Health Spotlight: What You Need To Know About Bloating
Bloating can be quite an uncomfortable feeling. Puffiness in your mid-section and the lagging feeling that comes along with it might be caused by a variety of factors. Small changes in your gut flora can lead to changes in how your intestines move, as well as the amount and type of gas that’s produced.
There are certain types of food that are known to trigger more of a reaction in your intestines, ultimately making you feel more bloated. The term FODMAP is an acronym derived from “Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols.” These are carbohydrates and are commonly found in the modern western diet, in foods such as wheat, onions, garlic, pears, and apples. They can be major triggers for uncomfortable bloating. Here are some of the top reasons why you might feel bloated:
Fiber Overload
While having plenty of fiber in your diet is important, sometimes belly bulges are a result of soluble fiber-found in oatmeal or beans, for instance-that causes your stomach to swell and draw in water. So if you’ve been especially bloated recently, watch your intake of oat bran, beans, peas, and fruits.
Drinking Alcohol
Certain alcohols, especially those made of wheat and barley, have a tendency to make you feel very bloated, and they can pack on the pounds as well.
Artificial Sweeteners
Diet drinks are not the solution for your waistline, as they tend to dull your sense of taste and actually lead to weight gain rather than weight loss. But there’s more downsides – our bodies can’t break down the artificial sugars, and as the bacteria in our intestines try to do so anyway, gas is created.
Probiotics and Gut Flora
Inside the small and large intestines, there exists a world of friendly, microscopic bacteria. These bacteria help protect the lining of the intestinal walls from inflammation, help with nutrient absorption and support stool formation for daily elimination – but they also do much more for our bodies. Due to the complexity of the digestive system, we have large parts of the immune and nervous system that are contained within our intestinal tissue. As a result, probiotics help support immune health and even mental health.
For more information on Probiotics and Gut Flora, Click here!
Source: http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/9-things-that-are-keeping-you-bloated/ar-BB3qsKS
