8 Common Reasons for Bloating

Lisa Franchi June 13, 2014

Bloating – we all hate it. This abdominal trouble can last for hours, and it could be very uncomfortable and embarrassing at times. Whilst the most common cause of bloating is overeating, it can be caused by many other issues too. Sometimes even the digestive process itself creates gas right in your abdomen.

Here are among the most common causes of dehydration:

You’re not drinking enough water.

When you are dehydrated, your body begins to retain fluid. If you feel like you’re retaining fluid, that probably means it’s time to drink some more. Cut down on carbonated drinks, which can aggravate your problem. To avoid getting bloated, reach for a cup of warm green tea instead.

You eat very fast.

Eating too quickly or drinking through a straw can result in swallowing bubbles of air along with your meal, which can lead to bloating. Furthermore, insufficient chewing slows down your body’s ability to digest carbs. This can create gas in the intestines. Eat mindfully and make sure to chew your food properly. It can be helpful to take a few sips before you swallow to eliminate the air pockets that bloat your belly.

You’re eating lots of ‘gassy’ foods.

Some foods can cause gas, and they include broccoli, apples, avocados and kale. Too much salt can also cause water retention, which then again leads to bloating. If you know the foods you’re intolerant of, make sure you watch your consumption of these foods.

You’re stressed out.

Our body reacts differently to stress, leading to a host of health issues. One of which is bloating. This is because when you are stressed; our bodies react by driving blood away from the usual digestive process. Apart from bloating, you may also experience constipation, diarrhoea and digestive pain.

You’re undergoing treatments.

Some medications come along with undesirable side effects, including bloating. If you’re taking medicines that contain lactulose or sorbitol, or the one used for diabetes like acarbose, you’re likely to suffer from a ‘gassy stomach’.

You have IBS.

If you have been bloated on and off for a long time, and you also experience other digestive symptoms like pain, constipation and/or bouts of diarrhoea, you could be having this very serious health problem: IBS. Irritable bowel disorder (IBS) is a functional disorder, which means there’s nothing wrong with the bowel, but the way the gut works is abnormal. Bloating is one of the most disruptive side effects of IBS. For many, bloating seems to worsen in the evening, and can disrupt their social life.

You have coeliac disease.

If you often feel tired, you experience rapid weight loss, and you frequently suffer from abdominal pain, it’s possible that you have coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is an adverse reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye and all foods containing them like pastries, pasta, etc. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines state that anyone with bloating and other IBS-type symptoms should be tested for it.

You’re having hormonal fluctuations.

During pregnancy, and just before your period, levels of the hormone progesterone are raised, which usually lead to bloating. Bloating due to hormonal ups and downs can be easily relieved by exercise by improving gut motility. Walking for 30 minutes a day could be enough to make the difference.