Stomach Bloating & Gas

Stomach Bloating or Gas is simply waste leaving your body after the foods you consume are broken down.  Gas can cause your body to react in different ways, one of the main responses being stomach bloating.  Bloating is when your body is filled with gas or liquid, causing distension in the stomach.  It’s often a tight, swollen feeling that stretches the stomach to it’s maximum.

There are numerous signs and symptoms that can indicate bloating and gas, many of which occur at the same time.

• Enlarged or swollen stomach/abdominal
• Gas pains
• Flatus or belching
• Discomfort
• Tightness in stomach
• Loose Bowels or Diarrhea
• Shortness in breathing
• Lower back pains
• Cramping or stomach aches

Bloating can result from the diet you keep, certain health conditions, or it can just occur after consuming food in general.  It’s your body’s way of responding to something within.  Bloating can progress or worsen.  While some cases of bloating aren’t that severe, bloating that occurs for a certain period of time can call for medical assistance. Common reasons for bloating include:

• Lack of Eating/Excess Eating
• Bowel Movement issues (constipation or diarrhea)
• Indigestion
• Water Retention
• Smoking
• Gas Pockets (Trapped Gas)
• Slow Digestive Rate (Dysmotility)
• Food intolerance
• Insufficient Hydrochloric Acid
• Lack  of Digestive enzymes
• Minimal Intestinal Flora (Good Bacteria)

Health Ailments that contribute to bloating:

• Ulcers
• Anorexia
• Menopause
• Hyperthyroidism
• Premenstrual Syndrome
• Candidiasis
• Coeliac Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Certain Cancers

• Basic yoga moves like downward dog, seated tree, chair, cat, or cow and knee hugs help your body release trapped gas
• Ab exercises, jumping jacks, jumping rope, and any other core exercises helps to stimulate the movement of gas within the body and bowel movements

• Ginger
• fennel seeds
• peppermint tea
• okra
• cinnamon