It isn’t always fast food and soda that causes bloating. Sometimes, even certain vegetables and other “healthy” ingredients have properties in them that can lead to a rounded belly.
Foods that Cause Bloating include:
Beans
Most beans contain a type of sugar called alpha-galactosides. These short-chain carbohydrates are fermented in the colon, whose process tends to produce a lot of gas. Soaking them in water helps reduce the galactoside content.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms contain polyols, yet another type of sugar that can cause gassing. If it’s the flavour and texture of mushrooms that you’re craving for, a combination of zucchini and seaweed can probably do the job.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, and brussels sprouts, among others. They’re healthy, sure, but also contain tons of fibre. Fortunately, it’s hard to get bloated from these unless you eat them raw.
Apples
India loves apple so much that it even imports them from neighbouring countries. However, they also contain high amounts of fructose, which can cause gassing. Cooked apples are more comfortable to digest but not as tasty, so try to limit yourselves to one a day.
Onions
This vegetable is one of the primary dietary sources of fructan, a type of soluble fibre that can cause a puffy stomach. Though you don’t have to worry too much. Fructan often dissolves when cooked, and onions are usually eaten in a dish.
Garlic
As a close cousin of the onion, garlic is another high-fructan food. However, unlike onions, garlic may still produce digestive symptoms when cooked. Simply try to lessen the amount you put in your dishes.
Corn
Corn contains a ton of insoluble fibre that causes diarrhoea and cramps when they pass through your system undigested. Chew it slowly and thoroughly, so it digests easier.
Wheat
Perhaps the most bloat-inducing ingredient on this list is the gluten found in wheat. Unfortunately, chapati is one of India’s staple foods—and it’s made out of wheat. No amount baking is going to dissolve the sugar in these, so it’s best to try and limit its consumption altogether.
Beer
Beer contains wheat. Plus, it’s carbonated, which makes it twice as deadly. A tasteful glass of literally any other type of alcohol can do a better job.
Milk
Milk is only dangerous to those who are lactose intolerant. Since they don’t have the enzyme lactase, which is necessary to break down the sugar found in milk.
Of course, besides avoiding and cooking these ingredients, there are other ways to prevent and relieve bloating.
A list of Quick Remedies:
Drink Lots of Water
Simply drinking a few glasses of water every day does wonders for your body, as we’ve discussed in ‘10 Reasons Why You Feel Bloated and How to Fix It’. Water flushes the waste out of your system, which helps get things moving if you’re constipated. This is especially true for pregnant women and new moms.
Look for Alternative Foods to Prevent Bloating
Simple diet switches can go a long way in helping you beat bloating. Coffee, for instance, is known to cause bloating. While you don’t have to give up caffeine, Pretty Me’s review of Detoxi Slim Plus highlights the ingredient green tea. Not only can it give you that much-needed jolt of energy, but it also contains antioxidants for weight control. And if you’re already feeling a bit puffy, a spoon or two of yogurt really helps.
Move for a bit
Exercise helps gas pass through the digestive tract more quickly. So, a short ten-minute walk helps relieve the pain.