Better Balance + Flow

Although the holiday season is now over, you may well still be feeling the effects of the celebrations. Unfortunately a lot of the food around this time of year can leave us feeling bloated – hello Brussel sprouts – as well as lethargic. Never fear! I’ve put together some tips and tricks for you to help keep gas and bloating away during the festive period and beyond.

What causes bloating?

Before we get started, let’s get acquainted with what actually causes that bloated feeling. There are two main issues here; too much gas, or problems with the movement of gas. Common causes of bloating usually relate to food intolerance, PMS, or dysfunction in the gut, which can be as simple as eating too quickly, chewing gum, drinking fizzy drinks, or eating hard-to-digest foods. So while prevention is key, there are also several ways to help alleviate bloating and discomfort.

How to beat the bloat:

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you debloat and get you feeling like yourself again.

Know your ingredients

Seek out specific ingredients that are known to help with bloating. Some of my favourites include:

• Avocado
• Kimchi
• Oatmeal
• Blueberries
• Bananas
• Warm lemon water
• Yogurt
• Spinach

Drink tea

Hunker down with a bloat-beating tea. Look out for ginger, mint, and fennel which all help to promote digestion or alleviate bloating and cramps. You can also try one of my favourite Sipology teas: Quest to Digest!

Get moving

Even just going out for a walk after your meal will prompt the digestive tract to get a move on too, helping the food to move more quickly through your system.

Add probiotics

Keeping a healthy gut is key. By adding a probiotic supplement you can help to balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut which will ultimately help to prevent or alleviate bloating. 

Stay hydrated

Simple but true, keeping hydrated will help get your food moving and will make everything a little softer, meaning that you will less likely have any issues later down the line.

Practice mindful eating

Slow down and be mindful when eating, take the time to enjoy your meal. Chew thoroughly to help breakdown food before swallowing. Also, take time to check in with yourself while you’re eating and note down any time that you feel bloated or uncomfortable so that you can try and pinpoint any problems.

A quick pose to help debloat

Placing your legs up the wall can help your body enter into ‘rest and digest’ mode. This will help you to relax while at the same time stimulating your digestive tract and help to keep things regular. All you need to do is lay your upper body down and swing your legs up against the wall. Hold for around 10 minutes and breathe gently throughout.

Key takeaways

Everyone experiences bloating at some point, especially during the holiday season! If you have the occasional bloat, then these tips and tricks will help you find some relief. If, however, you find that you’re dealing with regular and uncomfortable bloating then it’s a good idea to get in contact with your doctor or healthcare provider to understand what’s behind it.