Hello guys
I hope you all had a healthy weekend? We are almost 3 weeks into our 40 day challenge. Insane how quickly it’s gone!
Lets talk about bloating…. We have all experienced this. That horrible swollen and uncomfortable feeling. It’s certainly not fun or flattering.
Here are some of the main causes of bloating. If you try and limit these types of foods as much as possible, the evil bloat monster won’t visit you as much.
DAIRY – Many people struggle with bloating from dairy products because their bodies cannot digest lactose (the sugar found in all dairy products)
SODIUM/SALT – Consuming food which is high in sodium causes water retention (Pizza ?)
FAT – High fat diets can cause bloating as fat takes far longer to digest than protein and even carbs.
SUGAR – Fructose and artificial sweeteners which are found in processed foods are hard to digest.
COFFEE ? – Coffee causes inflammation of the stomach because it is very acidic (including decaf coffee)
ALCOHOL – After a night out drinking, you may notice bloating not only in your stomach but in your face too. This happens because alcohol dehydrates the body. When the body is dehydrated, skin and vital organs try to hold onto as much water as possible, leading to puffiness (and a red face)
RAW VEGGIES AND LEGUMES – Just to name a few. Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are extremely high in fiber, which can be difficult for your body to break down.
So… what if you are already bloated?? Then the above information doesn’t help much ??
Here are some tips which will get you back to feeling normal again.
EAT POTASSIUM-RICH FOOD -Bananas, kiwi, oranges, raisins, tomatoes, spinach and strawberries. These will help your kidneys get rid of excess sodium and reduce bloating. My morning smoothies are packed with these goodies.
FLUSH THE SALT WITH WATER – An easy fix for bloating is to drink more water. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, which are electrolytes that play a role in managing your body’s fluid balance. When you consume too much salt, your body retains fluid to dilute the excess sodium. To improve the balance, you need to flush out the extra sodium by drinking more water.
CUCUMBER – Cucumbers are used to reduce puffiness under eyes. You can also eat them to do the same thing for your tummy. Cucumbers contain quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant that helps reduce swelling. Cut up a couple slices and add to your water for a refreshing drink.
PEPPERMINT AND CAMOMILE TEA – Sit down and relax with a hot cup of peppermint or chamomile tea. Both relax GI muscles to help dissipate the gas that causes your stomach to bloat. Not only does it improve digestion, chamomile can also soothe and make you feel more relaxed ??♀️
Very important. Don’t forget to drink your probiotics on a daily basis. Good gut health makes losing and managing weight so much easier and helps with digestion. I use the Wild Teatox which helps nourish your liver and gut health.
We also stock Kombucha at The Health Bar which is another way to get in those probiotics.
Wishing YOU a fabulous Monday
Sam