How to relieve bloating

The unhealthy lives which stem from our hectic lifestyles often lead to malnutrition. We skip meals and focus on overeating two times a day, instead of eating smaller portions five times a day. Moreover, the food we eat is most often processed and excessively fatty, having low nutritive value and being unhealthy. Add to this the fact that we usually gulp all this on the run and you get a whole plethora of reasons behind bloating for most people.

What is Bloating?

Bloating takes place due to unhealthy nutrition which makes the digestive process less successful, leading to excessive production of gases which, in return, inflate the bowels. Swallowing of gas, lactose intolerance, dehydration, hormonal changes and many other factors can contribute to bloating as well. If you suffer from bloating frequently and desire to find a solution to this problem, read on.

How Can You Get Rid of Bloating Naturally?

First of all, in order to calm your stomach down and better the digestive processes, drink plenty of water. Water flushes out the toxins from your body and removes may triggers of bloating, relieving the existing state of this condition.

Secondly, you can boost your digestion by consuming foods rich in fiber. Whole grains, bran, lentils, dried apricots and plums, strawberries and many other natural types of food better the digestive processes in your stomach and make sure you have regular and healthy bowel movements. Yet, do not go overboard with fiber, consuming too much over a short period of time since this can be counter-productive.

Foods that Cause Bloating

Keep in mind that broccoli, beans, cabbage, wheat and some other foods make you bloated by default, by increasing the amount of gases in your gastrointestinal system. Thus, eat lesser quantities of these foods or skip them for a while until your stomach regenerates. Also, food rich in artificial sweeteners can cause numerous digestive problems so you might want to keep sweets and other such products away from your diet.

Salty food can lead to bloating, especially if you are a woman with an oncoming period. Rise of estrogen, progesterone and other hormones in your body will slow down the digestion process and cause water retention. Then, salt will only make matters worse.

Finally, once you sit down to eat, relax and do not eat fast. Rather, take it easy, chew carefully and thoroughly and enjoy your meals, eating less more frequently instead of eating more less frequently.