A bloated belly can be the ultimate downer, especially during the summer! With more social events, weddings, and travel disrupting your usual schedule, you might be indulging more often and your sleep and exercise routine may look different as well.
Feeling uncomfortable in your body might make you want to avoid these situations, but there’s no need for bloat to ruin your summer!
Feel your best with these proven tips to help you fix your bloat naturally.
What are the signs of an unhealthy gut?
Your gut is connected to so much of your overall health and how you feel. Here are some signs your gut health could use some help:
- Bloating/gas
- Food intolerances
- Skin issues
- Acid reflux
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Poor immunity
5 ways to beat the bloat naturally
1. Hydrate upon waking
Start your day with a large glass of warm water and lemon. Warm water and the citric acid in lemon will both help stimulate digestion and get things moving. Lemon is also high in Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps to lower inflammation in the gut and boost the immune system.
2. Eat more fiber
Fiber not only helps help you build up good gut bacteria, but it keeps you regular and having solid bowel movements. It also helps increase the transit time of food in your system, which helps to decrease bloat naturally. Make sure to load up on foods like artichokes, carrots, broccoli, chia seeds, oats, and beans to up your daily fiber intake.
Try some of my favorite fiber-rich recipes:
3. Take probiotics
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir, and kimchi are naturally high in probiotics and will help increase the diversity of good gut bacteria, which keeps bloat at bay. I also love to supplement with a daily probiotic to give my gut a much-needed boost of essential bacteria.
4. Go for a long walk
Exercise can help get rid of excess gas which maybe contributing to your blot, and helps to boost circulation which will improve digestion as well. A light 30-minute walk, especially after a heavy meal can do wonders, especially if you’re not in the mood for a full workout.
5. Manage your stress
If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed daily, it may be contributing to your bloat by decreasing blood and oxygen flow to the intestines and contributing to gut lining permeability. Make time to include relaxing activities into your daily routine like stretching, journaling, or meditation, which can make a huge difference in your stress levels, and in turn your gut health.
