Anyone who has battled abdominal gas knows how uncomfortable and sluggish the condition can make one feel. Abdominal gas, also known as bloating, is not only uncomfortable, but is also embarrassing. Typically, bloating occurs after eating too much food or too much of certain foods that cause intestinal problems.
Causes of Bloating
Bloating is caused by certain foods, drinks and even artificial sweeteners.
- Unabsorbed food – Foods failing to get absorbed properly is one of the main causes of bloating. This is usually due to using artificial sweeteners such as Sorbitol which is found in sugar-free gum and other products.
- Dairy products – Milk lactose is another food that the some people are unable to digest, causing bloating.
- Wheat intolerance – People with wheat intolerance aren’t able to completely digest wheat, which causes gas building up and fermentation.
- Fructose – The sugar found in fruit can cause digestive problems. Some desserts made with products containing too much lactose can cause bloating. Also, sugar in alcohol can cause bloating.
- Carbonated drinks – Carbonated beverages can cause bloating because of the carbon dioxide bubbles. This can lead to gas forming. Sipping with a straw causes even more air to enter the digestive tract.
- Aerophagia - Aerophagia is a bloating experienced by women having their menstrual periods.
- Digestive imbalances – Some of the underlying reasons for bloating may include low digestive enzymes, stomach acid, stress, poor gut mobility and food intolerances.
Tips for Controlling Bloating
Bloating can be controlled by adjusting a diet and making some lifestyle changes.
- Drink more water – Drinking water flushes out toxins. Grapefruit fruit also serves as a natural diuretic, helping to control bloating.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables – While fruits and vegetables flush out your system, carbohydrates absorb water as they contain more water.
- Eat more fiber – Because fiber adds bulk, eating more of it helps food travel through the intestines quicker, avoiding constipation. A good way to get in more fiber is to start the day with bran cereal. Then continue snacking on other foods high in fiber throughout the day, such as dried apricots, blueberries, strawberries and dried plums. However, don’t eat too much fiber too quickly as the body needs time to process added bulk.
- Exercise – Besides increasing the body’s metabolic rate, exercise also flushes out your system.
- Take calcium – According to the V.com website, taking 1000 milligrams of calcium daily can help women relieve premenstrual bloating. However, don’t take calcium supplements containing carbonate or bicarbonate as they can cause gas, worsening bloating.
- Control sodium intake – Become a label reader, noting how much sodium is in a food product. Also, watch out for products such as soy sauce which is loaded with sodium. Avoid smoked, cured and processed meats.
Finally, if nothing fails to bring relief, seek medical help. Although usually bloating isn’t a life-threatening condition, it’s still important to take symptoms of bloating seriously. For example, bloating can suggest an intestinal blockage caused by scar tissue resulting from prior surgeries, abdominal infections, certain medications, hernias or an accumulation of waste in the intestines. An even more serious concern is congestive heart failure, where the body fails to pump enough blood to other areas of the body, which is common among elderly people.
More details on foods that cause bloating can be found at the PureInsideOut.com website
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