Survive the after Christmas bloating

It’s true – overeating and overindulging is part of the Christmas tradition, and it’s a ritual that is repeated in households all over the world. Unfortunately, the post-Christmas bloating is an all too real part of this tradition, too! In order to let you enjoy the holiday excess, but help prevent your waistline from expanding, we have put together some information to help you beat the bloating this festive season!

Bloating happens when the abdomen feels tight and full. It usually occurs when there is a build-up of gas somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. This build-up tends to make the belly look fuller than usual, and can often feel tender, or even painful. With the discomfort and embarrassment that can come with bloating, we are often looking for the best way to reduce stomach bloating in the quickest way possible. 

There are several simple behavioural habits that we can adopt to help with the passing of gas to prevent or reduce stomach bloating. Thinking about the way we exercise, eat and what is in our diet to reduce stomach bloating is key. Some of the more effective things to try are:

• Eating slowly and taking smaller, more regular meals
• Properly chewing your food
• Drinking your beverages at room temperature
• Partaking in plenty of physical activity throughout the day 
• Being sure to sit up straight after eating
• Going for a walk after eating to aid digestion
• Avoiding chewing gum so you don’t swallow air
• Taking a warm bath; soaking and relaxing to relieve a sore abdomen and reduce stress
• Trying abdominal massage to help get the bowels moving to dispel trapped gas 
• Try yoga poses to stretch and exercise muscles to encourage the release of gas and reduce bloating 

There are several natural remedies to help reduce stomach bloating and gas after overindulging during the holiday period. 

This includes a variety of drinks and foods to reduce stomach bloating. Overdoing it with fizzy drinks, too much sugar or salt and a lack of fibre in our diet can all cause uncomfortable bloating. Thinking about the foods and beverages that we put in our bodies can also go a long way to avoiding painful bloating as the presence of digestive issues like constipation, food allergies and intolerances can create uncomfortable build-ups of gas. 

Certain food and drinks can relieve the symptoms of bloating by relaxing the intestinal muscles. This allows for any gas to move more easily out of the body, relieving the stomach bloating. Some of these natural foods and drinks include:

• Peppermint tea
• Chamomile tea
• Anise
• Coriander
• Caraway
• Fennel
• Turmeric