Bloating is more than just an uncomfortable feeling; it can be truly disruptive to one’s daily life, even leading to skipping out on activities you love. (Ever try doing yoga when it feels like you have a balloon in your belly? Not fun.)“Bloating is that tight, ‘puffy,’ gassy feeling in the belly. For some people, it comes and goes. For others, it happens most days,” saysDr. Jason Korenblit, MD, a gastroenterologist with JustAnswer. While bloating can be extremely uncomfortable, Dr. Korenblit notes that the good news is that, except for very rare occasions, it’s not dangerous.
There are many possible causes for bloating. Dr. Korenblit says that swallowing air (which can happen if you’re talking fast, chewing gum, drinking a carbonated drink or drinking through a straw), constipation, food intolerance (such as lactose intolerance), hormonal changes (he notes that many women feel bloated before or during their period), food fermentation (which can occur after eating foods that are hard to digest) and stress can all cause bloating.If bloating is something you’re experiencing on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to see a gastroenterologist so you can work together to pinpoint the root causes. If you are trying to treat your bloating on your own, there’s one popular fix that gastroenterologists warn against. Keep reading to find out what it is and to see what you should do instead.?SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week?
The Common Mistake People Make When Treating Bloating
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If you’re dealing with bloating regularly, you may think the best way to get to the bottom of it is to cut out a food group that you suspect is the cause. “A lot of people try cutting out whole food groups one at a time to ‘test’ what’s causing their bloating,” Dr. Korenblit tells Parade. But it’s best to avoid doing this if you aren’t receiving guidance from a healthcare professional.
“I always counsel my patients not to cut out major food categories without speaking with a registered dietitian,” says Dr. Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH, a gastroenterologist, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong. Without guidance, Dr. Pasricha adds that it can be difficult to get all the nutrients the body needs when an entire food group has been cut out.
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Dr. Pasricha explains that while, sometimes, a gastroenterologist may recommend a more limited diet as a way to pinpoint what’s causing bloating, it’s not meant to be a long-term solution.
That said, there are times when cutting out certain specific types of ingredients may be helpful. Dr. Paul Feuerstadt, MD, FACG, AGAF, a gastroenterologist, member of the board of directors at the Peggy Lillis Foundation and an associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine, says that removing artificial sweeteners or high-fructose content from one’s diet is a great starting point for treating mild bloating.
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According to Dr. Feuerstadt, it can also be helpful to remove one food (or ingredient) at a time, but warns against removing more than one at a time. “If you remove multiple things at once, then you can’t pinpoint what did or did not help."
The takeaway here is that while removing one specific ingredient or food at a time may be helpful, it’s important to avoid cutting entire food categories without the guidance of a doctor or dietitian.
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If the bloating you’re experiencing is a one-off and not something that happens regularly, Dr. Feuerstadt recommends taking an over-the-counter medication, such as GAS-X or Beano. “These [medications] can break up a gas bubble into smaller bubbles that are easier for your system to absorb. This also makes you more comfortable since the gas is not in one segment of your bowel and stretching it, causing discomfort,” he says, adding that this is a short-term solution.
Some other in-the-moment bloating solutions that can help, according to Dr. Korenblit, include going for a short walk, drinking ginger tea and avoiding carbonated beverages.
If you are experiencing bloating regularly, schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Prior to your appointment, Dr. Korenblit recommends keeping a food diary. “Track when bloating happens, what you ate, your bowel habits, sleep and stress levels,” he says. This can be a helpful tool to share with your gastroenterologist during your appointment.
Dr. Pasricha emphasizes that you shouldn’t feel self-conscious or embarrassed about talking about bloating with your doctor. “People brush it off as ‘just bloating,’ but it can genuinely affect your quality of life–your clothing choices, your body image, your willingness to go out and enjoy meals with the people you love. You deserve to get help,” she says.
With some guidance from a trained doctor, you’ll be so glad you did.
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Sources:
Dr. Jason Korenblit, MD, gastroenterologist with JustAnswerDr. Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH, gastroenterologist, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of You’ve Been Pooping All WrongDr. Paul Feuerstadt, MD, FACG, AGAF, gastroenterologist, member of the board of directors at the Peggy Lillis Foundation and an associate clinical professor at Yale School of MedicineHence then, the article about i m a gastroenterologist this is the worst way to fix bloating was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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