Want to get rid of the bloat? Before you resort to any extreme methods, you need to ask yourself “Am I drinking enough water?” Dehydration is one of the major reasons for bloating.
Why it happens
Bloating seems to have taken the proportions of an epidemic these days among men but mostly among women. It occurs because your body is unable to break down gas as it does with the food you ingest. Sometimes gas happens to be a by-product of the digestive process itself, which if not released immediately it builds up in the stomach and intestines, which makes your tummy balloon up quickly.
The inconvenience is that it can happen any time and have a long-lasting effect. Here’s what to do if antacids and burping don’t work.
Increase your fluid intake
If you don’t drink enough fluids, your body will feel deprived and to overcome total dehydration and collapse, it will start holding on to every drop of water you drink. In general the most storage areas are between cells and particularly in the fat cells, which can hold lots of water.
A good way to stay hydrated is to consume diuretics like green tea. But how much is enough? Nutrition experts recommend drinking 2 liters of water daily or 8 big glasses of plain water. Try to stay away from carbonated drinks as these cause gas due to their carbon dioxide high content. If you need something more flavory, add a lemon slice into your water. It’s tasty and healthier than any other fizzy drink.
Another good way to avoid dehydration is to sip on green tea, known for its diuretic and antioxidant properties. Gently stimulating your digestive system, green tea reduces bloat and water retention. To beat belly bloat, you can try any of the Lumitea skinny tea detox mixes.
Combining oolong, yerba mate and lotus leaf, this tea therapy is a perfect belly bloat and gas buster. If you need something hotter, sprinkle some ginger. Additionally, if you combine the skinny tea with the colon cleanse from Lumitea, you really have yourself a powerhouse tea detox mix that will help you purify from inside out, lose a few pounds and maintain your weight.
People who used these two super power teas would not change them for anything. Plus, all the ingredients are 100% natural and apart from helping detoxify your system, they have the excellent pick-me-up effect of a morning drink. Try it and you will see the results in only a few days!
Alternatively, if you wish to make your own, try any of the following detox drinks.
Lemon Ginger Detox Water
Ingredients:
12 ounces of cool water;
Half a ginger root knob (or a few strings if you wish to make it stronger);
Juice from a whole lemon (freshly squeezed).
Directions:
Mix the ginger and the lemon juice with a water in a tall glass. Add honey to taste if you wish to sweeten it and stir vigorously until completely dissolved. Enjoy!
Note: The citric acid in this drink promotes digestion, while the shogaols, unique compounds found in ginger help combat any bloating-associated symptoms like nausea and ensure overall intestinal wellness. Additionally, the ginger-specific powerhouse ingredient called gingerol helps prevent cancer.
Blueberry & Orange Detox Drink
Ingredients:
12 ounces of cool water;
1 whole orange, sliced (non-peeled);
Blueberries (1 stash).
Directions:
Add the fruits into a tall glass and pour water to cover them. Enjoy!
Note: This tasty concoction brings together superpower ingredients like oranges and blueberries packed with vitamin C and fiber that gently look after your gut and boost metabolism.
Watermelon Detox Water
Ingredients:
2 l water
4 cups of seedless watermelon (crushed);
¼ cup fresh mint leaves;
½ lime thinly sliced and peeled;
½ lemon thinly sliced and peeled.
Directions:
Put the ingredients in a pitcher and stir them together.
Note: Watermelon is a rich source of antioxidants and known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Brought together with citrus fruits like lime and lemon, it makes a superpower refreshing, detox drink to die for.
Put the salt shaker away
Salt add taste to any dish. However, too much of it causes your body to retain water, which again results in bloating. Use potassium salt instead, which supports digestion and add some spices like turmeric or cayenne pepper to your favorite dish for flavor.
Processed foods containing flavor enhancers such as MSG (monosodium glutamate) and sodium benzoate are again to be excluded from a bloat-busting diet program.
Needless to remind women readers about PMS, which is one of the common causes of bloating and we need to increase our fluid intake to overcome that unpleasant effect more than ever during that period of the month.
Another reason reason for belly bloat may be low thyroid output, which can amplify the symptoms caused by female hormone imbalances during the menstrual cycle. One indicator of thyroid concerns is the inability to warm up after coming in out of the cold.
Yeast or fungus overgrowth in the body is a major culprit for belly bloat. How can you determine that? You can of course have it checked, however, the first visible indication of a potential yeast infection is stomach bloat immediately after eating, particularly if your meal was rich in carbs. Sugars and starchy carbohydrates feed the yeast, which produces carbon dioxide within the body. This gas, which cannot be broken down by the digestive system, causes the stomach to balloon up immediately. To beat this unpleasant effect and eliminate the cause, eat dark green veggies like spinach, kale or broccoli, which are also rich in water and hydrate your body cells and help flush out the yeast and its by-products.
What you should do to get rid of the bloat
While pumpkin seed oil or krill oil can help with PMS symptoms and keep your estrogens in check around the red-date days of the month, you should always be mindful of your liquid intake. Drink lots of water, even more than you use to or are comfortable with when you notice your stomach starts to ‘inflate’.
With this in mind, drink up and get lean!