Causes can range from an imbalance of bacteria, to eating too much fiber, to not eating enough. When you take antibiotics, the bacteria responsible for breaking down complex carbohydrates may fail and produce gas. The most common causes of bloating, however, are swallowing too much air and eating too fast.
Healthy habits can cause bloating
Foods that are high in fiber or protein also need to bind to water to be digested, so they can cause some completely healthy bloating while they move through your system.
If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it may be a digestive issue. It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating.
Typically, if someone is feels bloated, it is because of their food or water intake, but even if you haven't eaten too much, you may have eaten the wrong thing. Certain food intolerances or sensitives to spicy or acidic foods can cause the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to have a more difficult time than usual.
Bloating and gas can be caused by many things, such as your diet. If your bloating doesn't go away, see your doctor, who can check for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Incorporating regular exercise into your lifestyle is the best long term solution to bloating, but for more immediate relief, try stretching your abdominal muscles. Lay on your back and pull one knee at a time toward your chest. This puts a little extra pressure on the abdomen to aid digestion. Eat consciously.
If bloating patterns have changed suddenly or are getting worse for no reason, a person should see a doctor. Bloating with bloody stools, fever, intense pain, inability to eat, or frequent vomiting can be serious and need urgent care.
Consult your health care provider if you notice unusual or unexplained changes in your bowel movements, such as: Bloody, black or tarry-colored stools. Persistent diarrhea or constipation. Pain in the stomach that doesn't go away.
But “hydration is so important for minimizing bloating,” Doyle says. “It keeps everything moving along smoothly in your digestive tract, which is essential for regular bowel movements — and constipation and bloating often go hand in hand.”
Foods like whole grains, cruciferous vegetables, and beans move slowly through the GI tract. This slower movement can lead to constipation and bloating. Like protein-rich foods, when they are digested, the gasses that get released in the intestine can add to the bloating.
You can easily pinch the excess fat because it builds up under your skin. When hormonal imbalances cause abdominal weight gain, the fat accumulates around your internal organs (visceral fat). Your belly enlarges and takes on an apple shape. You may look extremely bloated instead of like you're carrying extra weight.
Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.
Although a bloated stomach is a common symptom that is not harmless, it can actually be a sign of something serious. A bloated stomach that lasts longer than 2 weeks after taking medications, weight loss, pale skin, loss of appetite and yellowing of the skin can be warning signs of cancer.
When ascites is due to cancer, or if the fluid in the abdomen has cancer cells, it is often called malignant ascites or malignant peritoneal effusion. Ascites develops most often with ovarian, uterine, cervical, colorectal, stomach, pancreatic, breast and liver cancers.
Bloating, or swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the tissues can cause weight gain. This may be due to menstruation, heart or kidney failure, preeclampsia, or medicines you take. A rapid weight gain may be a sign of dangerous fluid retention. If you quit smoking, you might gain weight.
Peppermint, ginger and chamomile all have anti-bloating properties. Peppermint and ginger relax the stomach muscles, which reduces the spasms and the feeling of being bloated. Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory herb, which helps to reduce the swollenness of bloating. The warmth of tea also helps to relax the body.
This is usually related to a health condition. Possible causes include irritable bowel syndrome (when nerves linked to your bowel are too active), acid reflux (which irritates your esophagus, the tube between your throat and stomach), and hemorrhoids. Talk to your doctor if you think you have gas often.
If you're looking for an eating plan that closely follows the tenets of anti-inflammatory eating, consider the Mediterranean diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and healthy oils.
For example, eating too quickly can cause you to swallow excess air that builds up in the digestive tract, resulting in bloating and gas. Overeating can also increase gas as it stretches the stomach and slows digestion, allowing gas to build up and cause discomfort.