Your Glow-Cery List For Beating Pesky Stomach Bloat

@oliviacooke

These days it seems that just looking at food causes major stomach bloating. We all feel it: after sitting down for hours, after a hearty meal, and especially, after a late night of no sleep. In our current world of binging Netflix and takeout in sweats for the 9th night in a row, the discomfort of a bloated stomach is just waiting to happen. Here is our grocery list drop for your next shopping session for reducing bloat.

Talk to your doctor first to rule out any underlying gut issues caused by food intolerances or health conditions as certain items on this list could exacerbate bloating and discomfort for those with digestive issues and medical concerns. 

Fiber

Some high-fiber foods can lead to you feeling “stuffed” – we’re looking at you, beans and lentils. Keep a running list of which foods make you more gassy and bloated than others. Cauliflower (while a popular alternative to pretty much anything) is a common culprit of causing an uncomfortable bloat. These soluable fibers (along with oats, nuts and seeds) tend to produce more gas than insoluable fibers (whole grains and veggies). Introducing both types of fiber into your diet slowly will allow your body to adjust and avoid the onset of unfriendly flatulence. And remember to up the water intake whenever fiber is involved to allow for smooth passages.

Probiotics

Before starting any supplements, get the OK from your doctor, not from Amazon reviews. Probiotics help support a healthy microbial balance in our guts – basically, they are the good bacteria in our digestive system. But choosing a probiotic that is best for you is not a one-size-fits-all but rather, a customized approach. Thryve has entered the chat. You send them a small sample of your poop (not joking, this isn’t for the faint hearted) and they provide you with personalized probiotics specific to your bloating symptoms. While this seems totally extra, you save lots of time, energy, and discomfort of not having to test the various probiotics out there.

Fermented Foods

These probiotic-rich power foods, such as kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi, can be found everywhere. Reason being that they are hailed for promoting healthy gut flora that often get ruined after our cheat meals. The enzymes activated from fermentation encourage digestion and reduce inflammation. If a sour taste is not your thing, you can try Greek-style yogurt, organic kefir (lactose-free), tempeh, and yes, even a glass of wine, while being aware to keep the sugar content low.

Peppermint Tea

If you’re looking for a refreshing multi-purpose tea, here you go. Besides relieving gas and bloating, peppermint tea is anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, reduces heartburn, hydrates, and smells like the nostalgia of Winterfresh gum. This means that if you have a friend or relative growing mint in their backyard, grab lots of it for yourself, muddle the mint into a mug, add peppermint tea and warm water. Because it’s a caffeine-free herbal tea, you can enjoy multiple cups after dinner to de-bloat before a restful night’s sleep.

Main image by @oliviacooke