Herbs And Foods To Fight Bloating

Bloating is the distressing sensation of abdominal fullness, brought on by intestinal gas, fluid retention, overeating, pregnancy or indigestion, to name a few causes. Diuretic and digestive herbs such as dandelion, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and anise might relieve your symptoms. Foods such as watermelon and celery act as natural diuretics. If bloating persists, check with a qualified health practitioner to rule out serious medical causes.

Bloating

Hormonal shifts, smoking, stressful situations, digestive disease, medications and food allergies are common causes of bloating. Sugars found in dried beans, wheat, onions, artichokes, milk and broccoli can cause gas, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NDDIC. Aerophagia, also called air swallowing, can also induce bloating. If you chew gum, have loose dentures, talk while eating or use a straw, you might be ingesting excess air along with your food. Disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease or cancer can also be culprits. NDDIC says simple measures such as changing your diet, taking prescribed medications and swallowing less air can go far in reducing bloating.

Gas-Relieving Herbs

Certain culinary herbs and spices have an added digestive benefit in addition to flavoring food. Black pepper, fennel, coriander, cardamom and ginger all are carminatives, or spices that relieve intestinal gas. For instance, fennel seed tea is a traditional folk remedy for indigestion and gas. In addition, fennel seeds also contain anti-inflammatory properties that can calm colic, Crohn's disease and colitis, according to Bharat Aggarwal, a professor of cancer research at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and author of the 2011 book, "Healing Spices."

Diuretics

Fluid retention can be brought about by hormones related to a woman's reproductive cycle, hot and humid weather and too much sodium. Medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, kidney and lung diseases, and food allergies also cause fluid retention, says the Better Health Channel website. Natural diuretics include fruits and vegetables with a high volume of water, such as watermelon, onion and cucumber. Surprisingly, one of the best diuretics is plain water, which encourages urination. Effective diuretic herbs include uva ursi and yarrow, notes herbalist Susun Weed in her 2004 "Herbal Ezine" article.

Lactose-Free Foods

At least 30 million Americans cannot digest lactose, the sugar present in cow's milk products, according to PubMed Health. Lactose intolerance can cause bloating, diarrhea and intestinal cramping. Cutting out dairy products might relieve bloating if you do not produce enough lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose. Try replacing them with lactose-free foods, such as soy, rice, coconut and almond milk products. Cheese, coffee creamer, ice cream, yogurt and pudding are all available in lactose-free forms.