5 foods that cause bloating

You have probably been confronted with bloating, gassiness, and abdominal discomfort more than once in your life. Overeating is probably the most common cause of bloating and gas, but what you eat is equally important. Here are some of the most common culprits of bloating: (1) Greens like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage contain sulfur and a carbohydrate called raffinose, both of which are hard for the body to break down. Cooking helps to break these compounds down, though, so while its certainly healthy to eat your greens, cooking these particular vegetables first could help to reduce bloating. (2) Beans and lentils contain indigestible sugars called oligosaccharides. These sugars must be broken down by bacteria in the intestines. (3) Sweeteners can also cause gas and bloating. Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener, can’t be digested. Fructose, a natural sugar added to many processed foods, is difficult for many people to digest. To avoid bloating, be aware of these sweeteners in the foods you eat and limit the amount you consume. (4) Dairy products: Diary doesn't cause bloating for everyone, but some people have some kind of lactose intolerance, which is when the body doesn't have the necessary enzyme to break down the lactose sugar. (5) Fatty foods: Eating a really rich, heavy, fatty meal can lead to bloating because fats are the last thing to leave the stomach. Temporary bloating is common and nothing to worry about. But if you’re troubled by bloating on a regular basis, talk to your doctor. Physical obstructions such as scarring of the stomach opening can make it hard for food to pass through the digestive tract normally. If eliminating or reducing consumption of hard-to-digest foods doesn’t solve your frequent bloating problems, then other things may cause bloating. If you’re a smoker, intestinal distress may be one more reason to quit. Fortunately, bloating is rarely a symptom of serious trouble. For most people, the most effective prescription for bloating is simple: control portion sizes, go easy on fats, and eat slowly enough to give your body time to signal when you’ve had enough. These easy remedies should solve your bloating problems. ...

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