Bloating

The following article is a small excerpt from one of my books.  I hope you’ll want to learn more and let me help you to get into the best shape of your life.

Bloating is a common but annoying symptom with many causes.  You could be retaining fluids, especially right before that time of the month or have excess gas because of something you ate, or you could be constipated. Luckily, there are just as many ways to solve bloating as there are causes. Try one of these tricks to help.

Potassium-Rich Foods:  This mineral helps to regulate the fluid balance in your body, and keeps you from bloating. High-potassium foods include bananas,cantaloupe, mangoes, spinach, tomatoes, and nuts. Asparagus is also a potassium rich food but also contains an amino acid called asparagine, which acts as a diuretic to flush excess liquid out of your body.

Keep Your Mouth Shut:  Beware of habits that cause you to swallow excess air, like chewing gum, drinking through a straw, smoking, and talking while you eat.

Limit Carbohydrates:  Starches like bread and pasta may cause you to retain water. Avoid eating carbohydrates before bedtime to keep from waking up puffy.

Stop drinking soda pop: The bubbles in carbonated drinks will make your belly bloat. Drink plain water.

Limit Sugar Substitutes: Some people have difficulty digesting artificial sweeteners, especially sorbitol, which is in many sugar-free candies and gums. This makes gum doubly bloat inducing and may cause gas and diarrhea. If you suspect you’re one of them, choose real sugar instead.

Prep for PMS: If you tend to swell up before or during your period, be sure you’re getting enough calcium (1,200 mg a day) and magnesium (200 to 400 mg daily) in your diet. These nutrients have been found to help relieve PMS symptoms such as bloating. You can also take Midol, which contains two mild diuretics.

Apply Pressure: To help remove gas, try massaging your abdomen in the direction of your GI tract: Press your fingers near your right hip; slide up toward the ribs, across and down near your colon in a circular motion. Sounds weird but it works!

Nibble on Parsley: Add fresh, chopped parsley to your meals as this is a natural diuretic.

Take a Probiotic: These “good bacteria”, found in supplements and in cultured milk products such as yogurt, can keep you regular and bloat free. Women with irritable bowel syndrome, characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea who took a probiotic strain B. infantis for four weeks noticed less bloating. Check labels for this strain (which can be found in the supplement Align), or find a similar strain in DANONE Activia yogurt.

Get Moving: Fight constipation by walking for at least 15 to 20 minutes each day to keep food moving through your digestive tract. Working up a sweat also releases fluids.

I know you want to get in shape and look great.  Whatever your fitness goal…to slim down…gain muscle…tone your arms or flatten your tummy…I’m here to help you accomplish your goals and to improve your fitness level. If you have enjoyed this article and the many other free features on my site, and would like some more comprehensive information such as fitness books and CD’s to aid you in achieving your health and fitness goals, please visit my ONLINE STORE where you will find innovative natural health and beauty products to help you become the BEST YOU CAN BE !