When you learn about the many foods and conditions that lead to bloated stomachs, you wouldn’t be wrong to think that all of us should either be in pain or tooting tunes all day.

It seems as though every body processes inputs differently. Even though all of us feel bloated every so often, most of the time only about 25% of the population feels that sense of being full, or uncomfortable in the stomach.

When Food Makes You Feel Bad:

A lot of foods that are good for us also contribute to bloating.

Do you like broccoli? If you’re prone to belly gas, stay away from this and other cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts.

Whole grains — another staple of healthy eaters — also create a gassy atmosphere in certain guts. In fact, bacteria in your gut ferment the grains to break them down. It’s the same process that causes a head of foam on beer. Imagine that trapped below your stomach!

Harmful Eating Habits:

If you gulp your food quickly instead of savoring one bite at a time, you will be more likely to feel bloated afterwards. Your system simply can’t digest too much food at once. Eating late and going to bed with a full stomach is related to eating-based bloating.

Constipation can contribute to bloating. As Johns Hopkins Medical Center reports, “The longer your stool stays in your colon, the more time bacteria have to ferment what’s there, resulting in more gas and bloating.”

As you know if you are in touch with your body, things like constipation and bloating can be occasional irritants, but if they go away after a relatively short time, they aren’t worth getting too worried about.

What Else Causes Bloating?

About 75% of women report bloating during menstruation or perimenopause. Then for others, the source of bloating is the migration of bacteria from the colon into the small intestine. That usually happens when there is not enough of the proper bacteria in the small intestine, leaving room for intrusion.

Serious illnesses can also contribute to bloating, though, which is why it’s good to have an annual medical check-up and talk to your doctor when you notice long-term symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome and uterine issues are a couple of examples that would require medical attention.

Do This to Help Your Body!

However, if you suffer only occasionally from bloat there are simple steps that you can take to avoid bloating or help it go away more quickly. As you hear so often when discussing overall health, drinking plenty of water is a must. When you aren’t fully hydrated, your body reacts in ways that won’t make you feel so well. So in conclusion, always drink water during the day, even before you are thirsty. Another recommendation related to nearly all health issues is exercise: Get some exercise, it is so important!

NuEthix can also be a helpful resource to keep your gut healthy and bloat-resistant.

Maintaining the balance of important bacteria in your system will lessen the chance that one type of bacteria overtakes another, creating a recipe for gas production.

• Gut Defender+ is a blend of acids and herb extracts from French tarragon, thyme, and olive that attack unhealthy endotoxins, clearing the way for helpful bacteria to thrive and do the job of breaking down food.

• Flora-Protect does as the name implies. With several strains and billions of CFUs of lactobacillus bacteria, it fortifies the good bacteria needed to convert food into energy while also supporting immune function and proper lactose digest and also helping to reduce digestive inflammation.

• Gourmet Greens, taken daily as a drink, is a good way to get the benefit of vegetables without the threat of bloat. That’s because in addition to the vitamins and minerals, Gourmet Greens contains probiotics and fiber for health digestion.

• Bloat-Eaze Pro supplies bovine serum, which according to this study published in the National Library of Medicine, can prevent gastrointestinal tract infections, upper respiratory tract infections, and LPS-induced inflammation.

• Another product, Utilyze, provides enzymes to break down food and help maximize absorption of amino acids, vitamins, and nutrients. Not only does Utilyze provide support for gas, bloating and constipation, it comes in convenient “per meal” travel packets to make your daily dosage as easy as possible.

A helpful meal routine

If you are trying to manage bloating, practice a routine that will minimize such attacks and promote your overall health with the examples below:

• Try out the NuEthix products mentioned above to see which works best.
• If you suspect that some foods may be irritating your digestive system, cut them out and then bring each back into your diet one at a time over several weeks. By doing that, you'll be able to identify any suspects and permanently eliminate them.
• When you sit down to dinner, include a glass of water with the table setting. Enjoy your meal one bite at a time, mindfully chewing and experiencing the flavors and textures.
• Before bed, spend a few minutes breathing deeply and trying to clear your mind. Actively imagine waking in the morning with a positive attitude. (It works!)
• A healthy lifestyle means putting the best ingredients into your body, avoiding those that don’t agree with you, and making conscious decisions about how you want to live your life.