Belly Bloat: 5 Tips to Beat (and avoid) the Bloat
We are only as healthy as our digestive tract.
Digestive health is something we often overlook; however, more and more research is emerging showing just how important good gut health is for overall well being.
During the digestive process the food we eat is broken down into its nutrient components; which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Food and drink must be reduced to nutrient molecules, before the blood can absorb them, and carry them to cells throughout the body.
How do you know if you have bad gut health?
Signs of poor gut health include the following:
• Bloating
• Gas
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Loose, unformed stools
• Feeling ‘foggy’ headed
• Poor mood
When you find yourself experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, it’s important to make some changes. You must find the root cause of your bloating, and your digestive issues.
When your gut isn’t healthy, it can have an impact on your mental health, weight, and mood.
In general, when your gut is healthier, you feel better – better mood, more energy, healthy weight, etc.
The good news...usually, by adopting some simple healthy eating habits and lifestyle changes, you can alleviate the frequency of gut discomfort, and keep your gut nice and healthy; which can help keep the rest of your body healthy too!
Here are our 5 TIPS to improve digestion
1 EAT WHOLE FOODS
Our bodies were meant to eat foods from the earth. Eating processed, refined, and high sugar foods has been linked to digestive upset. Eating whole, good quality foods can help turn around poor digestion fast.
2 CHEW YOUR FOOD
Aim to chew each bite of food 20-30 times before swallowing. The less you chew the more work you leave for your digestive system. It’s amazing how this one simple change can make a world of difference.
3 INCREASE YOUR FIBRE
Fibre moves substance along the colon for excretion. Our stool is a primary transport vehicle for the toxins leaving our body. If we aren’t able to eliminate toxins, then our digestive system will not work at its best.
4 AVOID LIQUIDS DURING MEALS
Avoid drinking liquids such as tea, water, and juice during meals. They can dilute stomach acid, making it harder to break down nutrients.
5 GET MOVING
Walking for 10-20 minutes after a meal has been shown to help with digestion. It gets things moving along the gastrointestinal tract.
BONUS TIP: Manage your stress
When the body is under stress, your digestion shuts down, and it’s unable to carry out its digestive task efficiently.
Before sitting down to eat a meal: Take 10 deep breaths and make sure you are in a relaxed environment. The less you stress, the more you digest.
Check out our blog for more healthy eating habits or, if you feel like you need more direction, click here to book a free 15-minute consultation with one of our Nutritionists.