Ever heard of abdominal bloating? Yes it’s a stomach condition affecting many people around the world today. But what really is Abdominal bloating? This is what this article will be talking about. The meaning of Abdominal bloating, its causes and off course, the food you can eat that can help reduced Abdominal bloating. See more details below.
Abdominal bloating usually occurs when there is an excess gas build up in your stomach or intestine especially after meals. Another issue here is Fluid retention in the body which can also lead to bloating, as this makes the belly looks larger than usual and it may make you feel tender or painful. Ever wonder why we have so many increase cases of men with pot bellies? I guess you now know.
Abdominal bloating also occurs when the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is filled with air or gas. We notice that most people describing bloating as feeling full, tight, or swollen in the abdomen. Your abdomen may also be swollen, hard, and painful. Bloating can be accompanied by pain. Bloating can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples includes drinking carbonated beverages, eating a large meal, menstruation, constipation or wind.
One thing about this subject matter is that bloating is usually a digestive issue, though hormones and stress also play a part. Sometimes there is an underlying medical condition.
Why do you feel bloated?
Gas and air
Gas is the most common cause of bloating, especially after eating. Gas builds up in the digestive tract when undigested food gets broken down or when you swallow air. Everyone swallows air when they eat or drink. But some people can swallow more than others, especially if they are smoking, chewing gum, wearing loose dentures and eating or drinking too fast.
How common is stomach bloating?
Between 10% and 25% of people who are healthy complain of occasional abdominal bloating. As many as 75% describe their symptoms as moderate to severe. About 10% say they experience it regularly. Among those diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it may be as much as 90%. Up to 75% of women experience bloating before and during their period. Only 50% of people who experience bloating also report a distended abdomen.
Nevertheless, there are some foods that can help you reduce abdominal bloating and they include:
- Bananas: Bananas contains potassium. According to a study, those that ate bananas before having a meal bloat less than those who don’t, this is because bananas contains certain gut bacteria that calm gas production in the belly.
- Ginger: Because ginger is spicy it helps the gut juices to flow as this aid digestion and help your stomach empty faster which prevent the stomach from bloating.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes contains lycopene an antioxidant that works as an anti-inflammatory all over your body. Tomatoes also contains potassium which lower the level sodium that causes abdominal bloating in the stomach. You can add or eat raw tomatoes to your diet.
- Avocados: Avocados are packed with potassium; the body needs potassium to manage it sodium level which in turn controls the amount of water in the body and help reduce abdominal bloating.
- Watermelon: Watermelon contains more than 90% of water, which means taking a slice can help keep your body hydrated to avoid bloating.
- Cucumbers: Cucumbers contains a lot of water that help wash away digestive issues created by dehydration. Consuming cucumbers will help the stomach feel less bloat or heavy.
How long does a bloated stomach last?
If your bloating is due to something you ate or drank or to hormone fluctuations, it should begin to ease within a few hours to days. If you are constipated, it won’t go down until you start pooping. Water, exercise and herbal teas can help encourage all of these things along. If it doesn’t go away or gets worse, seek medical attention.
Lastly, if your bloated stomach doesn’t go away, you should seek medical care to determine the cause.