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Check nowDid you know that if you suffer from bloating more than just diet could be having an influence? Our Digestion Advisor Ali Cullen explains how it’s not just what you eat, but also how you eat, plus other tricky lifestyle habits that could be having an impact.
Although what you eat can certainly contribute to bloating – click the link for some top tips, you might be surprised to know that other dietary and lifestyle habits could be having an influence too. For example, the way we eat is hugely important, and it can have a surprising influence throughout the entire length of our digestive system. Habits such as smoking and alcohol shouldn’t be overlooked either as these may have physical effects on the stomach and digestive system, whilst stress levels and exercise may also have a different kind of influence – chemical.
In many cases there isn’t just quick fix to bloating but instead a number of different contributing factors should be taken into account. Small changes to your lifestyle could make a big difference to how you look and feel and may just help to get that bloating under control once and for all!
People often don’t consider how they eat at all as they happily wolf down their latest meal. But actually, we’ve come to understand that eating habits could have a significant influence on a number of symptoms, including bloating. Let’s give some of these factors some thought:
Although this may seem obvious, it is often the case that people aren’t aware just how detrimental alcohol and smoking can be to their digestive system. Alcohol can cause bloating for a long list of reasons; it can put the liver under pressure which can in many cases give rise to constipation, it can contribute to dehydration which can result in water retention and it can cause bloating both directly (many drinks contain gas or are taken with mixers) or indirectly by upsetting the balance of bacteria in your gut – phew!
Then smoking – not only can the act of smoking cause us to swallow air but the nasty chemicals in cigarettes can also affect the functions of sphincters in and around the stomach. We know that this can give rise to indigestion and heartburn with which bloating is a common side effect.
So, what’s the solution? Stop smoking and work on reducing your weekly alcohol intake to help support your digestive system going forward.
Although not an obvious link, we’ve come to understand some of the effects stress can have on the digestive system.
We know, for example, that stress can reduce our stomach acid. This can create stomach related issues such as indigestion, heartburn and bloating initially. But actually, over time, we know that it may also affect the bowel. If food isn’t properly broken down in the stomach this can create problems further along. If the gut isn’t happy, bloating isn’t uncommon.
We also know that stress can also have a more direct effect on the gut – especially in cases of IBS. This means altered bowel movements and bloating can often become apparent quite quickly if stress is heightened. Then, not to forget that chronic stress is thought to contribute to weight gain around the middle which will only add to those bloating woes.
So, aim to manage the stress in your life – relaxation techniques including stretching and breathing exercises, meditation and even relaxing with a good book and some music can have some surprising effects. If stress is significant, it may be time to talk to your doctor.
We know that exercise can help with bloating for a number of reasons so it might be time to try and move a little more. We literally do just mean a little more! Even small changes in your activity levels can make a big difference for the following reasons:
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Check the health of your digestive system using our simple test.
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Always read the leaflet.
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