By Amy Schlinger, Prevention
Picture
this: Your tummy is protruding and painful, your favorite clothes don't
fit, and you might also be emitting embarrassing gas. It's so bad, in
fact, you may even be reluctant to leave the house.
Sound familiar? What we're talking about is bloating, and it can be frustrating—and pretty hard to ignore.
"Bloating is usually caused by a sensation of stretching or spasming
of the gut," says Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, a gastroenterologist at Illinois Gastroenterology Group.
From your diet to stress, there are many different factors that can
trigger it.
[post_ads]You might be eating too fast (which leads to swallowing
excess air), have a disorder like celiac disease, or have an intolerance
to lactose or fructose. Constipation
can also be a factor: When things move too slowly through your GI
tract—or foods are broken down in the colon instead of the stomach—you
end up with fermentation, which produces gas, says Rosenberg.
(The Whole Body Cure
shows you exactly how to find food intolerances, how to eat to lower
inflammation, and how to maintain whole-body health for the rest of your
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"If you run into a hard, puffy stomach quite often, it may be due to certain food intolerances," says Taz Bhatia, MD, an integrative health expert and founder of CentreSpring MD.
"I always recommend keeping a food journal in these cases. Being able
to go back and see which foods seem to cause these types of symptoms can
keep a bloated belly at bay."
A food journal is great for the long term, but it's nice to have
options that can help you ease pain and deflate right now. Armed with
our experts' advice about what ingredients help beat the bloat, we
rounded up 6 of the best products for battling bloating and gas—and
they're all available online (so there's no need for an awkward trip to
the drugstore).
Mylanta Maximum Strength Classic
This minty liquid medicine coats the stomach,
helping to relieve gas, bloating, and any acid indigestion right
away—thanks to a combination of active ingredients (simethicone,
aluminum hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide). (Here's what GI docs do to relieve their bloating.)
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Lactaid Fast Act
If dairy is your downfall, chowing down on these tablets before you
indulge in a scoop of ice cream or a fresh mozzarella panini should help
a lot. They contain a natural enzyme, lactase, which helps break down
the lactose in milk products that you'd otherwise have trouble
digesting. (Psst! These 6 dairy foods don't affect lactose intolerance.)
Buy now: $12-17, amazon.com; walgreens.com
Real Relief Gas and Bloating Symptom Relief
If you're into homeopathic remedies, give
this one a shot. It contains minute amounts of bitter apple, chamomile,
and wild yam, which homeopathic experts believe fights bloating, cramps,
burping, and nausea. Take these tablets alone, not with food.
Buy now: $8, amazon.com
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Stash Meyer Lemon Herbal Tea
Did you know that lemon is a natural detoxifier? It acts as a cleansing agent, which, Taz explains, helps to eliminate unwanted bloat
from the body. She recommends sipping on hot lemon water in the
morning. Or try balancing your digestive system with this caffeine-free
herbal tea.
Buy now: $7, amazon.com
Zenwise Health Advanced Digestive Enzymes
If you're chronically bloated, try adding
these plant-based pills to your daily routine. They contain both
prebiotics and probiotics (to promote intestinal health), as well as
enzymes designed to help you break down food easier and more
efficiently. (Probiotics have a ton of benefits that don't have to do
with digestion—check them out here.) The result: Less pain, less pressure, less puffy tummy.
Buy now: $20, amazon.com
