“It’s likely you already have many of these ingredients in your kitchen cupboards.”

Introduction:

Feeling like a balloon? Read on to discover what you need to eat to beat the bloat...

Whether it’s “that time of the month” or you’re naturally prone to bloating, you don’t have to suffer in silence.

​Truth be told, there are many effective ingredients - most of which you have in your kitchen cupboards right now - that can help you reduce bloating and get back to feeling your own self.

​Forget chemical-laden diet foods and pills. The key to reducing that uncomfortable bloating feeling lies in natural, wholesome foods.

Bananas

Rich in potassium, bananas prevent water retention by regulating sodium levels in your body. If you’ve recently eaten a lot of salty food, this can cause you to bloat. Eat a banana or two and you’ll be able to reduce bloating caused by salt. Bananas also have soluble fiber, which can relieve or prevent constipation.​

Don’t like bananas? Other potassium-rich foods include pistachios, avocados, kiwis and oranges.

Cucumbers

Slices of cold cucumber can help reduce puffiness around the eyes. If you’re feeling puffy in the stomach, cucumber can help you here as well. This vegetable contains quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant that helps reduce swelling.​

With a high water content, cucumber will also help you stay hydrated, which will also help you beat the bloat. Eat cucumber as if, or swap sugary drinks with a glass of cucumber water.

Probiotic Yogurt

Good bacteria contained in high quality probiotic yogurt will help regulate digestion. Introducing more of these special little guys into your stomach will improve the overall health of your stomach flora, which keeps everything running as it should.​

Probiotic supplements also work, but yogurt is by far the tastiest way to get good bacteria into your system. Enjoy a sweet breakfast with a little honey, jam, or granola.

Ginger

This spicy herb will help relieve even the worst cases of bloat. Famous for its anti-nausea properties as well as bloat relieving powers, use it in cooking or slice it up and add to cucumber water for a fresh, healthful beverage.​

You can also steep fresh ginger as a tea.

Peppermint tea

If you eat a big dinner and feel bloated afterwards, sipping on a hot cup of peppermint tea will help alleviate the symptoms. Peppermint helps to relax your gastrointestinal tract, dissipating the gas that causes stomach bloat.​

A soothing cup of tea is also soothing for the senses. Taking a quiet moment to enjoy your tea can ease the stress caused by bloating.​

It’s likely you already have many of these ingredients in your kitchen cupboards. So, the next time you feel bloated skip the chemicals and pills and opt for a natural solution instead.