Five Ways to Beat the Bloat

At some point in our lives we have all probably sat at our desk, in front of the TV or stood at the kitchen counter mindlessly eating our meals only to realize a few minutes later that our stomach doesn’t feel great. Or, maybe, you went out to dinner and realized the food you ate had waaaayyyyy too much salt and woke up bloated and puffy.

Bloating is an abnormal general swelling that may cause abdominal pain, increased stomach growling and can be accompanied by gas.

Overeating, stress and/or not chewing food properly can all lead to bloating. Ideally, we would avoid all three of these to remain bloat free, but sometimes that’s just not possible. So if you find your self bloated here are five simple remedies that will help ease the discomfort.

1. Water:
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of bloating. Also, drinking too much alcohol or consuming salty food causes dehydration and thus bloating. Water helps wash the waste out of your system.

Drinking eight glasses of water daily will not only help de-bloat, but also has other amazing health benefits. Try swapping all your beverages for water. No only will you be less bloated, but it may help you lose weight and have great skin.

2. Increase potassium intake:
Increasing your potassium intake will help counter the effects of eating too much salt. Avocados, sweet potatoes, bananas, coconut water asparagus, citrus fruits, melon and tomatoes are not only delicious but high in potassium.

3. Warm water, lemon and a pinch of turmeric:
This is a wonder drink. Super simple and so effective. It benefits every system in your body and does wonders to reduce inflammation too.

4. Sip peppermint tea
It alleviates gas by relaxing the digestive tract and boosting normal peristalsis. Peppermint is naturally caffeine-free, anti-bacterial, and can help relive gas, nausea, vomiting, and morning sickness. This one and this one are my favorite!

5. Slow down and chew your food
Eating quickly and not chewing your food well can cause air swallowing that leads to bloating. So, slow down and enjoy your food. Try chewing each bite at least 25 times--your meals should last at least 30 minutes. Digestions begins in the mouth and you can decrease bloating just by chewing your food more.

Added bonus: When you take your time to thoroughly chew and taste your food, your snack or meal becomes more satisfying. And studies have shown that if you eat more slowly, you may end up eating less.

Have you experienced bloating? What are your "go to" home remedies?

XO,

Ingrid

​ps. If you know someone else who would find these tips helpful please pass it along.

pps Are you ready to start feeling great but don't know where to start? Schedule a free strategy session with me here.