Being bloated all the time is no fun at all. Not only is your stomach constantly distended, but it’s also very uncomfortable and you never quite know when it’s all going to get released out of the other end. (Hopefully, while you’re asleep).
Bloating can be mysterious, and it’s not always obvious what’s causing it. However, science has discovered certain triggers. Here are some of the reasons why you’re bloated all the time.
You Eat Too Much
When humans first evolved on the African plains, they ate small meals comprised of extremely high fiber foods. Back then (we’re talking before the advent of farming), there weren’t really any domesticated crops. Instead, people had to get the majority of their calories from extremely fibrous roots buried in the ground. They would then cook these roots to soften them up a bit and then eat them. It was usual for anybody to get more than about 800 calories in a single sitting, and so the human bowel evolved to deal with roughly this amount of food.
The problem for modern humans is that their diets are far more energy-dense and the food they are eating is a lot more palatable. Roots buried in the African Savannah might have provided precious calories, but they were scarcely delicious - not like a chocolate cheesecake, anyway. Today, it’s easy to eat 2000 calories-plus in a single meal, which researchers have found is associated with gassiness and bloating. The human stomach simply isn’t set up to deal with such a large volume of food.
You’ve Got A Chronic Medical Condition
Many conditions could lead to chronic bloating including dumping syndrome, celiac disease, and even ovarian cancer. But by far the most common is IBS - a condition which still has no obvious cause (although many scientists now believe it is the result of a lack of natural fiber in the diet). The good news is that the treatment for irritable bowel syndrome is relatively straightforward. Adding extra probiotics to your gut can help prevent undigested food from progressing down the bowel, eliminating a source of food for gas-producing bacteria.
You Eat Foods Which Lead To Gas
According to nutritionist Monica Reinagel, there are certain types of food which are particularly gas-inducing. These include foods like broccoli, cabbage, apples and avocados. These foods are extremely good for you, but they also contain a type of sugar which some people might find difficult to digest. The bloating that results isn’t necessarily bad for your health, but it can make social gatherings uncomfortable. They key to reducing bloating after eating these kinds of foods is to up your water intake. Drinking plenty of water allows soluble fiber in the foods to dissolve, making it easier for the gut to process these foods.
You Eat Too Fast
Finally, Reinagel says that eating too quickly can also lead to a reduction in the ability of your body to process carbohydrates. This, in turn, can create gas in the small and large intestines which can lead to abdominal bloating.
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