Dairy and gluten are huge triggers for people who are prone to bloating but did you know that certain fruits and veggies can cause your tummy to swell too? Plums, for example, have a high sugar alcohol content and will ferment inside your intestines causing gas. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, raw veggies and legumes will also make you bloat.

A lot of people chew gum to keep them from eating between meals, but when you chew gum, you unwittingly swallow some air. That excess air intake can make your intestines feel like a balloon. Plus, most gums contain sugar alcohols, which can cause gas and bloating as well. It’s better to stick to mints if you’re trying to beat the bloat.

(Read more: 10 Scary Health Symptoms, Explained)

Every time you sip through a straw, air comes up before the liquid. Even reusable water bottles with built-in straws can cause problems. Do you body a favour and ditch those skinny plastic tubes (they’re not eco-friendly anyway!) and opt to drink straight from the rim of a cup or water bottle and you’ll be saving your stomach from any unnecessary discomfort.

While it’s the body’s hormones that aggravate your digestive system and cause gas and bloating, stress can also prompt people to rush through meals at their desks, skip much-needed bathroom breaks and suck in air during anxiety attacks. How to cope? Try setting aside 10 minutes every day to meditate and find you calm.

(Read more: Stress-Free People Do These 10 Things Every Day)

Our daily diets are full of sodium and that leads to water retention, which causes bloating. It’s a vicious cycle but one way to break it is to flush all that sodium out by drinking water. But too much water can dilute stomach acid, which makes it harder for your body to digest food so stop sipping at least 30 minutes before and after you eat.

Do you feel bloated first thing in the morning? Then you are probably snoring or at least mouth-breathing in your sleep. Look at your tummy in the morning and see if it looks bigger than before you went to sleep. If yes, then you need to try seeing a specialist to curb that snoring.

(Read more: This Is Why Sleeping On Your Back Is The Best For Your Health)

Late-night eating is another little-known cause of belly bloat. Digestive function is best in the middle of the day but natural enzymes and hormones get sluggish as the sun goes down. Eating before sleep means food is more likely to sit undigested in your gut, leaving you feeling tired and bloated in the morning.

You know that sitting too much can lead to weight gain and belly fat, but did you know that it can also cause your belly to temporarily balloon? When you’re not moving, neither are your bowels or gas. Thankfully a short walk outside or a 10 minute workout session in your living room is all that’s needed to keep things regular and keep bloat at bay.

(Read more: 8 Reasons Why Sitting Down All The Time Is Ruining Your Health)