Sip On Herbal Bitters
According to Passler, herbal bittersmedicinal herbs and botanicals that have been preservedare key to improving bloat. Digestive bitters activate receptors on your tongue that signal the production of more digestive juices down in your digestive tract.”This will help reduce intestinal inflammation and gas production related to consuming offending foods,” he explains. Mix yourself up an elixir of sparkling water and herbal bittersPassler recommends Angosturato soothe a bloated stomach.
Other medicinal bitters claimed to aid with digestion include dandelion, gentian root, burdock, yellow dock, and Angelica.
Are There Different Types Of Functional Dyspepsia
Some healthcare specialists classify functional dyspepsia symptoms into two categories:
- Epigastric pain syndrome refers to only those symptoms associated with upper abdominal pain and burning.
- Postprandial distress syndrome refers to only those symptoms that occur after eating, such as early fullness, bloating and nausea.
Not everyones symptoms fall neatly into these two categories, but when they do, it helps healthcare specialists focus on treating those symptoms as a group.
How do I tell if I have functional dyspepsia vs. gastritis?
Gastritis and dyspepsia share many symptoms, and you can have both. Gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining, usually has a traceable cause. It might be a bacterial infection, overuse of certain pain medications that erode the stomach lining , or too much stomach acid. These things can be tested for and treated. If you have functional dyspepsia, gastritis may be part of the equation, but not all of it. You may discover and treat the cause of your gastritis and experience some relief from those symptoms, but not total relief.
How do I tell if I have functional dyspepsia vs. GERD?
How do I tell if I have functional dyspepsia vs. IBS?
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Home Remedies For Bloating
Home Remedies
That feeling when your jeans just dont fit like they did last weekwomen know it well. Being more prone to bloating than men, women are likely to experience several of these days each month around the time Mother Nature arrives for her monthly visit. Although bloating is normal, the feeling is still unpleasant. Thankfully, there are some easy at-home remedies for reducing bloating.
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Will I Need Surgery For Ascites
Sometimes, diuretics and a low-sodium diet arent enough to improve the ascites. You may need other treatments, including:
- Paracentesis: Your provider inserts a needle into your abdomen to remove the fluid. This procedure can remove a large amount of excess fluid.
- Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt : This procedure is performed to treat fluid build-up in the abdomen. A wire mesh is inserted into a vein in your liver. When inflated, the stent forms a channel to bypass the liver. TIPS may be appropriate if your ascites aren’t responding to other therapies, if you need several paracenteses per month and you’re not a candidate for a liver transplant.
- Liver transplant: In cases of severe cirrhosis, when the liver is failing, a liver transplant may be necessary.
Who Might Benefit From A Low

The low-FODMAP diet is often prescribed for limited periods for people diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . Studies show that a majority of people living with these conditions benefit from the diet. It can also be used as a short-term elimination diet for anyone who has digestive problems and wants to try and isolate the foods that are causing them. An elimination diet removes common problem foods and then adds them back in systematically to observe how your system reacts. The low-FODMAP diet is just one of many elimination diets that you can use to discover food sensitivities.
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How To Go On A Wheat
Cutting out bread and other foods containing wheat should not harm your health, if you do it properly.
Wheat is one of our staple foods, and lots of wheat products, such as breakfast cereals, are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
In the past, there was a danger of running short of essential nutrients like B vitamins and iron if you cut out wheat. But theres now a good range of widely available wheat-free alternatives that will not compromise a balanced diet.
Read more about vitamins and minerals.
There are great wheat substitutes you can buy off the supermarket shelf now. Go for gluten-free bread, and try other types of grains, such as quinoa, corn and rice, says Dr Skypala. Just make sure you substitute other equally nutritious foods for the wheat-based ones youre cutting out.
Be sure to cut out all wheat from your diet. Some sources of wheat are obvious, such as bread, but others are less so, such as soy sauce.
Tackle Any Sources Of Stress
Our gut responds to modern stress the same way it responds to true danger. S
o while your gut is trying to process the meal youve just eaten, stress hormones mean your body is trying to divert blood away from the gut and into the muscles as part of the fight or flight response.
The result? Bloating, indigestion, pain, nausea and maybe even IBS.
Stress triggers hormone changes in the body that are part of the fight or flight response, and these aggravate the nervous system, says Kirsten. If your gut is hyper-sensitive, this can cause stomach bloating and pain.
Chances are, you cant cut stress out of your life so instead aim to manage it by making sure you take time to relax.
This could mean soaking in a warm bath rather than having a speedy shower.
Try to tackle any sources of stress, aim to eat lunch away from your desk at work, and make mealtimes a relaxing experience. Yoga, meditation and massage can all help you unwind.
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Swallowing Too Much Air
Most people think of taking in air when they inhale, but it can also be done a number of other ways. Common daily habitssuch as drinking from a straw, chewing gum and eating too quicklyare ways to add air into your digestive tract instead of your respiratory system.
When you swallow too much air you can start to feel bloated, Hoffman said. If its becoming a problem, start cutting out gum and straws and see if that helps eases your symptoms.
Bloating is when your belly feels swollen or enlarged after eating.
It is usually caused by gas or other digestive issues (
Although bloating may be a symptom of a serious medical condition, it is usually caused by something in the diet .
Here are 13 foods that can cause bloating, along with suggestions on what to eat instead.
How Are These Symptoms Treated
Even severe symptoms usually improve over time with diet and lifestyle changes. Your doctor can help you decide which treatments are best for you.
Diet: Eat and drink more slowly to swallow less air. Limit fatty and spicy foods. Avoid caffeine, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners. Avoid common gas-causing foods, such as beans, peas, lentils, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and whole grains. Try removing one food at a time from your diet to see if your gas improves.
Fiber: Fiber has many benefits, although too much fiber may increase the amount of gas in your intestines.
Exercise: Regular daily exercise often reduces symptoms in the stomach and intestines.
Laxatives: Over-the-counter laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol , may help with constipation but probably not with stomach pain.
Antidiarrheal medicines: Over-the-counter loperamide may help with diarrhea but probably not with stomach pain.
Probiotics: Probiotics are found in some over-the-counter supplements and yogurts. Common probiotics are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
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What Is Stomach Bloating
What is stomach bloating a sign of? Can it point to an underlying health condition?
Luckily, in many cases, it isnt anything to be alarmed about. It can usually be cleared up by making some simple changes to your diet and routine, although not always.
For many people, the cause of excessive gas in the intestines boils down to:
- Inadequate protein digestion
- Inability to break down sugar and carbohydrates fully
- Imbalances in gut bacteria
Stomach bloating can however sometimes signify serious health problems lurking below the surface. For example, its one of the most common candida symptoms and also tends to develop when from other conditions, including allergies, hormonal imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, gut troubles and inflammatory bowel disease.
Other potential causes of bloating can include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome, especially if youre constipated
- Digestive disorders like Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis
- Fluid retention
- Hormonal changes
- Certain types of cancer
Many different things can affect gut health, the ability to metabolize food properly and the bodys way of naturally eliminating waste. Because so many different factors can contribute to stomach bloating including some that seem totally unrelated, like sleep or stress its possible to become bloated any time of the day or month.
What Causes Bloating In The Stomach
Gas
Gas is a natural byproduct of digestion, but too much intestinal gas means your digestion is gone awry. While you can ingest gasses by swallowing air or drinking carbonated beverages, these gasses mostly escape through belching before they reach your intestines. Gasses in your intestines are mostly produced by gut bacteria digesting carbohydrates, in a process called fermentation.
If theres too much fermentation going on, its because too many carbohydrates werent naturally absorbed earlier in the digestive process, before reaching those gut bacteria. That could be for several reasons. Maybe you just ate too much too fast for proper digestion. Or you might have a specific food intolerance or gastrointestinal disease. Some possible causes include:
Digestive Contents
These can include solids, liquids, and gas. Digestive contents can build up in your digestive system when there is a backup or restriction in your digestive tract or when the muscles that move digestive contents along are somehow impaired. Any build-up of digestive contents along the digestive tract will leave less room for normal amounts of gas to process through. It also leaves less room for other things in your abdomen, including circulatory fluids and fat, making everything feel tighter. Causes of build-up can include:
Hormones
Other Causes
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Foods And Drinks That Help With Bloating
Bloating is a common problem often caused by issues like constipation or excess gas .
Plus, what you eat and drink can significantly affect bloating and other digestive issues.
Fortunately, many ingredients have been shown to promote regularity, prevent fluid retention, and enhance gut health, all of which can help keep bloating at bay.
Here are 20 foods and drinks that can help with bloating.
2 ).
Theyre also rich in potassium, an essential mineral involved in regulating fluid balance and sodium levels to prevent water retention .
Whats more, theyre high in fiber, which moves slowly through your digestive tract to support regularity and help prevent constipation and bloating (
5 ).
Eating foods with a high water content can help ensure you stay hydrated and meet your daily fluid needs.
This may prevent water retention and alleviate bloating caused by dehydration (
Yogurt is packed with probiotics, a beneficial type of bacteria that plays a key role in gut health.
According to some research, probiotics may improve stool frequency and consistency to promote regularity .
Furthermore, probiotics have been shown to reduce bloating and abdominal distension caused by conditions like irritable bowel syndrome , a common disorder that affects the large intestine (
Understanding The Importance Of A Healthy Gut

Ever suffer with bloating or discomfort but don’t know why? Despite having 100% the same DNA Lisa and Alana Macfarlane only have 30-40% of the same microbiota, in this episode we look at:
- Why gut health is so important?
- How your gut health impacts more than just your digestion
- Ways to fit wellness into your day
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What Does A Bloated Stomach Tell You
There is a difference between feeling bloated and being bloated. A bloated stomach can actually be a symptom of an underlying health condition that you are not aware of. A bloated stomach is not really a good sign. More often than not, a bloated stomach is a sign that there is something going on inside your tummy. So, what does a bloated stomach tell you?
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Ways To Get Rid Of Bloating According To Dietitians
Stocksy / Design by Dion Mills
Bloating happens to everyone. And while it’s not something you need to get rid of, if it’s causing you discomfort there are ways to find relief. In a perfect world, we’d all subscribe to a balanced diet filled with organic veggies, gluten-free grains like quinoa, and easily digestible proteins like chicken and fish. We’d trade in happy hour cocktails for water and manage to avoid any trace of fatty, salty foods. While a bit idealistic, this is what Charles Passler, DC, founder of Pure Change and nutritionist to celebrities like Bella Hadid and Adriana Lima, recommends for avoiding the common feeling of belly bloat altogether.
Fortunately, there are ways to combat belly bloat for quick relief from even the worst symptoms of this pesky digestive problem. We spoke to Passler and other health experts on how to get rid of bloating fast, so you can get back to your routine and feel your best.
Below, discover some common causes of bloatingplus 20 things to do the minute you feel bloated.
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Try Out Compression Socks
Compression socks are tight stockings that apply gentle pressure to your legs and ankles. They work to boost circulation to the legs as well as promote lymphatic drainage and prevent blood from pooling in the veins. People tend to wear compression socks on long flights to help with blood flow. They’re also a lifesaver when it comes to reducing leg swelling and inflammation, not to mention a potential natural remedy for varicose veins.
It’s important to mention that some people may be more sensitive than others when it comes to retaining water. When it comes down to it, the exact reason you’re retaining water applies to you individually. What works for someone else might not be helpful to you, so use caution when it comes to hastily taking on a new trend, and consult a physician first.
- What foods make you bloat?
Water retention is often caused by eating too much salt, processed foods, and not drinking enough water. Corn, lentils, dairy, garlic, onions, soda, and non-nutritive sweeteners can also cause bloating. Even chewing gum can be a source of bloat, as it causes consumption of air.
- What should I eat when bloated?
Eating foods like celery, fennel, asparagus, lemon, and ginger can help relieve bloating.
- How long can bloat last?
After a meal, bloating can last for two hours or more. Eating the above foods can help speed up the process.
Whats Special About Functional Foods That Reduce Bloating
So now that we know what to avoid, what should we add to our menus to help prevent or reduce bloating?
Seek out foods high in potassium and water, says Rachel Fine, RD, a registered dietitian, and owner of the nutrition counseling firm To The Pointe Nutrition in New York City. When you dont eat enough potassium, your body will hold onto extra sodium and water, which can cause a distended belly.
To make potentially bloat-causing foods easier to digest, try cooked veggies instead of raw, and sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes rather than regular.
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Which High Fodmap Foods Are The Best To Avoid
This is the question that youll need to answer for yourself during the process of the low-FODMAP diet. The answer will be different for everyone. The point of the diet is not to deprive you of bad foods but to find out if your symptoms are related to FODMAPs or not and if they are, which ones. Some people may not improve at all on the elimination phase. If you don’t, theres no reason to follow through to the next phase. But if you do, it will be very important to reintroduce foods in a systematic way to separate the real offenders from foods that you can tolerate. Many people find in the end that its only one or two of the FODMAP food groups that bother them. The ultimate goal of the diet is to widen your dietary options as much as possible.
Citrus Fruits Melons Cucumbers
Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit, melons such as honey dew and watermelon, and veggies such as cucumber and iceberg lettuce have high water content to help get things moving in your system and reduce the buildup and bloat.
These fruits and veggies are no slouches when it comes to nutrition either. Citrus fruits are not only high in immune-supporting vitamin C, but theyre also solid sources of fiber and low in calories.
With just 40 calories per cup, watermelon is particularly rich in lycopene . This is good for your skin, heart and brain.
Iceberg lettuce has fiber, potassium, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin K, all while being very low in carbs and calories .
Cucumbers are wildly low in calories and a good source of potassium, magnesium, fiber, and vitamins A and K.
The exact cause of ovarian cancer is unknown.
But some things may increase a womans risk of getting it, such as:
- being over the age of 50
- a family history of ovarian or breast cancer this could mean you have inherited genes that increase your cancer risk
- hormone replacement therapy although any increase in cancer risk is likely to be very small
- endometriosis a condition where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb is found outside the womb
- being overweight
- exposure to asbestos
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