Stomach bloating: One relaxing pastime could ease the discomfort of a bloated belly

If that glass of pop has given you that bloated feeling, or you’ve eaten too much – maybe you’re suffering from water retention – there is a way to ease the discomfort.

What causes bloating?

There are various reasons behind the bloat, and knowing them could help to reduce your chances of this uncomfortable feeling.

The health website WebMD stated that fructose – a type of sugar – could be behind your bloated belly.

The body may struggle to break down fructose, leading to gas, bloating and pain.

Labelled as “high fructose corn syrup”, it can appear in dried fruits, honey, onions and garlic.

Keeping track of a food diary may be able to help you determine if specific foods trigger a bloated belly.

Gassy foods, such as beans, contain a substance called raffinose that need to be broken down by bacteria in the body.

This too can lead to gas and bloating, and other culprits include broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

However, you can’t avoid nutritional food just because it makes you feel bloated.

There has to be a way you can eat nutritious foods, minimise any bloating and ease any discomfort; luckily, there is.

According to Medical News Today, soaking in a warm, relaxing bath is the perfect solution to ease the bloat.

It’s said the heat of the water can provide relief for a sore abdomen, and distressing may allow the gastrointestinal tract to function more effectively.

Long-term solutions to beat the bloat will involve simple lifestyle changes.

For example, slowly increasing your fibre intake could help to prevent bloating.

It’s best to introduce more fibre into your diet over several weeks, otherwise it could make things worse.

In addition to an increase in fibre, it may be beneficial to swap any sodas you drink with water.

Fizzy pop contains gas that can build up in the stomach, which can lead to bloating.

Drinking water eliminates that contributing factor to a swollen, painful tummy.

Another lifestyle tip is get more active everyday, as sweating releases extra sodium from the body, helping to relieve water retention.

Exercise also helps move gas out of the colon, which can help make bowel movements more regular.

If you find you’re most bloated after eating a big meal, it may be worthwhile eating smaller meals throughout the day.

Also take note of how fast you eat; if it’s too fast, you could be swallowing a lot of air.

Introducing more air into the digestive tract can lead to bloating, so try to be more mindful when you eat.

In addition, drinking from a straw can also lead to swallowing more air, so don’t use one.

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