You know the feeling — that too-full sensation that you get in your belly. Bloating is extremely common, and it doesn’t happen after eating a large Thanksgiving meal. One out of every ten people in the U.S.1 says that they suffer from bloating on a regular basis. In some cases, bloating can become severe enough that it impacts daily life.
Although it might seem like it is from overeating, bloating is usually related to a health condition. It is your body’s way of trying to tell you something. There are many possible causes of chronic bloating. Here are some everyday things that cause bloating and pain.
FODMAPS
FODMAPS refer to carbohydrates that are often poorly digested by the small intestine. They are often related to the leaky gut syndrome. Bacteria tend to feed on these carbohydrates, which can lead to bacterial overgrowth and cause the leaky gut syndrome. This causes2 fluid and gas to build up in the belly leading to bloating and pain.
FODMAPS are in many everyday foods, including fruits, grains, berries, and sugars. To determine if FODMAPS might be to blame for your bloating, keep a diary of foods that affect you. If you notice that bloating often occurs after eating the same foods, check here to see if the foods in questions are on the list of high FODMAP foods. If so, then you might want to consider a low-FODMAP diet to see if that resolves the issue.
Enzyme Deficiency
Digestive enzymes are essential in helping your body break down food. If you experience bloating or other signs of intolerance after eating certain foods, proteins could be to blame.
Enzymes usually decrease3 as one ages. Therefore you may need to supplement digestive enzymes to help banish bloating and other stomach problems.
Look for supplement blends that contain Bacillus Coagulans and Lipase. Bacillus Coagulans helps replenish the gut’s natural microbiome. It also helps reduce stomach pain and bloating in people with IBS. Lipase Is a powerful enzyme that breaks down fats in food to help you better digest them.
Digestive Disorders
Painful or uncomfortable bloating is one of the leading signs of a digestive disorder. I know everyone has to bloat from time to time, but long term issues with bloating can be associated with something more serious.
If you are also experiencing other symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, and constipation for longer than a few months, it may be a sign that more serious issues are developing and often it’s best to nip things in the bud before it gets to be a larger issue.
Many people don’t feel comfortable talking about these symptoms. However, it is essential to discuss these symptoms with a doctor or natural health practitioner.
Natural Relief for Bloating
There are many things that you can do at home to prevent stomach bloating and get relief. One of the first things to do is to supplement with probiotics. Another great remedy is to use activated charcoal, which can help decrease the bloating and associated symptoms by mopping up toxins that can be responsible for gas & bloating.
Probiotics
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that help prevent and treat some illnesses. They help promote a healthy digestive and immune system. These beneficial microorganisms can be supplemented through dietary supplements.
The best type of probiotics we’ve found are the soil-based which don’t cause a histamine reaction that the lacto based acidophilus type of probiotics do. This is especially helpful for people who already are dealing with digestive issues who typically are sensitive to these types of probiotics.
References:
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/bloated-bloating#1
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/ss/slideshow-bloating-reasons
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2760401/
