I’m Bloated!

My husband hates when I exclaim, ” I’m bloated “. Whether it be from my monthly friend, extra water weight, or gas (yuck). Bloating is ugly and it looks and feels awful.

The Today Show’s registered dietician Joy Bauer recently gave out some great tips to avoid the dreaded bloat.

1. Avoid carbonated beverages — drink plenty of flat water instead.
2. Avoid salty foods, since excessive salt retains water.
3. Limit sugar alcohols. Sorbitol and maltitol, frequently found in sugar-free foods and sugarless gum, can exacerbate gas and discomfort in people who are super sensitive.
4. Limit gas-producing foods, specifically broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beans and cabbage. When you do eat them, try taking Beano, an over-the-counter supplement which can help your body digest them.
5. Don’t overdo the amount of fiber in your diet. Fiber is incredibly important, but too much can exacerbate bloat in people who are sensitive. Thus, be sure to increase the amount in your diet gradually and drink plenty of water to help wash it down.
6. Avoid large meals heavy in carbohydrates and fat. Instead, eat low-volume meals throughout the day (and eat every four to five hours).
7. Be sure to incorporate some type of protein with each meal and snack. Protein acts as a natural diuretic and helps your body get rid of extra water.

These tips seem easy enough. I know to watch the salty foods, especially soda right around that time of the month. But the other tips are new ones to me.

If you have any tips, feel free to share them.