What’s your go-to solution? Is it taking a Tums? Going for a walk? Giving your stomach a gentle massage? There’s one habit many people do when they’re bloated that gastroenterologists say actually does more harm than good. Keep reading to find out what it is and to learn what to do instead.
Dr. David J. Kim, MD, a gastroenterologist at GI Alliance, says that there are many causes of bloating. Pinpointing where exactly the bloating is occurring is a helpful clue is figuring out the cause. "Upper G.I. bloating is excess gas in the stomach and is usually caused by rapid eating or consuming carbonated beverages,” Dr. Kim says.
Lower G.I. bloating in the small or large intestine is typically caused by the breakdown of gas-producing foods, such as cruciferous vegetables, certain indigestible sugars, or a food someone is intolerant to.
While most people get bloated occasionally, if it’s something you’re dealing with regularly, it’s a good idea to work with a gastroenterologist to pinpoint why and find a solution that works best for you. “Bloating is generally best handled by finding the cause and avoiding it,” Dr. Kim says. If you aren’t sure what’s causing your bloating, this is when working with a G.I. doc can be helpful. Especially if your bloating is accompanied by vomiting, changes in bowel habits or unexplained weight loss, Dr. Kim says it’s important to see a doctor.
What Not To Do When You’re Bloated—and What To Do Instead
If your go-to remedy for when you’re having tummy troubles, including bloating, is to sip on ginger ale, you should put that can back in the fridge. Drinking ginger ale—or any other carbonated drink—can make bloating worse. Remember, as Dr. Kim explained, carbonated beverages are one of the most common causes of bloating.
While it’s true that ginger is linked to reducing bloating, ginger-based sodas typically don’t contain any real ginger in them, using artificial sweeteners instead, an ingredient that can cause bloating. That means the combination of carbonation and artificial sweeteners in ginger ale—as well as many other types of carbonated drinks—is bound to make bloating worse; this one drink contains two bloating culprits.
You know what else can help with bloating? Going for a walk. “Walking after meals can help stimulate the digestive system and promote gas expulsion,” Dr. Chareon says. Another benefit of taking a walk is that it can help reduce stress, something Dr. Chareon says can make bloating worse.
If you can’t figure out why you are getting bloated regularly, Dr. Chaeron recommends keeping a food diary, which can help identify food triggers. And it bears repeating that it can be beneficial to work with a gastroenterologist to get to the bottom of your symptoms and to find a solution that actually works.
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Sources
Dr. David J. Kim, MD, gastroenterologist at GI AllianceDr. Amber Charoen, MD, board-certified gastroenterologist with Gastro Health in Kennewick, WA Read More Details
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