Feeling ballooned after a meal or overnight can be really frustrating and sometimes uncomfortable. There could be many reasons that causes bloat in your abdominal area. Whether you’ve taken a salty meal, constipation from travel, or not drinking enough water, here are 6 natural ways to de-bloat almost instantly.
- Try Ginger Tea
Ginger helps in stimulating digestive juices and assist with the breakdown of food. This will allow food to process faster in the stomach and reduce any buildup or discomfort. However, ginger can have a strong, pungent taste; try adding some fresh lemon juice or honey into your ginger tea for better taste.
- Eat a Banana
Sometimes bloating may happen from excess sodium. The best tip for quick relief is to drink more warm water and eat foods with potassium, like banana. Both water and potassium help flush excess sodium and fluid out of the body.
- Chew Slowly
Eating too fast can cause air to trap in our stomach. Chew your food slowly and as much as possible for better digestion and to minimize bloating.
- Avoid Salty Foods
When we eat too much salty food, high sodium content in our system will cause our body to retain water to maintain proper balance in bloodstream. Besides limiting sodium intake to 2,500mg daily, drinking enough water throughout the day is key to de-bloat.
- Add Spices into Your Meals
You might be suffering from bloating due to indigestion or gastrointestinal distress. Adding spices such as cayenne pepper, black pepper or turmeric powder can stimulate digestion, eases gas and relieve cramping.
- Drink Warm Water with Lemon
A glass of warm water with lemon in the morning/ empty stomach activates our digestive system. Drinking water on empty stomach also helps flush out toxins and extra sodium that causes water retention and puffiness.
Now you know how to debloat, remember that you should not deprive yourself of the foods you love out of fear of bloating or guilt of eating. Make sure to have a balanced meal, eat in moderation and eat whole foods for a healthy and flat tummy.
Written by,
Jasmine Lim
Love Earth Organic Nutritionist
Bachelor of Science Degree in
Dietetics (major) & Food Science (minor)
Iowa State University, USA
