Fried foods make you swell. Well-digested foods that do not cause bloating. Common causes of bloating

There are diseases from which there seems to be almost no harm, but there is so much inconvenience that it would be better not to get sick. Flatulence often causes ridicule from others, who at its first signs tend to leave the company of a person suffering from this illness. The feeling that your stomach is full occurs when abdominal cavity a large amount of gases accumulates. Subsequently this unpleasant feeling goes into cutting pains in the abdominal area, constipation appears, and a person’s emotional well-being worsens.

There can be many reasons why your stomach is swollen. But the root cause will always remain undigested and stagnant food in the intestines, which begins to decompose, or, more simply put, rot, releasing copious amounts of gases.

Hasty food

I recommend doing an experiment. Cook pea soup or another dish that will definitely make you bloat. Place on the plate only as much as you can eat. Do not eat hot food, but cool the food a little. When the dish has cooled, take it with a spoon, put a small portion in your mouth and chew thoroughly until the food begins to be swallowed spontaneously. The longer food is chewed, the better result.

After eating, do not rush to drink tea, coffee or compote, but take a couple of sips. The rest can be drunk later or gradually. If you really want to drink now, then you need to try to chew every sip.

If you were not in a hurry during the experiment, then after a while you may be surprised that your stomach does not swell at all. In addition, there will be no heaviness that appears after eating.

So what causes your stomach to swell? It's simple. The stomach does not have time to dissolve poorly chewed food with its juice, and it enters the intestines virtually in the form in which it was swallowed. In the intestines, undigested food simply begins to rot, releasing great amount gases

Binge eating

The more food in the stomach, the more difficult it is for him to cope with it. Undigested food enters the intestines, and fermentation and rotting begin there. Maybe you should eat less, but more often?

Fatty food

Fatty foods are especially hard on the stomach, and sometimes actually stop it and prevent it from secreting itself. gastric juice, enveloping its walls with the thinnest film.

Poor quality food

One of the reasons why the stomach is swollen is poor quality food. According to nutritionists, food should be consumed immediately after preparation, while it still contains beneficial nutrients. After reheating part nutritional properties food is lost, since most of the beneficial high-level organic compounds break down into starch and fiber, which are also poorly absorbed by the intestines and begin to decompose.

Taking antibiotics

Antibiotics have become an integral part of human life. However, as much as they are beneficial, they are also harmful. When taking antibiotics, the intestinal microflora is destroyed, which facilitates more complete processing of food. Food left undigested begins to rot and release gases.

Except medical supplies, very often antibiotics are found in food. In an effort to extend the shelf life of their products, an unscrupulous manufacturer kills microflora by adding antibiotics to products. This is how antibiotics enter the human body. This is why young children sometimes have a bloated stomach.

Stress

The reasons may be due to stressful situations. When a person eats without appetite, without enjoying food, he does not chew it, but simply swallows it, washing it down with liquid. But, in addition to chewing, for better digestion by the stomach, food must be thoroughly processed with saliva. Nature has decreed that dry food is difficult to swallow. When soaking food with tea, juice or milk, bloating and flatulence are guaranteed. Therefore, if you don’t want to eat in a state of stress, then you shouldn’t push food into yourself, especially since under the influence of stress the stomach most likely also stopped working.

Why does my stomach swell? The reasons vary, but the answer boils down to one thing: we eat food incorrectly and we eat low-quality food.

Most people face such a problem as bloating (gases form in the intestines, flatulence appears). This is very unpleasant phenomenon, which you want to get rid of once and for all. Most often, discomfort occurs after feasts or eating certain foods. But, if you notice that bloating occurs regularly, this may signal a disease. Today we will tell you why your stomach is swollen and what you need to do in such a situation.

Main reasons:

  • consumption of poorly combined foods (cabbage, legumes, apples).
  • constant rumbling and fermentation due to carbonated drinks.
  • Eating food quickly, chewing gum and talking while eating (air enters the stomach and the stomach begins to swell).
  • binge eating.
  • use fatty foods a lot. Fats create a feeling of heaviness in the stomach and cause bloating.
  • taking antibiotics.
  • stressful situations. During severe stress spasms occur in the intestines. Food and gases cannot move normally in this mode. The result is bloating.
  • problems with the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatin, colitis). With such diseases, food cannot be digested normally, and food remains in the intestines, which begin to ferment and cause constant flatulence.

When your stomach is swollen, you need to remember everything you ate throughout the day. After all, foods are the main triggers of bloating (cabbage, legumes, apples, grapes and sparkling water).

  • try to eat slowly and not take in air while eating
  • Chew your food thoroughly (large pieces take a long time to digest in the intestines, which leads to fermentation and the formation of gases)
  • reduce the consumption of carbonated drinks

My stomach is swelling, what should I do?

1. To help your intestines, do simple exercises, which reduce gas formation and bloating.

  • spin imaginary pedals
  • massage your abdomen. We stroke clockwise with massage movements.
  • We take a lying or standing position and perform the following actions: retracting and relaxing the muscles (up to 20 times).

2. When the stomach is swollen, 2 types of drugs are prescribed: “defoamers” (surface-effective substances) and adsorbents (activated carbon, dimethicone, polysorb, polyphepan, etc.).

Adsorbents absorb and remove gases from the body. At the same time, they are “washed out” with them. useful material and minerals that are responsible for the health of our body. Defoamers are more effective, but last much longer.

3. Traditional methods

Recipe No. 1 (Caraway infusion)

For the recipe you need to take cumin (you can use dill) 1 tsp. and pour boiling water (250 ml). Let stand for up to 20 minutes with the lid closed. If you use dill, then you need less water (150 ml). Another option: eat ground cumin (1 tsp) and drink water. Thanks to such recipes, the intestines relax, pain associated with flatulence is relieved and gases are released.

Recipe No. 2 (Infusion of coltsfoot herbs)

Coltsfoot will help protect the intestinal walls and eliminate bloating. Pour coltsfoot (2 tbsp) hot water(one glass), leave for 60 minutes and filter. Take one tablespoon 35 minutes before meals.

Recipe No. 3 (Bird cherry infusion)

Take dried bird cherry fruits (1 tbsp), add hot water (one glass) and boil over low heat for 15 minutes. After half an hour, add 20% propolis tincture (30 drops). Take 35 minutes before meals. You can also make an infusion of mint, chamomile or valerian leaves (absolutely safe for intestinal microflora, but the course of administration takes long time). Now you know why your stomach is swollen and what to do in this situation. Get rid of this problem quickly and enjoy life!

Flatulence is a condition of excessive gas production during the digestion of intestinal pulp. The reasons for the development of this condition may be diseases gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the enzymatic process or consumption large quantity products fermentative and increased decomposition of crushed products. Both men and women, as well as infants and children, suffer from bloating. This situation of a delicate nature worries 24 hours a day, and is especially unpleasant during work, in transport or in in public places. It is not possible to get rid of gases in these places, because they not only swell, distending the stomach, but also smell disgusting. Therefore, the question arises: “the stomach and gases are constantly swollen, what are the reasons, what to do?”

In some cases, intestinal bloating is accompanied by painful colic. Pain and gas formation do not always go together, that is, under certain conditions, an infectious agent affecting the intestines causes painful colic. When eating foods with big amount yeast - no pain is observed, but gases are present. The most common causes of bloating are foods and drinks containing sugar and yeast. These include: pastries, cakes, cookies, chocolate and plain candies, pies, kvass and beer.

Dairy products, legumes, cabbage, vegetables and fruits absolutely produce gases. From sauerkraut, pickles and marinade, the stomach also swells, and gases are released until the intestines are completely emptied. To find out why the stomach and gases are constantly swollen, reasons for what to do, you need to find out the main reason, because in addition to the food you eat, there are other factors that contribute to gas formation, intestinal spasms and disturbances. normal operation Gastrointestinal tract.

Constant flatulence develops as a result of:

  • Eating without interruption from work, during which a large amount of air enters the stomach with food, resulting in flatulence.
  • All types of rubber chewing gum lead to gas formation.
  • Constantly eating fast food.
  • Stressful situations.
  • Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as: hyperacid gastritis, gastroduodenitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, cholecysto-pancreatitis, colitis, proctitis, sigmoiditis, Crohn's disease.
  • Endocrine pathologies in the form diabetes mellitus, diffuse toxic goiter, hormonal imbalance of sex hormones (estrogen and androgen).
  • Surgical interventions: operations on the gastrointestinal tract, removal of a quarter of the stomach, resection of a certain section of the small or large intestine, as well as operations on other vital systems.
  • Intoxication with various substances.
  • Constant consumption of mayonnaise, canned vegetables, meat and meat dishes, as well as legumes and baked goods.
  • A sedentary lifestyle or pathologies that are bedridden and wheelchair-bound.
  • Pathological disturbance of intestinal enzymatic activity.
  • Dysbacteriaosis of various etiologies (most often pathology occurs due to long-term use of antibiotics wide range actions).
  • Intestinal strictures and neoplasms.
  • Intestinal polyps.
  • Worm infestation.

Advice! If bloating lasts more than a month, it is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist.

Timely examination can prevent serious complications, as well as detect pathologies on early stage development.

What to do if your stomach is often swollen?

Flatulence can be stopped by medications. At the same time, you need to reconsider your nutritional diet and lifestyle. The drugs act on gas formation according to the principle of adsorption and defoaming. Adsorbents completely absorb gases, but along with the gases, nutrients are also captured (vitamins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and bacteria necessary for normal fermentation of food pulp). It is strongly recommended to take these drugs for no more than a week; frequent and prolonged use will lead to metabolic disorders. Defoamers are more effective and have no adverse reactions.

List of drugs for the treatment of flatulence:

Enterosorbents

Activated carbon Proven and quality product for diseases and poisoning of the gastrointestinal tract.
CarbolectAdsorb gaseous foam and intestinal toxins.
CarbosorbHas a fast adsorbing effect. Good remedy to remove toxins after food poisoning.

Defoamers

EspumisanDissolves gaseous foam and normalizes intestinal function. The drug is available in capsules. For young patients, the drug is prescribed in the form of a suspension.
PepphysAntifoaming agent for intestinal flatulence of any etiology. Available in effervescent tablets.
AzulanA mild defoamer that relaxes the intestinal muscles.

Antispasmodics

No-ShpaHas an antispasmodic effect. Eliminates gastrointestinal colic.
SpasmonetA strong antispasmodic with selective action.
SpasmlRelaxes the intestines and relieves colic.

Combination drugs

MeteospasmilA drug for relaxing the intestines and eliminating spasms and colic.
PepphysEnzymes with antifoam.

Note! All drugs are approved by the Ministry of Health, but it is recommended to take them after laboratory and instrumental studies, and only as prescribed by a doctor.

A gastroenterologist will help with the answer to a delicate question: the stomach and gases are constantly swollen, what are the reasons, what to do? According to the results of the examination and laboratory tests will prescribe one of the indicated medications. In case of dysbiosis, he will prescribe probiotics (Bifidumbaketrin, Linex or Bifiform). Lactic acid bacteria will bring the intestines into a normal physiological rhythm, eliminating pathological fermentation and normalizing the composition of the intestinal flora. Bio-yoghurts or homemade yoghurts will also easily eliminate gas formation and stop flatulence with intestinal colic and diarrhea.

Popular traditional medicine recipes

The stomach is constantly swollen and gases are the reasons, what to do if all this happened far from the pharmacy? There are two proven options: some physical exercise And folk decoctions, teas and tinctures.

The first option is special exercises

  • We put on looser clothes and lie on our stomachs, then raise our arms and legs up. We repeat the exercises up to 20-30 times.
  • We lie on our side and bend one leg at the knee, straighten the other and lift it up and down. Repeat 20 times. Then we turn to the other side and repeat the same movements.
  • We strain the rectus abdominis muscles up to 30 or more times.
  • We make rotational movements of the body: 20 times to the right and 20 times to the left. Then we bend downwards up to 20-30 times.
  • Massage the abdomen clockwise.

Additional Information! If gases begin to be released and the abdominal area becomes lighter and freer, try to eat only foods that do not cause gas, and drink more strong black tea, it tones and relaxes the intestinal muscles, plus it improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Do not eat anything 2 hours before bedtime.

Second option: traditional medicine

In nature, tablets are replaced herbal infusions or decoctions. Since time immemorial, herbs have been used to treat all sorts of ailments, and to this day, they continue to help get rid of them. This is especially true for excessive formation of gases in the intestines. To remove pain syndrome and spasms, the following healing recipes are recommended:

  1. Dill “water”: 2 tsp. pour 200 ml of boiling water over dill seeds and leave for 30 minutes. Drink half a glass 2 times a day before meals. The decoction helps with flatulence in both infants and children, as well as adults, the only difference is the dosage.
  2. A decoction of wormwood, raspberry leaves and acacia flowers: take dried herbs, a teaspoon each, and add 300 ml of hot water. Leave for 40 minutes. Drink 50 ml on an empty stomach. If there are no dried herbs, you can take fresh green ones, and instead of acacia flowers you can use its leaves.
  3. Ivan tea, chamomile, mint and oregano: all ingredients are taken in equal parts, pouring half a liter of boiling water. Can be consumed as hot tea. The Herb tea relieves spasms and extinguishes gas formation.
  4. Ginger (one root) and mint. The root needs to be crushed and 10-12 fresh mint leaves added to the pulp. Fill with hot water (300 ml) and leave for an hour. Use 50 ml.
  5. Bee honey: 200ml cold water dilute Art. l. honey Drink half a glass before meals.
  6. Almond oil (or almond seeds): 10 drops of oil per 100ml warm water or eat 10-15 almond seeds.

Diet adjustments

Flatulence can be eliminated by adjusting the nutritional diet. In addition to food main reason flatulence may be acute or chronic pathologies gastrointestinal tract. First, laboratory tests should be carried out and instrumental examinations to exclude any gastrointestinal diseases. Next, on your own or by consulting a nutritionist, bring your nutritious diet into “order.” All foods that cause bloating are excluded, as well as fatty, fried, smoked and salty foods. Or all of the above is used rarely and in small quantities.

Sweet products are replaced by Rye bread and crackers. Legumes, soybeans and fresh cabbage— in some cases they are completely removed from the menu. And in some they are left, but in small quantities and once or twice a week. These products contain large amounts nutrients, are equal in calories meat products. All types of fruit are used except pears, gooseberries and plums. It is not recommended to consume milk, and fermented baked milk and kefir, as well as cottage cheese, are used in small portions. Carbonated drinks and juices with preservatives are completely excluded.

Having sometimes eaten something tasty, but usually not very healthy, the stomach begins to swell very much. It is not difficult to find a medicine for bloating - the nearest pharmacy has a whole arsenal of them. And herbs will effectively and gently remove gases and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Why does an orchestra play in your stomach?

Banal bloating occurs as a result increased gas formation in the intestines. Gases put pressure on the walls of the digestive tract, as a result of which they expand, and the stomach begins to bulge noticeably.

If everything inside is rumbling, the stomach is swollen, and the body is tormented from time to time by pain or piercing It's a dull pain, there is a problem with the intestines. Usually these troubles are the result of poorly digested food. As a result, stagnation formed in the intestines, and it began to rot.

The reason may be the body’s rejection of certain foods. Nowadays, almost everyone has their own “forbidden” foods, which make their stomachs boil and start strong discharge gases

The abdomen may become bloated from swallowing air while eating. For example, during a lively conversation at the table. Or from swallowing too much saliva. This happens when a person does not eat for a long time. When eating food, in this case, an excessive amount of saliva is released.

It also happens that gases are formed when some internal organ fails. Frequent bloating abdominal pain occurs in people suffering intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, intestinal dysbiosis, gastritis, stomach ulcer.

Constantly bloated belly in heavy smokers and sedentary people sedentary lifestyle life. This group also includes those who drink alcohol too often.

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Bloating in pregnant women and infants

Gas formation in the intestines in pregnant women has a different nature. Due to too much progesterone in the muscles internal organs, including the stomach, weaken. The stomach does not cope well with its function - digesting food.

In addition, the uterus grows larger every day and puts pressure on nearby organs. The intestines are the first to suffer. The passage in it narrows. Feces and gases come out irregularly, causing stagnation. As a result, women in this position often have a swollen and “playing” stomach. To eliminate the problem or at least minimize it, women should reconsider their diet. After all, Hippocrates said the truth that best medicine from bloating in the stomach - this proper food. It is necessary to exclude those foods that are difficult to digest. You should eat light healthy food. Eat a lot of dairy products, steamed fish, seafood (except seaweed), fruits and vegetables that do not cause fermentation in the stomach.

The cause of bloating in infants is insufficient development of the gastrointestinal tract and lack of digestive enzymes.

Cure colic and remove gas accumulations Simple procedures will help in the baby’s tummy. Before eating, you need to place him on his stomach, and some time after eating, let him regurgitate excess milk. Light massages and gymnastics will not hurt. And if nothing helps, give medications for bloating and special ones for this purpose. herbal teas.

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How to remove bloating

For other citizens, even with chronic diseases Gastrointestinal tract, there is an alternative - treatment with tablets or taking a drug for bloating of plant origin.

Activated carbon should always be on hand as a quick remedy against bloating. This is an excellent antiseptic. Soon, after a couple of tablets, your stomach will calm down, the gases will go away, and your stomach will become the same as always. Activated carbon, like a whisk, will cleanse the intestines of stagnant food and feces, will destroy the rampant pathogenic flora.

To normalize the microflora in the intestines and improve the absorption of food eaten, it is useful to take probiotics. In this way, two birds with one stone are killed: both the stomach works well and the stomach does not swell.

And taking enzymatic pharmaceutical drugs during and after meals will help to digest food completely. As a result, there will be no bloating.

In those extreme cases, when all these are not at hand medications, Espumisan will help. These are drops that are taken orally. They will quickly cope with bloating and calm the raging intestines.

But now it is most fashionable to treat bloating with medicinal herbs. IN in this case they are truly wonderful helpers.

What is it worth that is known to everyone? Dill water. It is prepared from dill seeds. You just need to pour 1 tablespoon of them into 0.5 liters of boiling water. Let it brew for three hours and take three times a day. Adults should drink a third of a glass of infusion at a time, and children should drink a teaspoon.

An alternative remedy for bloating is dill oil from the pharmacy. It is dripped 7-10 drops onto refined sugar or diluted with the same amount in a tablespoon boiled water. You need to take the drug three times a day.

An infusion of crushed dandelion roots normalizes digestion and prevents gas formation. Pour 2 tablespoons into a bowl with a lid fresh roots plants, pour boiling water (1 glass) into it and leave for about a day. You need to drink this remedy four times a day.

The seeds of ordinary garden carrots will gently and unobtrusively eliminate bloating. They need to be ground to flour and taken a teaspoon three times a day, washed down with water. For those who have chronic bloating, this remedy is suitable. Drink 0.5 cups of freshly prepared water on an empty stomach in the morning. potato juice. After this, it is recommended to lie quietly for half an hour. The juice is drunk in courses. Drink for ten days, then take a week off, and drink again for 10 days.

Bloating is so common in people nowadays different ages, which has something similar to an “epidemic”. And this is not surprising, because from poor diet, high levels of stress, taking various medications and daily interaction with toxic emissions in environment people are increasingly confronted with this problem face to face.

When the stomach is swollen, a person feels uncomfortable, sometimes awkward, as the stomach suddenly begins to churn or suddenly urges to go to the toilet, but everything can turn out to be much more serious than you think. This may occur due to some serious disease that is hidden under the guise of flatulence. Bloating is one of the most common symptoms of candidiasis and has also been linked to digestive disorders, autoimmune reactions, allergies, and even cancer in some cases.

Simply put, “bloat” refers to the sensation of accumulated gas in the digestive system; this accumulation causes the abdomen to swell unpleasantly. large sizes. Some people jokingly call such a swollen tummy “pregnant,” but there is nothing to laugh about. Bloating is different from belly fat because it is temporary and caused primarily by accumulated gas that stretches the abdominal walls, causing it to puff up and stick out.

Luckily, in most cases there is no need to worry about bloating. It can be eliminated with small changes in diet and lifestyle, although not always. There may be something big hiding behind the feeling of fullness, flatulence and abdominal pain. If you can find the cause of bloating, then you need to decide whether it is compelling enough to see a doctor.

If you have bloating, check for other symptoms, such as:

  • heat
  • skin rash or hives
  • watery eyes, sore throat, or other allergy symptoms
  • constipation or diarrhea
  • nausea or vomiting
  • blood in urine or stool
  • unexplained weight loss
  • problems going to the toilet
  • painful sensations when palpating lymph nodes in the groin, throat or armpits
  • fatigue
  • attention problems and brain fog
  • irregular periods
  • haemorrhoids

What causes bloating and gas?

You're probably wondering what causes bloating. There are dozens various reasons, causing flatulenceallergic reactions, hormonal imbalance, dysfunction thyroid gland, intestinal problems and much more. The number of reasons is large, but by collecting more information about the body's reaction to different foods and circumstances, it will be easier to choose the one that causes symptoms of bloating in you.

Bloating itself is a consequence of digestive problems. What's even more confusing is that many various factors affect the health of the intestine, its ability to digest food properly and the body's ability to get rid of waste. So many different factors can lead to bloating, including those that may seem unrelated to the problem of flatulence, such as sleep quality and stress, for example. This problem can affect anyone at any time.

Most people confuse belly bloating with excess fat tissue or edema, but they are not the same thing. Fluid does not stay in your abdomen unless you have swelling in your face, ankles, and legs and bloating at the same time.

In most cases, the causes of increased gas formation in the intestines are: improper digestion of protein ( protein food not digested properly and fermentation begins), inability to fully break down sugars and carbohydrates (some complex sugars require enzymes to digest and may be lacking) and imbalance intestinal microflora. IN digestive tract There are trillions of good and not so good bacteria that are constantly fighting, and when there are too many “bad bacteria” for one reason or another, a temporary imbalance occurs, which can lead to bloating due to excessive gas formation.

If your stomach is constantly swollen and gassy, ​​you need to look for reasons first and identify the health problem itself that can cause bloating.

What causes a swollen belly in an adult: 10 possible reasons

1. Digestive disorders

In people with functional disorders gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, gluten-sensitive celiac disease and ulcerative colitis, most common symptom- bloating, gas formation, big belly. According to research, bloating occurs in 23-96% of people with irritable bowel syndrome, 50% of those with functional dyspepsia and 56% of those with chronic constipation.

2. Fluid retention (called edema or ascites)

It happens that physiological fluids begin to accumulate throughout the body, including the abdominal and pelvic areas, causing excess bloating and weight gain. You may notice that some jewelry and clothing become too small for you, or you begin to sweat more, your joints ache, and your skin feels tight to the touch. This may be due to liver disease or even in rare cases with cancer, also be a sign liver failure or hepatitis, symptoms of which include yellowing of the skin (jaundice), whites of the eyes, and abdominal pain.

3. Dehydration

Have you ever noticed that if yesterday you ate too much salty food and drank alcohol, today you end up with symptoms of dehydration and bloating? But what more water you drink, so less likely occurrence of bloating. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance inhibit digestion and lead to flatulence.

When the body tries to cope with the effects of dehydration, it begins to store water in case the situation happens again, plus you may become constipated. This means that as soon as you start drinking normally, all the liquid starts to accumulate in the abdomen and thighs area, and you look slightly swollen.

4. Constipation

This is probably the most obvious cause of bloating - you need to go to the toilet! Irregular bowel movements can often cause heaviness in the stomach, pain, discomfort and bloating. The causes of constipation are poor nutrition, low fiber in the diet, low fluid intake, sedentary or inactive lifestyle and stress.

5. Food allergies

Often, food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances (to lactose, for example) are the main causes of gas and bloating. Foods that cause gas include dairy products, foods containing gluten (bread, pasta, muffins, cereals, etc.) and certain types of carbohydrates called FODMAPs ( f fermentable O ligo-, d And-, m onosaccharides and P oliols).

There are dozens of other possible food allergies(shellfish, nuts, eggs), and if your body does not accept any of them, it will let you know about it. FODMAP carbohydrates are difficult to eliminate from your diet because there are so many of them and each is unique in terms of tolerance. An elimination diet will help you identify which foods cause bloating (apples, avocados, for example) because they are not completely broken down and absorbed.

6. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome

Bacterial overgrowth syndrome in small intestine called high level abnormal bacteria in the digestive tract, usually living in the intestines (dysbiosis), where they can accumulate due to antibiotics, digestive disorders or inflammation. Typically, different strains of bacteria live in the large intestine in strict balance, which helps the absorption of essential nutrients, but when there are more bad bacteria, different minor damage intestinal walls and other unpleasant symptoms. Some foods can cause excessive growth of bad bacteria, which, in turn, multiply and release their waste products directly into the intestines, leading to digestive disorders and excessive gas formation.

7. Infection

Bloating and swelling may occur due to various kinds infections that cause inflammation in the digestive tract and pelvic organs and the production large number leukocytes. In this case, other symptoms of infection may be present, such as fever, redness and pain, and enlarged lymph nodes, which signal the presence of a serious infection in the body.

8. Intestinal obstruction

Sometimes severe bloating abdominal pain along with constipation, nausea and vomiting may indicate intestinal obstruction caused by the presence of scar tissue or a tumor. When they grow and begin to put pressure on the intestines, “congestion” occurs, and fluid and stool do not find a natural outlet. If you have encountered this, then you will not confuse this illness with anything, because every trip to the toilet turns into torture.

9. Hormonal changes

PMS is known to cause bloating and digestive problems, as the likelihood of constipation and fluid retention increases during this period. This is common and not a problem until others appear severe symptoms, such as irregular menstrual cycle, fibroids or severe cramps. Bloating before or during your period is very common, as is water retention about two weeks before.

What causes bloating in women before, during or after critical days? In the first days female cycle, the so-called follicular stage, estrogen levels increase and the walls of the uterus thicken. During ovulation, bloating may become even worse as the amount of blood and fluid in the body increases. If everything is functioning normally in reproductive system women, then along with excess accumulated fluid, blood and dead tissue, bloating will also pass.

10. Cancer

Cancer is far from the main cause of bloating, but one of the signs of uterine and colon cancer is flatulence. This is why it is extremely important to talk to your doctor if you have tried dozens of ways to get rid of bloating and digestive problems, but still have not achieved tangible results and have not found the reason why your stomach is swollen.

Foods that cause flatulence

Diet plays a huge role in regulating how much air and food ends up inside your digestive tract. What to do if you have bloating? For everything to go smoothly, the diet should consist of food, rich in fiber, 25-30 grams of which should be present in the diet daily. This is not difficult if your diet includes whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and legumes. This will make it easier to track the body’s reaction to a particular product and find exactly the one that causes flatulence. Remember that bloating depends on your lifestyle as a whole, and not just on the food on your plate, if you thought that only after eating your stomach becomes bloated.

Foods that help fight bloating:

  • Probiotics:“Good bacteria”, called probiotics, live in the human digestive tract and fight “bad bacteria” that can cause digestive problems and other problems. unwanted reactions. They can be taken as food supplements, but best source probiotics are considered to be foods rich in them, namely: kefir, yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and tea mushroom.
  • Natural dairy products: I always recommend eating everything natural, this also applies to dairy products. Of course, it’s more common to go and buy everything in a supermarket, but everything there is pasteurized and homogenized. During the production process, enzymes necessary for proper digestion are destroyed; natural dairy products are recommended even for people with lactose intolerance. It is better not to buy yogurt with artificial ingredients, choose mature varieties of cheese and cottage cheese instead of cream cheese, kefir and natural yogurt instead of milk, as they contain less lactose.
  • Watery fruits and vegetables: Vegetables and fruits contain water, important electrolytes and beneficial enzymes that help relieve bloating. naturally. Eat more fresh and cooked leafy greens, cucumbers, celery, dill, artichokes, watermelons and melons, berries and steamed vegetables.
  • Herbs, spices and teas: Natural, soothing and digestive herbs and medicinal plants, such as ginger, dandelion, aloe vera and fennel have been used for thousands of years to soothe a raging stomach. Some medicinal plants work as diuretics and help the body get rid of excess liquid, and others, in turn, like ginger, for example, relax the muscles in the digestive tract and promote the natural release of waste, that is, they help with constipation. Eat fresh herbs of all kinds: parsley, oregano, rosemary, peeled ginger root, aloe vera juice, herbal teas and essential oils. Don't forget about this one folk method treats not only colds, but also intestines, like bone broth and green tea.

Now that you have learned about what to do if your stomach is swollen, and have become acquainted with the list of foods that you need to eat to overcome flatulence, let's talk about those foods that can aggravate the situation. Let's start with the fact that each person's reaction to a particular product may be different, and there is no such list that includes all of them. However, the following foods are the most likely to cause bloating in most people:

  • sugar and sweets: sugar easily begins to ferment in the intestines, which can promote the growth of candida yeast-like fungi and cause inflammatory processes.
  • Most dairy products: including flavored yogurts with sugar and artificial ingredients, and many other dairy products that lose beneficial enzymes and microorganisms during the manufacturing process.
  • Refined grains and grain products: Gluten is difficult to digest for most people, as are corn, oats and other grains in some cases.
  • among vegetables it is not easy to digest broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions and even garlic: they contain sulfur and some types of FODMAP carbohydrates
  • legumes contribute to gas formation.
  • carbonated drinks.
  • chewing gum.
  • in some cases, fermenting fruits such as apples, peaches and other fruits with pits, avocados.
  • artificial sweeteners and sweet alcohols containing aspartame, sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol.

A few more tips to help cope with flatulence:

1. Talk to your doctor

If you can't find the root cause of your bloating, see your doctor who will investigate necessary examination, in order to identify the right one from hundreds of factors, diseases and disorders. How to treat bloating and gas? There are many different diagnostic tests that a doctor may prescribe to get full picture what is happening: analysis of stool, blood, ultrasonography for the presence of “congestion”, examination of the patency of the intestines, stomach, enema, esophageal manometry, breath test, endoscopy or colonoscopy with biopsy. Knowing the causes and treatment will be found!

2. Play sports

An active lifestyle helps the digestive system function optimally as it helps fight bloating, increases metabolic rate, blood circulation and the circulation of lymphatic fluid throughout the body, which helps cleanse the body of waste products faster. Enjoy all the benefits of exercise and exercise approximately 3-4 times a week for 30-60 minutes. Don't drink sugary sports drinks after your workout!

Can exercise make the condition worse? In some cases it can, especially if you overtrain. Overtraining puts the body into stressful state, in which the adrenal glands actively produce the stress hormone - cortisol. Training should serve to strengthen overall health and improve well-being, and not worsen general state, work digestive system and add more stress.

3. Drink enough fluids

In order for fiber to do its job properly, you also need to drink plenty of fluids to combat flatulence. The amount of liquid you drink per day is different for each person, but you should start with at least 6-8 glasses a day. Adequate fluid intake is important for effective fight with bloating, you should be careful when choosing drinks.

Carbonated drinks with artificial colors, flavors and additives can worsen bloating symptoms. Alcohol also causes flatulence, as do drinks containing caffeine. Better drink plain water, tinctures with fresh pieces of fruit or herbs (lemon, grapefruit, basil) or herbal teas.

4. Reduce stress

Everyone knows that when a person is irritated, tired, sad or overloaded with work, malfunctions appear in the body, including malfunctions in the digestive system. Stress and fatigue have a huge impact on digestion. This is because the work of the intestines and the brain are closely related. vagus nerve. In the walls of the gastrointestinal tract there is a whole network of receptors that collect, analyze hormonal and chemical changes and send reporting messages to the central nervous system. nervous system of a person, or rather in that part of it that is responsible for the intestines. The brain receives these messages, processes them and starts the intestines, which in turn produces enzymes, saliva and secretions necessary for normal digestive process, it also controls the production of hormones responsible for appetite.

Irritation and stressful situations can cause changes in this communication network and distract the brain from the digestive process in order to save energy and direct it in another direction. Stress increases cortisol levels, changes blood sugar levels and affects the production of other hormones, which can lead to constant feeling hunger, constipation or swelling.