Beat the bloat!

Bloating is a common day-to-day annoyance for many people, myself included. The secret to fighting off that belly bloat may be in what you are eating, or not eating. You want to be eating more potassium and fiber, and less sodium.

EAT THIS –>

1. Water with lemon.

   And just water in general will help fight off bloating. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help with digestion. Adding lemon to your water can help reduce the amount of salt retained in your body.

2. Celery.

   Celery has a high water content. It is also used as a digestion aid to help regulate and reduce intestinal gas. Other great vegetables to go for to prevent bloating are cucumber, squash, and leafy greens.

3. Watermelon.

   Watermelon is 92% water, and you know how important water is! Plus it is a great source of potassium – balance between potassium and sodium is very important to control bloating.

4. Lentils.

   Lentils have a high amount of fiber. Other beans like white beans and lima beans have a high amounts of fiber and potassium making them great bloat blockers as well.

5. Tea.

   Hot water helps detoxify the body and build digestive strength. Herbal teas help promote good digestion. My personal favorite is peppermint tea.

NOT THAT –>

1. Sodium.

   Frozen dinners, chips, processed foods.  The American Heart Association suggests consuming 1,500-2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. Most American’s eat much more than that. Sodium causes the body to retain fluid, which is a common cause of bloating. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid water. When you start to bloat you should actually be reaching for your water bottle to help fight off that bulging belly.  It should hopefully help normalize your digestive track.

2. Artificial sweeteners.

   These are usually found in reduced calorie, “diet” products, and processed foods. Artificial sweeteners increase your appetite, specifically making you crave more sugar. The cravings will take over, you will overeat and become bloated.

3. Carbonated drinks.

   Carbonated drinks like soda create air bubbles in the stomach.

4. Starches.

   These are carbs that are hard for the stomach to digest. This includes foods such as bread, potatoes, and pasta. Foods made from flour form gas when broken down in the large intestine.