Always feeling bloated? Is it a serious health problem, or is it something that’ll pass? If you’re feeling bloated, what can you do about it?
Bloating can be very simple to treat, or it could be an indication of more serious problems. Here are a few different causes of bloating and what to do about it.
Food Allergies
A lot of people have glucose allergy or allergy to milk without knowing it. The allergies aren’t serious enough to cause them to break out in hives or have difficulty breathing; unfortunately the mild symptoms make it difficult to identify the cause of allergies.
The best way to test yourself for allergies is to get an allergy test from a doctor. Alternatively, try cutting glucose or milk from your diet for 3 weeks to see if symptoms disappear.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be cured in some people, while in others the symptoms can be reduced by taking dietary precautions.
IBS can result in bloating, in addition to diarrhea, stomach pains and excess gas.
IBS is best diagnosed by a medical professional. Don’t assume that it’ll go away on its own.
Note that if you’re a woman, you have a three times higher likelihood of having IBS than men.
Fatty Foods, Liquids after Food, Large Meals
Bloating could just be a symptom of poor dietary habits. For example, fatty foods could line the stomach and cause excess acid to be produced. This in turn creates the sensation of bloating and heartburn.
Eating overly large meals can also cause bloating. This is simply the case of having too much food in the stomach.
Having a lot of liquid within 30 to 60 minutes of eating can also cause bloating. The liquid isn’t moving through your system because it’s blocked by the recently ingested food. Furthermore, the liquids dilute the stomach base and acid, causing digestion to take longer and creating more of a sense of bloating.
The solution? Eat smaller meals with low-fat foods. Eat more often if necessary, but keep meals small. Drink before meals rather than after.
Candida
Candida is a bacterium that grows naturally in your digestive system. Normally, Candida doesn’t cause any problems.
Every once in a while, however, due to chemical imbalances in the body, Candida can overgrow. Among other things, this can cause a sense of bloating.
There are a number of cures for Candida. Home cures generally revolve around cutting any and all sugar intake for a few weeks. There are also several medical cures to choose from.
As you can tell, there are a number of different causes for bloating. If it only lasts for a week or two, then it might make sense to just try to treat it at home. However, if it lasts more than two or three weeks, seek a medical professional for a real diagnosis.
