There are days when I wake up feeling like a pregnant woman. My whole belly feels distended and I don’t know if my stomach is telling me it needs me to sit on the throne to relief the build-up or if I just need a good, long fart.
Before you turn away from this article, hear me out. Feeling bloated is a very real, albeit minor issue that everybody experiences from time to time. Although it feels mighty uncomfortable when you have gas, it’s not an ailment that is difficult to get rid of.
Why do we get bloated?
First, let’s address the reasons why we get bloated. This can stem from a few lifestyle and dietary choices we make in our daily lives. Here are some you may be familiar with.
#1 Eating too fast
When we eat too quickly, we inhale a whole bunch of air and not chew our food properly. This usually happens when we are starved but it also results in us getting gas and having large pieces of food sitting in our belly that is hard to digest.
#2 You are stressed
You may be surprised that stress not only gives you headaches and possibly insomnia (all bad enough as they are), it can also alter your bodily functions and cause bloating. Try to take a breather and release the pent-up stress within you each day to feel lighter.
#3 Lack of sleep
Many people don’t realise that not getting enough sleep can cause your body to release a stress hormone called cortisol which apparently disturbs our digestive system to cause bloating and constipation. On top of that, not getting sufficient snooze time can also result in your body craving for carbohydrates, which also leads to additional bloating.
#4 Not drinking enough water
Your body is a very savvy and smart machine. When it doesn’t get enough hydration, it goes into hibernation mode and retains fluid in our bodies. This ultimately causes bloating and water retention, which makes us feel like a sack of potatoes. Starting your day with a large glass of lemon water can help to ward this off and help in digestion.
#5 Too much salt in your diet
As with everything else, salt causes retention of fluids. When it happens in our body, it leads to us becoming exceptionally bloated and uncomfortable. So lay off the salt and drink more water!
How can we prevent it?
One of the best ways to prevent bloating is to drink enough water to keep our digestive system in check. Get enough sleep and also eat slowly and healthily. Engage in exercises to get rid of the excess salt in our bodies and you will be on your way to a comfortable and clean gut.
