You’ve been making a conscious effort to eat healthier – so why are you still feeling bloated?
It’s a question many women may ask as they button up their jeans: research shows that a staggering 87% of women are affected by digestive discomfort. Along with flatulence, constipation and that unpleasant feeling of heaviness, bloating is one of the main symptoms of digestive discomfort.
The rainy months see changes in our diets, exercise regime and sleeping habits that may affect our digestion, without us even realising. If you think saying no to a hot breakfast is enough, you might be in for a surprise:
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Along with drying office air-conditioning and thicker clothing to keep warm, a lack of water can make our bodies dehydrated, which can lead to constipation and bloating.
Keep things interesting: you’re much more likely to get through your daily water intake if you’re enjoying each sip. Infusing water with natural fruits and spices will stop your tastebuds from getting bored.
One of the easiest ways to help reduce the uncomfortable feeling of bloating is to take probiotics.
Increase your gut’s level of good bacteria with a probiotic-contained yoghurt. Yoghurt branding can be tricky, so ensure you opt for a yoghurt with probiotic strains that have been proven to improve digestive comfort.
While your bed or couch may seem a lot friendlier than bracing the chilly rainy weather outside, your lack of exercise could be to blame for your bloat.
Getting in at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day boosts your mood and helps to eliminate stress levels, a factor found to impact on digestive health. If we are regularly moving, so too is our digestive system.
With food the main focus in the lead-up to festive meet-ups with family and friends, there’s more opportunity to overeat.
While it may feel good at the time, eating too much of the wrong foods can irritate the gastro-intestinal tract causing bulging and discomfort. Stick to a diet full of legumes, wholegrains and veggies to help provide you with fibre.
When the 3pm slump hits and you opt for an apple over a packet of chips, you should be feeling good, right? But if you find yourself suddenly feeling bloated or left with a painful stomachache, it might be time to look for an alternative healthy snack.
Your safest bet is to fill up on fruits low in sorbitol (a sugar alcohol also seen in some chewing gums), such as bananas, berries and kiwifruits.
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(Text by bauersyndication.com.au / Additional reporting by Natalya Molok)