It started in my teens. I remember always feeling gassy and distended in my belly. For awhile I just ignored it. My stomach would get so bloated it would make my jeans feel tight. I spent years dealing with all the side effects of a bloated stomach. I was the QUEEN of Belly Bloat!! 

Sadly, I held that title until well into my 30’s when I smartened up and made some big changes in my life. That included changes in my diet. It felt pretty extreme at the time but I could tell the difference in the look and feel of my stomach in a short time so I stuck with it.

Here are 6 of my favorite Belly Bloat Be Gone tricks that continue to work like a charm!! 

1. Drink ALOT of Water. I know, it sounds too simple, right? Trust me, it works. Ditch the carbonated drinks and opt for water. This is especially important in the morning. As soon as you wakeup drink 16 oz (or more) of water filled with your favorite “Detox and Reset” additions….like ½ Lemon or 2-3 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar. Don’t be afraid to add in some great gut coating Aloe Vera Juice (This one doesn’t really change the taste. It just makes it a little thicker )

2. Add a great Probiotic to your diet.  No joke, this one makes a HUGE difference in your belly bloat.  What you may not know is that not all probiotics are the same. There are different strains for different needs. It’s important to find the right one.  Make sure you choose a probiotic that is “strain specific” (meaning it has the species name, strain and code marker (ex) Lactobacillus Acidophilus (LA-14).  You want to make sure you get them from a reputable company and most important you want to make sure they have the right strains in them to promote good digestion.  In case you are wondering I love this one from Amare. 

3. Roast your vegetables!  I’m sure you’ve heard that fiber is good for you and it is but too much can cause problems. Raw vegetables/fruit and too high fiber diets can cause belly bloat, especially if you have an unbalanced gut. Instead opt for steamed or roasted vegetables that are easier for you to digest.  Every “body” is different, so try it one way and then the other and see what works best for you.

4. Choose supplements wisely (like Omegas and Daily Vitamins). You want ones that don’t contain any cheap fillers like lactose, wheat or sugar alcohol (common examples include mannitol and Xylitol). Those are “slower” to digest giving gut bacteria lots of time to feast on them and produce gas.  Instead opt for supplements with a “short” list of ingredients that you can get from a trusted source. Supplements aren’t FDA regulated that’s why I am extremely careful what types I put in my body. Only choose supplements with the HIGHEST quality ingredients and manufacturing process.    

5. Remove “soy” and soy protein concentrate from your diet.  I work with so many people that tell me they don’t have any soy in their diet, but when I start listing off the number of packaged ingredients with soy in them they suddenly go “oh no…that has soy?” Soy can be gas inducing because it’s a bean product that contains indigestible fermented carbs in addition to protein.   Manufacturers can “disguise” soy with other names. For example tocopherols are really just a cheap preservative that contains soy.

6. Stay clear of “whey protein concentrate” or “milk protein concentrate” often found in “healthy” snack bars and protein powders.  Some people don’t realize they have an intolerance to lactose which causes belly bloat (in some cases pretty severally).  Instead choose nut or rice proteins that are easier on your digestive system.

Getting rid of belly bloat requires some major changes. A big part of the solution is learning to become an expert label reader! It might seem like an inconvenience at first but I guarantee you once you start seeing the changes, it’s not nearly as inconvenient as the problems caused by belly bloat. Take it from a former queen!