You’re not pregnant and you haven’t gained weight, but your jeans are straining at the waist. So what’s going on?
The slow digestive system is the one to blame about the puffy midsection, which can be a result of bloat, instead of fat, especially in women over 40. Here are the most common causes…
Possible Causes of a Bloated Stomach
- Digestive Disorders
Most people dealing with various functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease have bloating, gas, distension and other symptoms.
- Fluid Retention
Sometimes bodily fluids can be stored around the body, including near the abdomen or pelvis area, which causes excess bloating and temporary weight gain. You might also notice jewelry and clothes becoming tighter, extra swelling, and pain around joints or tightness in the skin. This can be due to a liver disease in some cases or rarely even from cancer.
- Dehydration
Ever notice the day after you’ve been eating salty foods or drinking alcohol that you become dehydrated and bloated as a result? It might seem counterintuitive, but the more water you drink (or consume in water-heavy foods) and better you stay hydrated, the less bloating you’re likely to deal with. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances both halt digestion and make it hard to “stay regular.”
When your body tries to recover from you being dehydrated, it holds on to excess water to prevent the situation from happening again — plus you might find yourself becoming constipated. This means when you do finally drink more fluids, you’re likely to store them around your midsection and feel extra puffy.
- Constipation
This might be the most obvious reason you have a bloated stomach — you need to go to the bathroom! Constipation can cause stool to remain in the intestines, leaving you with a hard-feeling stomach, pain, discomfort and gas. The biggest reasons for constipation include eating too little fiber, not drinking enough water, being too sedentary/avoiding physical activity and stress.
- Food Allergies or Sensitivities
Often, food allergies, sensitiveness or intolerances (like lactose intolerance) are common reasons for gas and bloating. There are dozens of other possible food allergies (like shellfish, nuts, eggs), but you’re likely to know if this is what you’re reacting to since symptoms are usually more noticeable.
- Hormonal changes
PMS is known to cause a bloated stomach and digestive issues since it makes you prone to constipation and fluid retention. This is common and not too much of a concern unless you notice other serious symptoms like an irregular menstrual cycle, fibroids or severe cramping.
- You eat too fast
If you don’t chew your food properly, the body will process it more slowly and bloating may appear. Therefore, it is very important to eat in small bites.
How To Flatten Your Bloated Stomach
By following a few easy menu and lifestyle tricks you can beat bloat and improve your digestion according to a recent research.
You just have to manage to bring into action these lifestyle tweaks right away and you will be sexier, flatter, and you’ll be able to fit into your clothes in less than a week.
VITAMIN B1
Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamin. This vitamin is crucial for the breakdown of carbohydrates in the body. The medical experts say that this vitamin turns the food we eat into energy. You should also know that this vitamin improves the heart and nerve function, but it also accelerates digestion and neutralizes gases and bloating. It also eliminates the feeling of hunger. Note: the best food sources of vitamin B1: wholegrain, leafy greens, brew yeast, legumes.
VITAMIN B6
First, you should know that Vitamin B6 fights water retention in the body. Many different studies have discovered that almost 90% of the world population is deficient in this vitamin, which is mostly due to the modern lifestyle and poor dietary habits. The medical experts say that this vitamin also improves the immune response of the body to common bacteria and viruses. It’s extremely beneficial for heart patients and pregnant women. Note: the best food sources of vitamin B6: poultry, fish, wholegrain cereals, spinach and legumes.
VITAMIN B12
First, you should know that Vitamin B12 deficiency has often been linked to different types of inflammation in the abdominal area. Well, this can disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in the small intestine and lead to indigestion and slow metabolism. Note: the best food sources of vitamin B12: seafood, milk, cheese, eggs, poultry, beef, sour vegetables.
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