6 tips to stop bloating.  I feel fairly confident when I say that most of us have experienced that uncomfortable bloated feeling at some point in our lives. You know, when suddenly your pants are tighter than usual and you feel uncomfortable and unattractive and just plain icky.  The first step is to ensure that you aren’t experiencing any food allergies, so talk to a specialist if you’re not certain. Now that swimsuit season is upon us, you might be tempted to crash diet or dehydrate yourself to get rid of the bloat, but before you take drastic measures try these tips first. Warning, this isn’t a pretty subject, but it’s very real and we need to tackle these topics every now and then.

6 TIPS TO STOP BLOATING

Slow down. Scarfing down your meals and eating on the run causes you to swallow air, which in turn causes bloating. This also hold true when you chew gum and drink carbonated drinks frequently. Another bonus to slowing it down and taking your time is that it’s likely you will consume less food.

Eat small meals.  You know that awful, too full feeling you get after a huge family dinner? A great way to help decrease bloating is to eat frequent but smaller meals. By slightly modifying your eating patterns you won’t find yourself starving and swallowing everything in sight, which also means that you’ll be able to better control your blood sugar levels.

Eat more fiber. We already know that over-processed foods are detrimental to our health, but it’s important to remember that so are sugar free foods thanks to the artificial sweeteners. Stick with whole grains, nuts and plenty of plant-based foods for a bloat blasting diet.

Minimize salt. The best way to limit your salt intake is to stick with unprocessed foods. As an added incentive, these foods tend to be lower in fiber which is an essential ingredient to keeping you healthy.

Increase anti-bloating foods. We know that sugary drinks increase bloating as do beans and some other vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower.  While it’s still a good idea to eat these foods, introduce them to your system slowly and in moderation so you get used to them. There are, however, some foods that do just the opposite. Increase your probiotic intake with yogurt and help settle your stomach with ginger, peppermint and green tea. Rather than restricting liquids, this is the time you want to increase your consumption. Start every morning with lemon water and keep drinking it throughout the day. The key is to avoid becoming constipated which will only increase discomfort.

Get off the couch. Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day is vital to keeping your digestive system running smoothly. Try getting up and taking a brisk walk after meals, if you can’t make it to the gym. Being active is also a stress release which can be another cause of constipation and bloating.

While you can’t always control bloating, just remember to take it one day at a time and keep drinking plenty of fluids. Sometimes it’s the small changes and the consistency of a healthy diet that will have the biggest returns in the end.

Do you have any tips for eliminating belly bloat?

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