Bounce back from vacation bulge
We’ve all been there, that bloated feeling, the protruding belly and constant discomfort. Our clothing feels painfully constricting and it can be hard to get comfortable to fall asleep. When we travel, we often find ourselves bloated from sitting for long hours in planes and cars. Indulging in vacation foods and not eating our normal diet also doesn’t help. For myself, I know I’ve been eating too many healthy carbs, though not ideal for my particular metabolism, when I see that belly bulge in the mirror. It’s the pits, and it doesn’t have to be that way. For everything there is a cause, and bloating is no exception.
If you struggle with feeling bloated from time to time and want to know how to take back control of your health and weight plus feel good in your body, read on.
Skip the Salt
Processed food is terrible for you beyond bloating. It steals from your body instead of nourishing it. But the effects it has on belly bloat are profound because of one thing: iodized salt. This stuff is the worst for bloating. If you must have salt, go light and use non-iodized salts like sea salt or Himalayan salt.
Drink Lots of Water and Tea
Flushing your body out with lots of purified water and tea can help to get rid of whatever is causing the bloating.
I like to add slices of lemon, grapefruit and cucumber to my water as it makes it tastier and also helps stimulate digestive enzymes in the gut.
Black tea, which contains small amounts of caffeine, has a slight diuretic effect, helping to draw excess water out of the body. Peppermint, ginger, chamomile, and fennel teas all help with digestion, gas and stomach pain, and it’s refreshing. You can even mix the two and drink throughout the day hot or cold.
Digestive Enzymes
Taking digestive enzymes with foods that normally cause you to bloat can really help the cause. They give your system a helping hand in the digestive process and help your body to better assimilate nutrients. Most often, when we feel our stomach is too “acidic”, it’s actually low in the necessary digestive enzymes we need to break down the foods we eat for easier and quicker elimination.
Eat More Fermented Foods
Fermented foods are a powerhouse of beneficial digestive probiotics and prebiotics and can drastically reduce bloat. Adding a serving of fiber-rich sauerkraut, fermented veggies, or kimchi to each meal is the best way keep bloating away. As your microbiome starts to build up and strengthen, you’ll notice the bloating that used to be all too familiar, rarely shows itself.
Chew Your Food
The digestive process starts in the mouth.When we chew our food, the digestive enzyme amylase is released through our saliva and begins the process of breaking down starches. When the amylase doesn’t get even time to interact with the food, it skips the important first step of the digestive process! This is when you run into common problems like acid reflux, bloating and general digestive discomfort. A good rule of thumb is to chew each bite of food at least 30 times.
By following these 5 ways to help banish summertime bloat, you too can create a realistic and sustainable lifestyle that allows you to do all of the things you want to do while returning to and maintaining your ideal health, weight, and energy.
CBH Coaching Programs
If you want to get your hands on the right lab tests and resources to understand what’s behind your belly bloat and finally fix what’s wrong, schedule your complimentary Health Discovery Session with me today!
Recent Comments