When your belly is bloated, you luckily haven’t gained weight. Instead, you’ve most probably gained water weight or are suffering through digestive issues that cause a distended belly. Unlike fat gain, bloated stomachs are often temporary.
1. Dairy
Dairy
If you feel gassy after a glass of milk or cheese, you may be lactose intolerant—which means your body lacks the necessary enzymes to break down lactose. It can cause gas to form in the GI tract, which can cause bloating. So before all that gas gets to you, which can be quite painful, steer clear of dairy products and opt for the many lactose-free alternatives.
2. Salty foods
Salty foods
Eating salty foods can trigger water retention, which can balloon you up. Avoiding it isn’t as simple as it seems. Salt sneaks it’s way into most of the processed and packaged foods, including soups, breads, and these other surprisingly salty foods. That makes it very difficult to avoid. If you do succumb to salt, drink lots of water to help flush it out.
3. Apples
Apples
An apple a day may save you a trip to the doctor’s office, but it does not keep the bloating away. They are high in fiber and also contain fructose and sorbitol, sugars found in fruits that many people can’t tolerate.
4. Broccoli, cabbage, kale
Broccoli
Kale, broccoli, and cabbage contain raffinose—a sugar that remains undigested until bacteria in your stomach ferment it. That produces gas and makes you bloat. Eating nutrient-rich, high-fiber foods regularly leads to having a stronger, healthier digestive system that’s less prone to bloating.
5. Dried Fruit
Dried fruits
Dried fruit can be a great source of nutrients and fiber, but it can also be the fruit for those who suffer from fructose malabsorption, it occurs when the body has difficulty absorbing the natural sugar. Dial down your dried fruit to nut ratio in trail mixes and opt for fresh over dried fruit in your oatmeal.
6. Corn
Corn
Corn may be the source of your ballooning midsection. It contains a type of carbohydrate that is difficult for the body to break down. This can lead to trapped air and gas, which causes bloating.