by Dr Pandula Siribaddana

Created on: April 26, 2010

Bloating is the feeling that you get when the stomach and the intestines become filled with gases either produced within the system or else engulfed from the outside environment during the time of eating. Many people will experience this condition and they may describe the boated feeling as ‘gassiness’ or ‘puffiness’ of the stomach.

*Factors contributing to the development of bloating

When considering the reasons for someone to develop bloating, it can be of multi-factorial origin. Meaning, many factors will contribute towards the development of gas. Thus, the type of food, hormones and enzymes, eating rapidly, eating without chewing, eating with opened mouth, drinking lot of water while eating, organisms in the intestine, anatomy of the stomach and the intestines as well as other medical conditions can be considered some of the key factors.

*Ways to ease bloating

Thus, when looking at these causes, preventing the occurrence of bloated feeling should not be that difficult. Therefore, following measures can be incorporated in to your lifestyle for the betterment of digestion, comfort after eating as well as quality of life.

-Eat slowly, closed mouthed and with adequate chewing. This would minimize the ingestion of air and therefore the development of the bloated feeling. Talking while eating and drinking fluids, especially gas forming beverages such as colas, can aggravate the bloated feeling due to ingestion as well as formation of air in the stomach respectively.

-Drink water after eating would not make you bloated but, will promote the digestion as well as ease the passage of foods through the intestinal tract.

-Eat foods which produce little gas and therefore avoidance of foods such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and beans would be better if you are a person encountering bloating.

-If you eat foods rich in fibers, it would promote better digestion as well as easy passage of digestive matter and therefore avoid the building of gases in the intestine.

-Take several servings of fruits daily as it has the potential to relieve a person from a gaseous tummy. Fruits high in potassium are especially useful in this regard and the nutritionist recommends taking bananas, apples and prunes apart from other fruits to ease the bloating.

-Good bacteria in the stomach as well as in the intestine will promote better digestion and will avoid the formation of unnecessary gases. Thus, eating foods such as yogurt and asparagus will promote them to grow and thereby relieving the bloated feeling to a certain extent.

 -Lastly, but not least, an active lifestyle would be also effective fighting against bloating and would facilitate a puffiness to ease rather quickly.

In case these measures do not relieve you from your symptoms, it is best for you to see a doctor whom you can get medical treatment to relieve the bloated feeling and treat any underlying medical conditions.

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