Bloated Stomach Causes

While most people consider bloated stomach a disease, in reality it is an indication of some other underlying problem. Bloated stomach causes can differ from person to person, and it is very important to diagnose the underlying problem to provide correct treatment...
Bloated Stomach Causes
A bloated stomach is when the abdomen feels full although you have not eaten anything. Widely considered and believed to be a stomach condition, bloated stomach actually indicated trouble in the small intestine. The most common bloated stomach cause is indigestion, due to which the amount of gas produced is much more than normal. Eating disorders can lead to poor digestion, and consequently, a bloated stomach.

Bloated Stomach Causes
There are various factors that can cause a feeling of a bloated stomach. These differ from person to person, making diagnosis, and consequently treatment, difficult. The following are some of the major causes of bloated stomach:

Intolerance to Certain Foods: There are certain food items which can be responsible for a bloated stomach. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, cabbages, onions and garlic are known to give rise to bloated stomach. Some dairy products, as well as wheat can also cause this condition. Excessive consumption of food items which contain the protein gluten can cause bloated stomach. This protein is notorious for producing a lot of gas. If you have started following a high fiber diet recently, then it is advised that you stop this diet for a while. You can reintroduce the fiber, but gradually, so that you do not have a bloated stomach. However, do not skip fiber from your diet totally. Remember that the high fiber diet will prevent hunger and also help you in weight loss.

If fiber is not causing bloated stomach, then you should eliminate one food item at a time from your diet and check if it was the cause of bloated stomach. With this you will be able to find out the food item which is the cause of bloated stomach.

Swallowing Too Much of Air: This is a strange, yet very common cause of bloated stomach. If you use a straw for your beverages, or if you drink out of sports bottles, then swallowing too much air is probably the cause for your bloated stomach. There are a number of other ways through which we swallow a lot of air, such as talking while we eat, chewing gum all through the day, or while eating on the move. Avoiding these can significantly reduce chances of a bloated stomach.

Aerated Drinks: It has been observed that a lot of people who want to lose weight consume a lot of fizzy drinks, including sparkling water. The gas in these drinks actually fills up in the stomach causing bloated stomach.

Diet Products: Food labeled as ‘diet’, ‘sugar-free’ or ‘low carb’ have a laxative effect as they contain mannitol, maltitol or sorbitol. Consuming these products can lead to a full of air feeling, and a bloated stomach.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: It is often observed that people with irritable bowel syndrome are known to have bloated stomach.

Eating too Fast and Overeating: Due to a busy lifestyle, people often do not have time to eat at peace and leisure. Eating to fast should be avoided as it can give rise to bloated stomach. At times we skip our meals and when we do eat we overeat. This burdens the digestive system causing a bloated stomach.

Constipation: When you have a problem with bowel movements, the food consumed is not thrown out of the body. It results in the food being fermented in the stomach, giving rise to gases, which move in the digestive track and put pressure on the stomach. Constipation is another significant cause of a bloated stomach.

Candida: Candida is a yeast, which grows inside the body and causes gas formation. The yeast grows inside the intestines and ferments especially if there is lack of bowel movement. If you are a big fan of fast food, then you are helping the yeast to grow in your body.

Treating bloated stomach depends on it causes. If bloated stomach is caused by constipation then consumption of high fiber diet can help in relieving the symptoms. In case of bloating due to gas, drinking chamomile tea can be helpful. Read more on: If your diet is rich in fiber it is advised that you increase the consumption of water and liquids in your diet. Often lack of liquid is linked to bloated stomach causes. It is important that your digestive system works up to the mark to avoid bloated stomach.

By Bhakti Satalkar
Published: 9/11/2009
 
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