We all suffer from bloating every once in a while. For some of us, having a swollen belly is mildly annoying, but for others, it could be downright painful sometimes.

If you find yourself filled with gas after a meal, you should look into your diet. There are some foods that could cause extra gas and trigger bloating easily.

The Culprits 

(Photo by Adolfo Felix)

Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale

We all know that cruciferous vegetables such as brussel sprouts, broccoli (it’s our personal favourite!) cabbage, and kale are good for us and they’re known for their health benefits. High in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, they make some of the most popular veggie options. However, these greens contain a type of carbohydrate called raffinose that’s non-digestible in the gut, which causes bacteria to feed on it and instigate gas and bloating.

In order to avoid having too much gas, try eating them in smaller portions. Steaming can also soften the fibers inside these greens, making them easier to digest.

 
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Legumes

While soybeans, lentils and peas are high in protein, they also contain a sugar called oligosaccharide.
Our body doesn’t produce the enzyme that breaks down oligosaccharides, which means they go all the way to the large intestine. This is when bacteria in the gut comes into action. As they go wild and break down these sugars, fermentation occurs, which releases gas and causes bloating.

The same goes for soy milk so our advice would be to consume legumes and soy products in moderation.

(Photo by 8photo)

Dairy Products

Do you feel gassy after eating cheese and having cereal with milk? It might be because you’re lactose intolerant. When your body doesn’t have the enzyme to break down lactose (a sugar found in dairy), it produces gas in your gut and triggers bloating.

To avoid this unpleasant situation and going for an emergency run to the restroom, opt for non-dairy alternatives such as oat milk or almond milk to go with your coffee. If you really can’t resist that slice of cheese, try using Lactaid to help your body break down lactose ahead of time.

Salty Foods

Fan of crisps and heavily salted food? Our kidney has trouble keeping up with excess sodium, which causes water retention in order for the body to dilute it.
However, steering away from sodium isn’t as easy as we thought. So compensate for it with drinking lots of water and add on our ReadySlim detox tea to help flush it out.

Carbonated Drinks

The fizzy bubbles in carbonated drinks are actually gas and can trigger bloating. Moreover, many of these drinks, especially the diet ones and sodas contain artificial sweeteners. Our body cannot digest sucralose, which causes water retention and an upset stomach. It also reduces the healthy bacteria in the gut and produces extra gas.