by Gabby Bugwadia

Created on: June 13, 2010   Last Updated: June 15, 2010

 Is your stomach bulging? Are you feeling sluggish and uncomfortably heavy? Chances are you are bloating, a medical condition known as “ascites.”

Bloating often takes place when the abdominal area gets swollen with feelings of tightness. There could be a number of causes for this ailment; the most common being accumulation of liquids and intestinal gases, constipation, overeating or eating certain types of foods, hormonal imbalance and other gastrointestinal factors. Home remedies can be effectively administered if the symptoms you experience are in the early stages or at least till the time you get to see your health care provider.

Here are some home remedies for bloating you can use:

~ Change in habits could make a big difference

Make it a habit to eat frequently instead of sticking to the three meals a day regime. Eat slowly and chew your food well-especially meat and other protein foods; when food is broken, you are less likely to suffer from gas and bloating.  

Avoid drinking water half an hour before eating and one hour after meals.

Do not lie down when you have eaten too much or have some kind of digestive problem; sitting up will make you feel better.

Bathing in very warm water activates bowel movement and helps to remove waste from the intestines; it aids in dispelling discomfort. 

 ~ Be watchful of your diet intake

Each person’s digestive system is different. Only you can know which foods you can process and which foods you find difficult to digest. It would therefore be beneficial to you to learn by trial and error.

Avoid foods that could cause you to bloat like raw vegetables- cabbage, legumes, cauliflower and broccoli that cannot be digested easily. Instead, eat leafy green vegetables and fruits like pears, preaches and apples.

Try to avoid eating high-fat foods besides beans, bagels and pretzels, gums, candies, chocolates which are known to be bloat-producers.

For some, avoidance of dairy products like milk, curds, cottage cheese and yoghurt can be avoided. Rich, creamy desserts that contain lactose could also aggravate the condition if you have sensitivity to milk.

Excess flatulence results from eating large amounts of poorly absorbed carbohydrates such as beans. As far as possible stick to organic and natural foods and avoid eating meat for some time at least to escalate the bloating.

~ Drink plenty of water

Increase your intake of water. Try drinking a minimum of 10 liters of water daily to find a

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