Health tips · January 13, 2023

Bye Bye Bloat: Tips to Deal with Your Food Baby

Have you ever unbuttoned your pants after a meal or felt like you had a food baby? Trust me, I've been there, and it's an uncomfortable feeling. Once you're bloated, it's all you can think about, and it's hard to enjoy whatever you're doing.

At that point you either reach for the Pepto-Bismol, wait for the bloat to pass or excuse yourself from the party. You don't have to feel this way.

Common causes of bloating

• Food sensitivities
• Food allergies
• Dysbiosis, an imbalance between good and bad gut bacteria
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
• Certain autoimmune conditions
• Added sugars in your diet
• Sleep disorders

There are many possible causes, and once you find yours, you can start to heal.

Tips to say bye bye to bloat

• Track the food you eat. Some foods cause reactions days later, so a food log helps you narrow down what bothers your system.
• Avoid your trigger foods while you heal.
• Try an elimination diet to give your digestion a break and identify your food sensitivities.
• Restore and rebuild your gut.
• Remove added sugars from your diet.
• Practice good sleep hygiene and aim for 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep.

Chronic bloating and gas aren't life-threatening, but they can make your days miserable. Give these tips a try and let me know how you do.