Bloated Belly
Top 3 Reasons For A Bloated Belly
A bloated belly is not only uncomfortable; it makes the individual feel self-conscious and makes regularly worn clothing hard to fit. The condition arises quickly and unexpectedly, and may have a variety of causes.
Bloating is, in quite simple terms, swelling that result from fluid or air. When it occurs in the abdominal area, the cause is most often intestinal gas, but there are other culprits as well. Virtually everyone will suffer from the effects of bloating from time to time in their life, either as the result of an intolerance to some food substance, by their diet or in the way that they eat or drink.
Food Additives
Many of the foods we eat today are processed with numerous additives to enhance shelf life, flavor, texture and overall quality of the food. With so many people who are weight conscious in today’s society, a large percentage of food products we buy are available as sugar-free.
In order to maintain the sweetness that makes certain popular snacks such as gum so desirable yet not include sugar, substances such as sorbitol are added. This additive, however, cannot be absorbed by the body. Sorbitol enters our digestive system, eventually arriving in the colon where numerous types of necessary bacteria reside. The sorbitol is broken down in the colon in a process called fermentation which creates gas. The more sorbitol that is ingested, the more gas is produced.
The same situation is true of lactose, a milk sugar that is found in many foods, especially dessert foods. Lactose is not well tolerated by the body, and is passed undigested through to the colon where the breakdown of the substance is converted into gas. The gas fills the gut, resulting in a bloated belly that is uncomfortable and unsightly.
Fiber And Fructose
Diets are also largely responsible for abdominal bloating. Gas is once again the culprit behind the extension of the belly, as foods that are eaten naturally make digestion difficult due to their composition.
Foods that are high in fiber are by nature gas producing, and should be introduced gradually into the diet so as to become better tolerated. Fruits and some vegetables are high in a natural sugar called fructose and, when eaten in large amounts over a short period of time, the fructose may not be broken down completely and pass through to the colon where it ferments and develops into gas.
Carbonated beverages, such as the popular soft drinks and sparkling waters and wines, are often the reason behind a bloated belly with the average person drinking at least one carbonated beverage each day.
Eating Too Fast
It should not be surprising that, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, that the majority of people do not take the proper care when they eat or drink.
A common sight in today’s world is that of a commuter driving to work with a fast food burger in one hand and a paper cup containing a soft drink in the other.
Gulping down food and drink in the short periods of time allotted for meals is becoming more and more frequent; accompanied by copious amounts of air being swallowed along with them. This air that is taken in has nowhere to go, and occupies the abdominal area, which causes bloating. Passing this air back out of the body is the only relief from the pains that inevitably follow.
The good news is that it is possible to avoid the pain and bloated belly feeling:
Simply avoiding those foods containing the additives that create the discomfort
Gradually adding fiber rich foods to the diet
Taking the time to eat and drink in leisure
Follow the tips above and you will lessen the chance of gas accumulating in the gut, thereby eliminating the dreaded bloat.