Beat the bloat

Do you ever pull on your Levis in the morning and it seems that you’ve grown what seems like a food baby over night?

A lot of people skip sipping on water when they are bloated, when in reality they should be doing the opposite. “People tend to think that when they’re holding on to water they should cut back drinking it, but that’s not the case,” says David Grotto, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life and The Best Things You Can Eat. Retaining water is actually your body’s way of holding on to fluid so you don’t dehydrate. If you’re having a bloating problem, that’s the time you want to push fluids, not restrict them, says Grotto. Since lemons are a natural diuretic and a gentle laxative when added to warm water, consuming the liquid can help reduce the amount of salt retained in the body. Just make sure you drink from the glass and not through a straw, so you don’t take in any extra air.

When our tummies, digestive track and intestines are inflamed, we have trouble digesting and assimilating the nutrition we need making us feel bloated and many of us aren’t aware of the daily battle our internal system is fighting.

No, you’re not imagining things—you have the dreaded tummy bloat possibly caused by a food intolerance or even dehydration! And even if you’re going for daily runs and eating right, many factors in your day can contribute to the sudden bloat but here are some tips to beat the bloat …..

Fibre Overload

We’re always being told to eat more fibre, however, many of us aim for too much too soon And when you’re body isn’t used to fibre and you suddenly begin a diet of mainly salads, whole grains, seeds ,snack foods, and fresh fruit you could experience painful bloating.  So take small steps and introduce fibre-rich foods gradually to your daily diet.

Start drinking more water!

Many of us avoid drinking water if they are prone to bloating when really they should be doing the opposite as retaining water is your bodies way to hold onto fluid and can cause bloating so reach for the H2o and start sipping it slowly to ease symptoms .

A lot of people skip sipping on water when they are bloated, when in reality they should be doing the opposite. “People tend to think that when they’re holding on to water they should cut back drinking it, but that’s not the case,” says David Grotto, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life and The Best Things You Can Eat. Retaining water is actually your body’s way of holding on to fluid so you don’t dehydrate. If you’re having a bloating problem, that’s the time you want to push fluids, not restrict them, says Grotto. Since lemons are a natural diuretic and a gentle laxative when added to warm water, consuming the liquid can help reduce the amount of salt retained in the body. Just make sure you drink from the glass and not through a straw, so you don’t take in any extra air.

Cantaloupes have a safe diuretic effect, which makes this smoothie perfect for that time of month or whenever you’re feeling a little bloated. They also act as a mild laxative, so this is a delicious and natural option if you need to get things moving.

Cleansing Cantaloupe & Mint Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups diced cantaloupe (about 1/2 medium cantaloupe)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• small handful ice cubes

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and process until smooth.

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