If you are sick and tired of feeling BLOATED you are not alone. Bloating is one of the most common Health complaint’s and something no-one ever want’s to experience. With the dreaded B word in mind, we asked the Experts what things can we do in our day to day lives to help Beat the Bloat and this was what they suggested:
Eat a banana every day. The potassium it contains helps prevent bloat. “When potassium is low, the body retains extra sodium and holds on to water,” says Joy Bauer, RD. Other potassium-rich foods include tomatoes; mushrooms; dark leafy greens, like spinach and Swiss chard; and fish like salmon and halibut.
Spoon more yogurt. Check labels to find one that contains bifidobacteria. “Some studies show that these bacteria can reduce flatulence and bloating,” says Eamonn Quigley, MD. Fage Total Greek Yogurt and Activia both contain bifido. You can also pop a probiotic supplement, like Align, that contains it.
Contract your abs. “Many people aren’t actually bloated at all; they’ve just developed a habit of relaxing their abdominal muscles and contracting their diaphragm, which makes them look and feel bloated because their stomachs are sticking out,” says Brennan Spiegel, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Learn to contract your abs instead. Imagine someone is about to punch you in the gut, and pull your belly button in toward your spine. Practice contracting your abs for five to 10 seconds several times, being sure not to hold your breath. Once you get used to the feeling, remind yourself to do it periodically throughout the day so that it becomes a habit, and you won’t look or feel as bloated.
Sip on Water. Asides from hydrating you driving H20 throughout the day can prevent constipation says Keri Gans, R.D and author of The Small Change Diet. People often feel bloated when they are constipated, and the water keeps moving things, she explains. To give yourself a metabolism boast while you’re at it have a glass of water half an hour before you eat, as research shows those who did lost weight faster than their less-hydrated counterparts.