Here are ways to help beat the bloat.
Bloated stomach is a common problem among many people, and the reasons for it can range from digestive problems to more serious underlying health issues.
But for the most part, a bloated stomach comes from improper digestion, or an irritation of some kind in the stomach such as a mild food allergy.
Here are the 8 main reasons for bloatedness and how to combat them.
1. Intestinal yeast overgrowth
This common problem comes from frequent use of antibiotics which can upset the stomach over time. While antibiotics are essential to cure health problems such as ear infections, they contain yeast which produces gasses and over time will cause bloating.
2. Food intolerance
Food intolerance is quite common, and there is a simple test your doctor can do to identify anything you might be slightly allergic to. Gluten and yeast are two of the most common allergies which may be causing your stomach to swell, cutting out bread can help with this.
3. Gluten sensitivity or celiac disease
If you have a full blown allergy, this is called celiac disease, and can leave sufferers in chronic pain. It is important to get checked out if you have constant bloating coupled with diarrhea after eating.
4. Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance comes from a problem with the pancreas, and can run in families with a history of diabetes. If you are not producing insulin properly, after eating levels of glucose in the blood are increased, which leads to bloating. If you are worried about diabetes running in your family, speak to your doctor.
5. Poor food combining
Despite healthy food and nutrition information being available, many people still have poor diets. From eating too much processed and junk foods, to eating the wrong combinations of food. Both of these can cause serious bloating. Some combinations of foods can slow down digestion, leading to bloating. Try different combinations of foods to see which ones leaving you feeling bloated, and steer clear if them in future.
6. Irregular meal-times
Irregular meal times are a curse of the modern age, and many people working irregular hours find it hard to eat at ‘normal’ times. But it is important to let your body know when it will be fed, by eating at the same times each day your stomach will not become desperate it its wait for the next meal.
7. Deficiency of digestive enzymes
Digestive enzymes are essential to processing the food we eat efficiently. Lactose intolerance is one of the most common reasons for a deficiency in this, and many people are lactose intolerant without realising, get yourself checked out if you think milk is making you bloated.
8. Other causes of dysbiosis – small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or parasites
It is rare but in some cases bloating can be from something more serious, like intestinal parasites. If you have persistent bloating but have ruled out all the other causes, make sure you check with your doctor if you are worried that this might be the case.