Bloating

Whenever that time of the month comes near, my stomach starts to bloat. Major bloating. I also tend want to eat more than I need to and crave for sugar. So why is there a problem about a bloating stomach and why do you feel so uncomfortable? Bloating is the subjective sensation (feeling) that the abdomen is larger than normal. It can be caused by too little sodium intake, though it isn’t the only possibility. Basically the bloating pain and the gas is caused by your gut bacteria digesting whatever food your body didn’t absorb once it has passed through your small intestine.

You can stop gas and bloating by taking a few precautions and eating the right foods.

Here are some tips to avoid this embarrassing problem:-
1. Make sure that you do NOT talk too much when you are eating- as you also swallow a lot of air which only adds to the problem!
2. Always eat slowly and sit down!
3. Make sure that any ill fitting dentures are changed so that you eat more efficiently and that includes the important task of chewing which is vital for good digestion.
4. Drinking water after consuming dairy foods can help with the bloating effect. Hot tea or any warm drinks helps.

Avoid These Foods

Legumes: Especially dried beans and peas, baked beans, soy beans, lima beans.

Milk Products: milk, ice cream, cheese.

Vegetables: Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, sauerkraut, kohlrabi, asparagus

Root Vegetables: Potatoes, rutabaga, turnips, radishes, onions

Fruits: Prunes, apricots, apples, raisins, bananas.

Cereals: – Wheat and flour products.

Everybody is different and their digestive system will react in a different way to the above foods. To really solve the problem, you would have to stay off some of the above foods for a time and experiment.A person with a healthy digestive system will experience far less bloating, even with foods that commonly cause bloating. Eaten raw, these foods cause more bloating than when they are cooked.

Practical Advice To Stop Gas And Bloating

Most people find that if they eliminate wheat and flour products, their bloating nearly always improves. Many of us lose the lactase enzyme as we age making us susceptible to gas and bloating when we drink or eat dairy products so avoid these if you are lactose intolerant. Today there are several products in the marketplace which are lactose-free or can help lactose-intolerant people to digest lactose.

With love, Fay Hokulani