5 Natural Ways To Treat Bloating

If bloating only affected us when we were on our period, life would be much easier. But bloating is a common complaint that affects people across the board, no matter your age, size, or where you are in your menstrual cycle. Blame your bloated stomach on your physical makeup. No, really, you can put all the blame on biology: A woman's colon, which is 10 centimeters longer than a man's, is constantly competing for space with the bladder, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Plus, in order to prepare us for pregnancy and subsequent extra water retention, our colons are more of a winding path with lots of unexpected turns. In layman's terms, we were born to bloat.

* Plant-Based Probiotics

Probiotics are your very own superheroes that stop bad bacteria and yeast from accumulating too much in your intestines, which can lead to bloating. The best probiotics contain these strains of good microbes: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Saccharomyces boulardii. Be sure to look on the label to see if any or all of them are inside the package.

* Fennel Seeds Or Drink Fennel Tea

You may not have fennel just lying around (unless you've been experimenting with fancy Jamie Oliver recipes), but it's an easy thing to scoop up at your nearest health food store or online. "Eat a pinch of fennel seeds at the end of a meal to benefit from its gas-reducing oils," Dr. Chutkan tells Bustle. This can be particularly helpful if you've eaten your fair share of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, and you can already feel the belly bloating a little bit, (something which is completely natural, by the way). It's also a nice way to wrap up a big plate of carbs.

* Water With Freshly-Squeezed Lemon Juice

The citric acid that gives lemons their puckery taste can help break up or prevent kidney stones, one 2014 study found, which is one abdominal ailment they can help with. Lemons also are a source of soluble fiber, which a 2011 study found can help reduce constipation and, in turn, bloating but in order to get this benefit, Healthline writes, you'd have to eat the lemon's pulp. Drinking water with or without lemons helps your body move nutrients through your system faster, so keeping hydrated in general is a good idea if you want to successfully fight bloating.

* Drink Less Coffee

I have some bad news: coffee is naturally dehydrating, increases acid production, and irritates your GI tract, all of which roll out the red carpet for bloating. But we live in the real world and, for many of us, kissing coffee goodbye in order to remedy a bloated stomach simply isn't an option. Dr. Chutkan suggests limiting yourself to one cup of coffee or less a day can help prevent coffee-related bloat.

* Eat Ginger Or Drink Ginger Tea

Ginger has been used for centuries to cure all kinds of basic ailments. Two compounds called gingerols and shogaols found in this root reduce inflammation in your gut and send a strong message to the muscles in your intestines to chill out. There are a few different ways to effectively get ginger in your system, but unfortunately, those sugary ginger chews aren't one of them. Instead, cut a few very thin slices of ginger and steep them in boiling water for 10 minutes. You can add honey and a squeeze of lemon to make it tasty before you sip on it. You can even chew on little pieces of raw ginger for a quick fix, if you don't mind the taste. Powdered ginger root, which you can take daily as a supplement, is also an option.