4 Flat Belly Tips: How to Beat Bloating

by | Jun 16, 2017 | Nutrition, Wellness

Avoid these belly bloaters for fast results.

You’re exercising and eating right, so what’s up with the bloating? Sometimes the culprit is obvious, eating that pizza last night didn’t’ help, but other times your healthy habits may be the cause.

Certain foods, even some of the healthy ones, are known bloat offenders. They will increase puffiness and make you appear heavier than you are.

These are the four food items found to be the top culprits:

Vegetables

Now we’re not saying that you should avoid vegetables altogether, but things like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and kale are the biggest stomach puffers, thanks to their high fiber content. Enjoy a small serving since they’re so healthy and filling, but stop after that, particularly if you’re heading to the beach later!

Soda and Beer

This goes without saying, the bubbles that make soda or that cold beer so refreshing, is not different than swallowing air.  This air finds its way to your stomach and causes that temporary muffin top. Stick with water to avoid developing a food baby or that bloated beer belly.

Salty Processed Products

A handful of chips, a serving of canned soup or those pre-packaged cold cuts are loaded with sodium. Canned soups, even the healthier sounding ones can have over 1,000mg of sodium in one serving! This excess amount of salt causes you to retain water and can leave you feeling puffy. Steer clear of these offenders as much as possible, so as not to exacerbate bloating.

Artificial Sweeteners and Diet Foods

With most ‘fake food’ products, your body will react negatively. Diet foods and artificial food products, in particular, can leave you feeling gassy and puffy. Check your labels and avoid sugar-free foods, especially ones with sucralose and aspartame. Rule of thumb, any product that has a lot of unrecognizable items on its label should be avoided.

Indulge in the real stuff, such as berries. Not only does it taste better, when consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet, it shouldn’t affect your waistline.

If you are still feeling like you need more direction, click here for a free 15-minute nutrition consultation with one of our Nutritionists.