Introduction
Have you been feeling overstuffed frequently and then wonder what is the diet to reduce bloating and inflammation? Bloating might be the reason behind your discomfort. Bloating is a common complaint brought on by constipation or too much gas. What you eat and drink can have a big impact on bloating and other digestive problems. Several foods from your diet are quite fermentable, meaning they cause gas which can worsen the bloating. In today’s post, we’ll focus on certain foods that can help you feel less bloated. Can pineapple help with the bloating? What about yogurt and kiwi? We’ll talk about all this and more.
What is Bloating?
Bloating is a condition where your stomach feels full and tight, usually due to gas. It’s often associated with stress, fluid retention, dysfunctional gastric motility, and gastrointestinal disorders. Bloating can also be a sign of severe gastrointestinal problems, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, intestinal parasites, or hormonal imbalances. Bloating can be caused by a variety of factors, including how and what we eat. Eating too much fiber and fat can delay stomach emptying, resulting in a full stomach and bloated feeling. Also, gulping down your food quickly reduces the amount of time you spend chewing, which can affect digestion.
Natural Ways and Foods to Reduce Bloating
Here are some natural ways as well as foods and diet to reduce bloating and inflammation. These can help greatly in your bloating and inflammation issues.
1. Stay Hydrated
Bloating is a common side effect of high-salt diets. Drinking water can help by killing the sodium and encouraging your body to lose fluids. Make sure your water intake is spread throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps prevent bloating, but drinking a lot of water at once can make the problem worse. Avoid carbonated drinks like club soda, as they introduce extra gas into the gastrointestinal tract. Hydration ensures things move smoothly in your digestive tract, which is important for regular bowel movements. It’s best to drink plenty of water before your meal to reduce the impact of bloating and help you avoid overeating.
2. Turmeric
This brilliant yellow-orange spice comes with a long list of health advantages. It’s quite popular for its anti-inflammatory qualities. Turmeric also has the potential to improve your digestive health. The golden spice has compounds that promote digestion and prevent your body from overproducing acids that cause gas. Curcumin, a primary ingredient in turmeric, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also helps the production of bile by stimulating your gallbladder. Simply start by adding a tablespoon of turmeric to your diet every day. Drinking golden or turmeric milk is the best way to get all the advantages of this spice.
3. Bananas
You may love bananas because of their taste, but the fruit has a lot more to offer. They’re nutrient-dense and high in fiber. Fiber can relieve constipation, which stops bloating. Also, the high potassium content in bananas helps maintain a healthy fluid balance, which prevents ballooning of the stomach and water retention. They also help your body flush out excess salt and prevent inflammation.
4. Celery
Celery has been used to relieve bloating and gas for a long time. It’s a healthy vegetable that contains about 95% water. Its hydrating nature makes it naturally diuretic, boosting urine production to flush out excess water and sodium. The veggie also offers gut-friendly fiber, helping you maintain regular bowel movements by preventing constipation and diarrhea. The combination of water and potassium can help decrease water retention associated with bloating. Celery even includes mannitol, a sugar alcohol, which promotes regularity by drawing water into the digestive tract.
5. Fennel
With a licorice-like flavor, fennel is closely associated with carrots, celery, and parsley. This plant also heals the digestive system. Research proves that fennel and its seeds have antispasmodic qualities, which means they can help relax the muscles in your digestive tract, reducing gas and bloating. It also works as a diuretic, increasing urine output and decreasing water retention. The essential oil extracted from fennel seeds can reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome like gas and gastrointestinal spasms. You can either eat the seeds or drink fennel tea at the end of a meal.
6. Kiwi
These slightly sour but flavor-packed fruits can do wonders for your digestive health. Studies suggest that kiwi can help cure a variety of digestive problems, including bloating, stomach pain, and constipation. It promotes laxation, which relieves you of constipation. Food has less time to ferment and create gas or bloating when it moves quickly through the gastrointestinal tract. Kiwi also contains a chemical called actinidin, which can effectively help with digestion.
7. Papaya
The sweet flavor and smooth texture of papaya make it a popular tropical fruit. This creamy treat not only contains a lot of water but fiber too. The secret behind papaya promoting digestion and helping a bloated stomach lies with papain, an enzyme that helps in the digestion of amino acids in your body. In one study, papaya was found to dramatically relieve constipation and bloating in people with chronic gastrointestinal dysfunction.
8. Pineapple
Pineapple is a deliciously tangy tropical fruit with lots of vitamin C, manganese, and B vitamins. Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, can effectively improve protein digestion. Research shows that this enzyme has long been used in traditional medicine to alleviate digestive problems. It also reduces inflammation, which helps with bloating and swelling.
9. Ginger
It’s quite frequent that people recommend eating ginger when suffering from a stomach ache or nausea. Ginger contains enzymes that boost your digestive system, helping food move more quickly through the digestive tract while protecting the intestines. A study discovered that ginger can stimulate GI tract motility, reducing constipation and related abdominal problems. Ginger can also help relieve gas and cramps.
10. Avocado
Avocado is a rich source of soluble fiber and magnesium. Magnesium helps activate digestive enzymes, neutralize stomach acid, relax bowel muscles, and draw water into the intestines, all of which make it easier for stool to travel through the digestive tract. The fiber in this fruit helps to maintain regularity and prevent constipation and bloating. Avocados are extremely nutritious, with each serving containing a significant quantity of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin K. They’re also high in potassium, a significant mineral for maintaining fluid balance and preventing water retention.
11. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is high in fiber. Having some for breakfast will keep your bloating down. Oats contain beta-glucan, a type of fiber with strong anti-inflammatory properties. If you suffer from IBS, you’ll be able to tolerate a serving of oats. People who suffer from celiac disease can eat certified gluten-free oats and enjoy the numerous benefits.
12. Yogurt
Yogurt is high in probiotics, a type of bacteria that is important for intestinal health. This bacteria also boosts digestion. Probiotics have been shown to promote regularity by increasing stool frequency and consistency. The healthy bacteria have also been found to alleviate bloating and abdominal discomfort caused by irritable bowel syndrome or diarrhea. Even if you have a sensitivity to milk-based products, yogurt is still a good option for you. You can start with plain Greek yogurt, which is strong in calcium and protein.
13. Cucumber
Cucumbers contain high water content, making them ideal for bloating relief. Eating foods that are high in water can help keep you hydrated and satisfy your daily fluid requirements. They can successfully help you avoid water retention and bloating.
14. Prunes
When it comes to treating bloating, any list of foods is incomplete without prunes. This dry fruit contains fiber and sorbitol, another compound that relieves your bowel. The insoluble fiber in prunes provides weight to the digestive system and helps the stool pass more quickly, while sorbitol is a natural laxative. Try adding prune juice to your diet.
15. Peppermint
Peppermint has an organic molecule called l-menthol, which has been proven to reduce stomach and colon spasms, relax the muscles of your GI tract, and perhaps relieve abdominal pain and bloating. Peppermint oil can reduce inflammation and treat IBS symptoms such as stomach pain, constipation, and bloating. It can also help avoid bloating by preventing muscle spasms in the stomach and intestines.
Conclusion
There are so many ways to get rid of bloating, and changing your diet is just one of them. Have you ever tried any of these remedies for bloating? Let us know.