A bloated stomach is a problem for various people. The feeling is unpleasant and sometimes has a negative impact on one’s self-esteem. It is thus important to examine the reasons responsible for this issue to treat the problem as quickly as possible.
When a person is feeling bloated, a doctor normally looks for these usual conditions:
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Overgrowth of intestinal yeast
The overgrowth of intestinal yeast has become rampant nowadays as a result of the prolonged use of antibiotics. Many times people tend to use excessive antibiotics to treat tonsil or ear infections, acne, and urinary tract infections not knowing that the use of antibiotics is quite dangerous as it brings about changes in digestive flora and provides an avenue for the spread of a yeast infection to the intestinal area.
Yeast feigns the fermentation of food which leads to gassiness, then the feeling of being bloated. Other reasons causing the yeast growth are fatigue, brain fog, sugar, binge eating disorder, and fungal skin infection. People suffering from this health condition have nothing to worry about as this issue is curable and the intestinal flora can easily be rebalanced by cleaning out the yeast. This can be done through the adoption of a no-sugar diet, intake of probiotics, or supplements that destroy yeast.
Irregularities in meal times
People have the bad habit of eating whenever they feel like it, without being aware that eating too much before bedtime or spending a long time without a meal makes digestion much slower. You might have experienced feeling bloated when you skip your breakfast and feast on a large lunch. This occurs because the sudden intake of a heavy lunch comes as a shock to your digestive system, thus increasing the blood sugar level along with the insulin level.
Hence, for the proper operation of our bodies, we need consistent and on-time meals. This will help improve the metabolism and enhance the digestive system. Therefore, endeavor to eat breakfast 1 hour after you wake up, have a mid-day lunch on time, and ensure to take dinner before 7 p.m. A mid-afternoon or mid-morning snack is also encouraged for those who often feel hungry by that time.
Resistance to insulin
The pancreas in your body is responsible for the secretion of insulin. The level of insulin increases after the consumption of a meal. In a healthy adult, the insulin secretion triggers the body’s cells to exploit the fats and sugars from the bloodstream. Many people suffer from insulin resistance due to damaged cells which do not respond to the signal of insulin. This prompts the body to produce more insulin, which increases the toxic levels of glucose in the blood. This occurrence is termed high blood sugar level.
Symptoms of resistance to insulin are rapid weight gain in just 2-3 years, a strong desire for sweets and carbohydrates, and feeling bloated and tired after meals. On a positive note, this issue can be controlled with the help of exercise. It is also highly advisable not to eat carbohydrates and sugary food. You should consume more vegetables, proteins, fibers, and healthy fats to combat the condition.
Gluten sensitivity
Gluten sensitivity, as well as celiac disease, has rapidly spread and is affecting people at an alarming rate. The cause of gluten sensitivity is the changes in wheat from the past 50 years along with the regular consumption of grain products. People sensitive to gluten face frequent issues like constipation, bloating, gassiness, and diarrhea.
People with a low level of vitamin B12 without a vegetarian diet often suffer from gluten sensitivity.
The first step in getting rid of bloating is to run blood tests to confirm the intolerance of gluten. Afterwards, embark on a gluten-free diet for five weeks. If you feel better during these five weeks and do not experience any bloating incident, then it can be ascertained that you are gluten sensitive. Thus, you should go for foods like rice, quinoa, sweet potato, squash or millet which are gluten-free and healthy to eat.
Poor food combinations
The combination of food has a significant impact on the digestive system and affects the digestive process. This is a fact most people unfortunately overlook. Practically, indigestion and bloating can be a result of an improper combination of food that slows down the digestion process.
It is the golden rule that to have a proper digestion process, one should eat fruits alone, while fish lovers should avoid eating fruit salad or melon just after they have savored fish.
It is also pertinent to avoid the combination of carbohydrates with protein, although this might seem impossible if you live on a vegetarian diet.
Intolerance or allergy to specific food
Intolerance or food allergy many times does not induce the instant response like itching or swelling. Food allergy is closely related to bloating as the intake of non-tolerated food causes stress on the immune system, leading to inflammation and intestinal tract irritation, resulting in bloating. People are allergic to specific fruits, gluten, dairy products, wheat, egg, nuts, corn, and much more.
A blood test can easily detect the food to which you are allergic to help you plan your diet accordingly. Food allergy is also related to skin allergies, a problematic digestive system, and lack of energy. Once the group of food one is allergic to is removed from one’s diet, one is bound to get rid of bloating in 4-6 weeks.
Lack of enzymes that support digestion
Enzymes secreted by pancreas play an imperative role in digestion. The main purpose of enzymes is to break the food down into smaller parts so that it can easily be absorbed by the body. It also aids in the dissolution of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and lactose.
If a person’s body is not producing enough enzymes essential for proper digestion, it leads to irregular bowel movements, bloating, pain, and indigestion. Lack of digestive enzymes leads to many issues such as:
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The permanent solution to this issue is to check out the cause of the enzyme deficiency and start the treatment to enable your body to produce the sufficient amount of the lacking enzyme to support your digestive system.
Other causes like bacterial infection or parasite
While eating outside, one might contract some nasty germs which affect the digestive system, leading to fatigue, weight loss, and diarrhea. Many people possess pathogenic bacteria and parasites in their digestive tracts. The issue is comparable to the yeast infection which obstructs the digestion process. A digestive stool analysis and a test can offer validity about the presence of bacteria or parasite in your body. Once bacteria is confirmed, it is quite easy to treat the issue.
Overview
Conclusively, while there are many reasons responsible for bloating which can be treated very easily, it is important to note that it is not normal to feel bloated after a meal. Any feeling of discomfort in the belly region should be reported to a doctor immediately.
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