem like feeling bloated after eating is the worst thing on the plant, remember… it’s not. And it’s likely only temporary. Do these tips to help with feeling full after eating until the extra fullness passes. Remember that this can be a normal part of the digestion process. YAY! Your body is working! Be kind to yourself. Like Amanda said, think warm thoughts!! I like to use mantras and affirmations to help, I have a list of my top 20 fave intuitive eating affirmations here!
If you’ve gotten this far and you’re still unsure about the extent to which you’re feeling full and bloated after eating, here is my advice: Be sure you don’t have food rules. Food rules are a HUGE cause of digestive upset. Be it you’re only eating the same foods over and over because you feel safe eating them, or you’re yo-yo dieting and going through the restrict-binge cycle the first step is to truly learn how to get rid of your food rules, listen to your body and eat intuitively. I have a free e-book that you can download that will take you through the 5 steps that myself and now thousands of others have taken to learn how to nourish their bodies in a way that feels good- mentally and physically. You can snag your copy of that e-book, The Ultimate 5 Step Guide To Food Freedom, here!
Leave a comment if you have any tips to add to this list, or if one of them works really well for you! I love hearing from you all!
XOXO
Read Also: Does Peanut Butter Cause Heartburn
Pineapple Is My Favorite Way To Reverse A Bloated Belly
When it comes to bloating, pineapples shine. Theyre a rich source of bromelain, an enzyme that helps support protein digestion and soothe the digestive tract.
The core of the pineapple has the highest concentration of bromelain, so be sure your pineapple is ripe, which will soften the core. Or, use chunks of the core to make a smoothie or fresh juice.
Take An Epsom Salt Bath
Relaxing in any tub is always nice, and adding two cups of magnesium-rich Epsom salt may help deflate your belly more effectively Your skin also absorbs the mineral and electrolyte, magnesium, which can help reduce inflammation and may even reduce muscle cramps. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath for 20 minutes can help alleviate constipation as well, which is another cause of bloating.
Recommended Reading: Colostrum And Leaky Gut