Get Rid of Bloating and Get Back in Shape Naturally

Bloating is not the same as fat build-up around your belly. You could have less than 10% fat in your body and still experience bloating. There are people out there who eat right, work out every day and avoid fast food, yet they still can't evade bloating.

Bloating occurs when the byproduct gasses released from poor digestion fill up your stomach and make it look bigger than usual. In most cases, it's not even your fault. Certain underlying factors can trigger bloating, and it doesn't get better despite reducing your meal portions.

What's Ayurveda's take on bloating?

According to Ayurveda, the root cause of bloating is weak Agni, a.k.a the proverbial fire responsible for digestion and assimilation of the food. Because of impaired Agni, the fermentable food leads to the formation of gas which accumulates in the lower abdomen and causes bloating.

What Causes Bloating?

There are multiple factors responsible for bloating. If you are mindful about what you eat and get adequate exercise every day, it can be relatively easy to get rid of bloating. However, if your lifestyle doesn't allow you to go outdoors and burn calories, you might struggle a bit. But you'll definitely get the results onceyou address the triggers of bloating and follow the tips that will be discussed later in this blog.

So, let's look at the common causes of bloating.

Eating Habits

Poor eating habits can affect your health in the short and long term. 80% of your health is determined by what you eat and 20% by how much exercise you get in a day. And if you can't get your bloating under control despite toiling in the gym for hours, you now know that you need to look elsewhere – your diet.

• Eating junk food or overeating‌ is the #1 reason for bloating. Pair it with aerated beverages, and you have a perfect recipe for disaster.
• Life is busy, and people eat in a hurry to save some of their precious time. However, doing so often causes bloating because you swallow your food without chewing it, and you swallow air with every bite.
• Consuming dairy may cause bloating and even leave you with a chronically upset stomach if you are lactose intolerant.

Addictions

Smoking is injurious to health – sounds cliche? How about this – smoking causes bloating. Now that might be scary.

Some people get addicted to medicines. They can't survive without them. Some examples are pain killers, anti-allergic, or any other doctor-prescribed medicines. Most of these medicines are calcium channel blockers and tend to slow down the pro-digestion activity in the gut. As a result, the byproduct gasses so formed get trapped in the lower abdomen or bowel to cause bloating.

Also Read: https://www.keralaayurveda.biz/blog/ayurvedic-medicines-remedies-constipation

Chronic or Temporary Medical Conditions

People suffering from gastrointestinal infections or irritable bowel syndrome may experience occasional bloating. If the condition persists for a long time, it can flare up into painful cramps, irregular bowel movement, and lingering abdominal pain.

Lactose intolerance is also one of the major factors responsible for bloating.

Apart from physiological factors, bloating can also be caused by long-term stress and anxiety.

Tips to Help With Bloating

Bloating does not go away on its own, so it is essential to make some conscious decisions around your eating habits and tweak your lifestyle a bit. Here are some tips to reduce bloating and get back in shape.

#1 Avoid Cold, Raw, and Stale Foods

Cold, raw, and stale foods are difficult to digest. The undigested food becomes toxic and accumulates gasses in the lower abdomen, hence, bloating.

On the other hand, properly cooked, fresh food not only fills your heart up but it is also easy to digest, decreasing the risk of indigestion and bloating.

#2 Use Spices in Your Cooking

Traditional Indian spices elevate the food's flavor and help digestion. From cumin seeds to grated ginger & garlic to asafetida(hing) and fennel seeds, these spices help stimulate digestive enzymes and ensure the food is properly digested and assimilated while eliminating free radicals.

In addition to using these spices in your cooking, you can also use them in hot beverages.

Here's a word of caution:

Spices are not for everyone. People prone to acid reflux, heartburn, or sensitive taste buds must use spices in moderation.

Individuals with an underlying medical condition should consult a physician before including spices in their meals or beverages.

#3 Chew Your Food Properly

The easiest way to avoid bloating and digestive concerns is to chew your food correctly. As a general rule, chew your food 32 times before swallowing it. That way, your food will be predigested before reaching the stomach, so your digestive system won't have to work hard.

Do you know what else happens when you chew your food correctly? You eat less than you would otherwise. Here's why:

It takes 15-20 minutes for your brain to receive the signal that your stomach is full. When you eat fast and wind up your meal in 5-10 minutes, you don’t realize that your stomach is full, and what you eat in the next 10 minutes will go into the 'extra pocket'.When you chew your food properly, you take more time to finish your typical meal portion, and you stop eating when your brain tells you to. By stretching your meal time, you can avoid overeating and thus prevent bloating and indigestion.

#4 Fennel Seeds After Meals

A mixture of fennel seeds and rock sugar is generally served at Indian restaurants after meals, and there's a reason behind it. Chewing on fennel seeds helps release enzymes that catalyze digestion, preventing bloating and other gastrointestinal issues.

Take 1 tsp of fennel seeds with 1 tsp of rock sugar to avoid indigestion, especially in overeating. It may also relieve acidity and heartburn, so keeping a small pouch of fennel seeds handy while traveling can help.

#5 Spread Your Daily Intake

You don't have to starve yourself to reduce bloating. Skipping meals or cutting back on your daily food intake will make you weak and susceptible to disease. The best way forward is to divide your meals into smaller portions and eat only when hungry. Eating smaller portions throughout the day maintains your desired energy levels and gives your digestive system more time to digest your food.

Ayurvedic medicines

The bloating remedies mentioned above may help subdue the symptoms, but they may fail to treat the problem at the source. Plus, treating the root cause of any problem takes more than just a few days. Therefore, it is important to complete the full course of Ayurvedic medicine for bloating and gas if you want to treat the problem once and for all and avoid recurrence.

Here are a few medicines manufactured and distributed by Kerala Ayurveda for gas and bloating.

#1 Dhanwantharam Gulika

Dhanwantharam Gulika is a herbal tablet with various ingredients, such as ginger, cardamon, Abhaya, Brihati (Eggplant), etc., that help treat bloating, flatulence, and gastritis. It is especially recommended for people with chronic bloating.

Dhanwantharam Gulika (Tablets)

Relief from Abdominal Gas & Belching

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Since it is 100% herbal and has been manufactured according to the prescribed methods in Ayurveda, it's a safer alternative to chemical-based supplements that claim to treat bloating.

The recommended dosage for adults is 1-2 tablets a day. However, you must consult a physician to determine the correct duration of the course because if you continue to take this medicine, you may experience mild discomfort in the abdomen and other side effects after a certain point.

#2 Abhayarishta

When you experience fewer bowel movements than usual or struggle to pass stools, it ‌results in bloating.

Abhayarishta is a herbal syrup planned with natural ingredients, like haritaki, fennel seeds, Draksha (Grapes), Dhanyaka (Coriander), etc., which help treat the root cause of the problem.

Abhayarishta Syrup

Relieves Constipation & Indigestion

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Taking 15-25 ml of Abhayarishta daily after meals can help ease constipation and reduce bloating.

Key Takeaways

• Bloating is a fairly common condition affecting men and women alike.
• It is ‌caused by fermentable foods and beverages that either go undigested or cause excess gas to accumulate in the lower abdomen or colon.
• Chewing your food properly, drinking lukewarm water, chewing on fennel seeds, and getting adequate exercise can help combat bloating.
• If you want fast and long-term relief from bloating, you can consider taking Ayurvedic medicine for bloating by Kerala Ayurveda. The medicines mentioned above are 100% natural and are free from harmful preservatives.