How to beat the bloat
Most of us get a little bloated when we eat. Our stomachs expand as we eat and digest food, and that is absolutely normal! BUT, that is not the type of bloat i’m talking about. Im talking about the cramping, distention, the “I look 6 months pregnant after eating a grape” type of bloat. The kind of bloat that can ruin your whole day, cause you to cancel plans because you’re so uncomfortable and just want to curl up in a ball.
I’ve been there. It’s incredibly frustrating when you feel like you’re doing everything right and your body is still fighting against you.
Bloating and cramping like this is an indication that something is going on in your gut. Getting to the root of gut problems and healing them is a process. It takes guidance, dedication and a lot of patience. But for the time being, I wanted to share some things that have really helped me alleviate my bloating quickly when i’m in a funk.
A Heating pad - This is most often my saving grace when it gets bad. It helps soothe the pain and relaxes your intestines.
Peppermint tea - Peppermint tea calms the intestines and soothes inflammation. It also helps move along any trapped gas (lol)
Deep Belly Breaths- The Gut Brain Axis is a REAL THING! When were bloated chronically we tend to hold a lot of tension in our stomach. Were trying to suck in constantly to not look so bloated. This is one of the worst things you can do. Closing your eyes and sending big breaths to our stomach releases tension and helps calm the bloat. Take 5 deep belly breaths and I promise you’ll feel better
Time Release Peppermint Capsules - This is one of the products that literally saved me when my stomach was at it’s worst. These are time released- meaning the peppermint releases when it’s actually in your intestines. It’s like drinking peppermint tea but 10x more effective. I would take these when I felt really bloated and within 30 minutes or so it would go down. You can get them on amazon HERE !
Mediation - I know I know, you probably hear it all the time, and so did I. Even though I studied this and knew how connected the brain and gut were I never wanted to believe that stress was a main driver of my bloating. Once I realized that I actually was stressed , I started to meditate more, do yoga, focus on calming the f*** down, and letting go of the anxiety I felt around eating and my stomach pains everything got better.
