8 Anti-bloating foods to add to your diet today

Eat these today to flatten your tummy tomorrow. Make these anti-bloating foods your belly’s new BFFs!

8 Anti-bloating foods to add to your diet today

Whether you feel bloated because of something you ate or it's "that time of the month," you can set your belly free from gas and bloating by making conscious dietary choices, as well as exercise.

But, if you don’t have the patience to wait for the effects of your daily sit-ups to kick in, these eight foods can give you an anti-bloating shortcut!

Cayenne Pepper

Spicing up your meals can do wonders for your belly.

"The capsaicin in cayenne pepper reduces gas and bloating because it increases the flow of digestive enzymes through your intestines," Dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick tells Women's Health.

Cayenne pepper also rids our tummies of bad bacteria which are the culprits behind gas and bloating.

Yogurt

"Yogurt is packed with probiotics—good bacteria that helps your gastrointestinal system digest and absorb food appropriately," says San Diego-based clinical nutritionist Tara Coleman.

She suggests to go for plain yogurt instead of the sugary kind for less calories. You can also add berries and grapefruit slices to add flavour to non-fat yogurt.

Ginger

This age-old herbal remedy has awesome anti-inflammatory as well as anti-bacterial properties.

"Ginger contains a digestive enzyme called zingibain, which helps the body break down protein," says Coleman. "This is one of the reasons sushi is typically served with a whole side of it."

Having ginger tea stimulates digestion and, according to Kirkpatrick, "it has a nice relaxing effect on your intestines, reducing inflammation in your colon, which will help the food you eat pass through your system more easily, and in turn, reduce the bloat and gas you experience."

Fennel Seeds

Chewing on a small amount of this herb will help ease gas and bloating.

"The compounds anethole, fenchone, and estragole in fennel seeds have antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties that relax intestinal muscle and allow trapped gas to dissipate," states Coleman. Fennel seeds are also used as an ingredient for certain desserts and dinners.

Bananas

They’re not just famous for being rich in potassium; bananas are also belly-flattening foods.

"Potassium is the reason your bloat may go away with banana consumption, and this mineral also helps to regulate your body’s sodium intake," says Kirkpartrick.

Lemons and Lemon Juice

Lemon water really works in easing bloating and detoxifying the body.

"The atomic composition of lemon juice is very comparable to our stomach’s digestive juice, as well as saliva and bile, so it actually helps relieve symptoms of indigestion such as bloating and belching," says Coleman.

Drinking lemon juice regularly helps improve your body’s overall metabolism.

Garlic

"Eating garlic with other foods, especially those high in sodium, can cause bloating, but eating it alone will actually help relieve gas," clarifies Coleman. "Garlic soup is super easy to make and it helps deliver the garlic directly to your system in no time."

Melons

Made up mostly of water, melons elevate your body’s hydration levels thereby, reducing bloating. "They’re also natural diuretics, so they help you urinate excess water and salt from your body," adds Kirkpatrick.

So, stock up on melons as well as the other delicious foods on this list—your tummy will thank you for it!

photos from shutterstock and pixabay

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Written by
Bianchi Mendoza

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