Bloating is just one of those uncomfortable things in life many of us deal with, especially after eating. But, you know, you don’t have to just deal with bloating. Many times, bloating is caused by something going on with your digestion. If you’ve ruled out serious health conditions that could cause your tight pants days with your doctor, it’s time to take some steps to ban that bloat!
Take a walk
When you walk, it improves the movement of gas in your intestinal tact because your body is held in an upright position. This can actually reduce the bloating symptoms you’re experiencing.
Try some yoga
In addition to helping you tone your muscles and improve flexibility, the postures and breathing in your yoga routine can relieve some bloating by stretching the muscles in your stomach and stimulating your digestive system. Generally, the recommended yoga poses for bloating include the forward bend, the child’s pose, the knees-to-chest, the upward-facing dog and the downward-facing dog.
Pass on the fizzy beverages
The bubbles in carbonated drinks can increase the gas in your belly and make your bloating worse. Trade some of your fizzy drinks for water, which also helps constipation–another possible cause of bloating that many people just don’t think of.
Do light exercises
Light exercises can help your body stop retaining intestinal gas, which causes and contributes to bloating. Everything from washing dishes to folding laundry counts as light exercise.
Add probiotics to your diet
A probiotic supplement can help restore the balance between good and bad bacteria in your gut. This can boost your digestive processes overall, reducing your bloat.
Eat more fiber
Both forms of fiber aid your digestive system, which may ease your bloating symptoms. Insoluble fiber, found in things like leafy greens, adds more bulk to your stool so it moves out of your body faster. Soluble fiber, found in nuts, cucumbers and other vegetables and fruits, feeds the good bacteria in your gut, promoting proper digestion. Another fun fact about soluble fiber is that it can make you feel more full, which can lead to some weight loss if you begin to eat less.
If you notice your bloating occurs most often after eating certain foods, you could have a food intolerance that is causing it. Keep a food diary so you can learn what to avoid–essentially, what your bloat triggers are–and take steps to change your diet accordingly.
