How To Beat The Bloat After The Holiday Season
Indulging over the holiday season can definitely do a number on our digestive tracts.
It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt aka stomachaches, gas, bloating, or constipation.
Whether you indulged or not, sometimes these problems hit us out of the blue.
Bloating can be caused by health conditions such as Crohn’s Disease, food intolerances, swallowing air, artificial sweeteners (sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol), and constipation.
All it takes is a few simple tricks and you should be feeling back to your old self in no time.
How To Beat The Bloat:
1. Stay Away From Gas Producing Food and Drinks
Certain drinks and foods are known to cause uncomfortable gas and bloating.
If you’re already experiencing discomfort, be sure to avoid these items:
- Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
- Beans, lentils, and peas
- Whole grains
- Fiber supplements that contain psyllium (Metamucil)
- Sodas and carbonated drinks
2. Drink Tea
Tea is known for its health properties such as antioxidants that help the body, but it also helps with digestion, abdominal pain, and bloating.
- Peppermint Tea – This tea contains menthol that has an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Ginger Tea – This tea contains shogaols and gingerols, which are chemicals that help the digestive tract unwind and relieves gas.
- Chamomile Tea – This tea is known for its sedative and relaxing qualities. It may help relieving intestinal gas, upset stomach, and act as an
3. Go For A Walk
I know it’s hard to get the motivation to exercise or go for a walk when your belly hurts, but it really does help.
Sitting down or sleeping right after eating will only cause more abdominal discomfort.
All it takes is a quick 10 to 15 minute walk after eating to get rid of bloating and gas fast.
Your belly will thank you afterwards!
4. Drink Water
It seems so simple, but sometimes we forget how powerful and necessary water is for our digestive and overall health.
Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water on a daily basis to avoid constipation and bloating.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon helps prevent stomach pain and gas from occurring.
You can add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to 2 cups of water to make a tea.
Honey can also be added to the tea, but be sure to mix well.
Let it sit for 2 minutes before drinking.
6. Lemon Juice And Baking Soda
A drink you can whip up at home is baking soda and lemon juice.
This drink is a great way to settle your stomach.
To make it, add the juice of one lemon to a glass of water and add 1 – 2 teaspoons of baking soda.
The drink will begin to bubble (don’t be alarmed, it’s totally normal).
To prevent bloating and gas before it happens, make this drink before eating breakfast in the morning.
7. Take Probiotics
Probiotics are a fantastic way to reduce bloating, constipation, and gas.
These friendly little critters go to work in your GI tract and balance out the bacteria levels in your body.
If bad bacteria take over, this is when we get sick and have belly troubles.
To find a great probiotic to help with your belly ailments, check out our 10 best probiotic supplements and get feeling better fast.
A Final Note…
Whether it was an indulgent holiday season or just an unfortunate case of belly troubles, there are easy ways to relieve your pain.
Try going for a walk, drinking tea with cinnamon or peppermint, avoiding gas-producing foods, drinking enough water, and using a great probiotic supplement.
Utilize these tips and be on your merry way with a bloat free belly!
