6 Foods That Reduce Bloating
By Orla, June 26, 2013
Bloating is essentially fluid building up between your cells and can be caused by a number of things such as poor digestion, a high sodium intake, gluten intolerance or being on your period.
A bloated stomach can leave you feeling frumpy, even when you’re not. Luckily, there are a number of foods that can help reduce bloating.
- Water with Lemon
A lot of people think they need to avoid filling up on water when they’re bloated, because they’re already holding a lot of water? Wrong. Your body is retaining fluid to avoid dehydration, therefore you need to drink plenty of water to fix the bloating.
Add some lemon to the water, slightly warmed for maximum effect, to reduce the amount of salt retained in the body.
- Celery
Celery is known to contain chemicals that decrease fluid retention. It’s high water content and digestive aid helps to cleanse the body of toxins, regulate bowel movements and control intestinal gas.
- Watermelon
Watermelon is one of the juiciest fruits out there with a water percentage of 92. It has natural diuretic properties, meaning it helps the body increase the flow of urine which leads to the body getting rid of excess water.
On top of that, watermelon contains a good source of potassium, and the balance between sodium and potassium is important for controlling bloating.
- Rosemary & Turmeric
These herbs help treat intestinal gas and can also aid digestion. Combine rosemary with celery and parsley to make your own bloat-reducing cooking broth or add turmeric, which can reduce stomach upset and bloating, to a curry dish.
- Beans & Lentils
Both potassium and fibre are important for regulating sodium levels, and lentils have a high source of fibre which will aid digestion. White beans, soybeans, and lima beans are rich in potassium and fibre, making a combination of beans and lentils the perfect food to reduce bloating.
Beans also have an added bonus with a naturally high source of estrogen and protein which can relieve period- induced bloating.
- Yogurt
Yogurts can help reduce bloating because the milk sugar is already broken down, whereas in milk it’s not, which can create gas and bloating. It also contains active cultures, such as lactobacillus and acidophilus, which can improve symptoms of bloating.
