What Causes Bloating: The Causes and The Solutions

Bloating

Bloating. Has it ruined a romantic date? Embarrassed you in the middle of a meeting? Left you feeling uncomfortable all day? You’re not alone. Over 30% of Americans say they’re in the same boat. However, most digestive issues are completely correctable with diet alone. Before you get lost in your very serious WebMD diagnosis, read down our tell-all list. This week we’re exposing the bloat’s biggest culprits and how you can fix them yourself.

What Causes Bloating

Slow your roll

Your grandma wasn’t yelling for nothing folks. Did you know it takes the brain at least 20 minutes to recognize that you’re full? Quick eaters often overeat due to this delay. So how does this relate to ‘what causes bloating’? Well, rushing through your meals can result in swallowing more air as you eat, resulting in abdominal bloat and discomfort. Finally, speed-eaters tend to not chew their food enough. As your body works overtime to product more bacteria, you may be left unbuttoning your jeans with discomfort from the bloating. Do yourself a favor and prioritize time to eat so you don’t have to be urgently searching ‘what causes bloating’. Find nutrient-rich options to enjoy slowly during your commute or meal prep dinner so you are prepared to feed yourself without the rush.

Milk it for what it’s worth

What causes bloating? Dairy. Well, not for all of us, but most of us have felt some degree of discomfort from dairy products at one point or another. Commonly mislabeled as an allergy, lactose intolerance is actually caused due to the lack of the enzyme lactase. This allows the undigested milk sugar, lactose, to drag water down into the gut causing discomfort, bloating, and gas. If these seem familiar, try eliminating dairy from your diet for a week and record how your body reacts. Then you can reintroduce dairy in smaller portions into your diet. If you’re seeking easier options, try to stick to yogurt and hard cheeses that are lower in lactose. So, what causes bloating? Well, I can tell you what doesn’t; try dairy free options like lactose-free or nut milks.

Sugar-free fairytale

So sugar is also what causes bloating? Yes, I know, this one made me sad too. But in order to understand what causes bloating, you should know that fake sugar is in fact not the dieter’s friend. The sugar alcohols in fake sugars like sorbitol and mannitol are barely digested, if at all. This barely digestible alcohol then ferments in your small intestine, causing gas and general discomfort. Limit yourself to 3 or less pieces of gum, one sugar-free dessert, or one sugar-free beverage a day. If you’re an overachiever, find swaps to completely cut these sugar-free substitutes out of your diet entirely.

It’ll fizz out

We crave the crispness of carbonation. We know it’s true. America’s flirtation with soda and sparkling water is downright built into our culture. But do you know what causes bloating? Carbonation. As we enjoy our beverage of choice, we are swallowing air that will continue to build up in our intestines (usually resulting in an embarrassing situation!). On top of carbonation, you also know what causes bloating? Sugar Alcohols! Diet soda addicts get a double hit to the bloated gut with the added complication of sugar alcohols. If you’re a soda addict, try cutting back and switching to sparking water until you can cut yourself off completely. If you are less addicted, limit yourself to one carbonated beverage per day.

Don’t be salty

Last but certainly not least, do you know what causes bloating? Salt is the leading cause of bloating for most adults. How does  that work? Doesn’t salt lead to dehydration? Our body is a giant scale, accommodating for excess salt intake by retaining extra water to balance things out. The simplest way to ensure you’re not holding extra fluid is to drink plenty of water slowly throughout your day. Steady intake is the best way to ensure complete hydration. Limiting excessively salty food items will help limit you searching ‘what causes bloating’. Instead, seeking lower sodium options will also help you beat the bloat throughout the day.

What else has caused you to bloat? How did you fix it? Are you having a nice day? Let’s chat in the comments. We promise we don’t bite.