Gassy and Bloated? Sip These 6 Drinks to Help Soothe Your Stomach

Whether you're bloated after a heavy meal or you're noticing a general increase in gassiness lately, you might be looking for some quick relief.

Instead of reaching for a pill, first try sipping on one of these six anti-bloating drinks dietitians recommend for soothing your stomach.

In the battle of the bloat, plain old water is king.

"A big reason people feel bloated is because they need to poop," gut health nutritionist Amanda Sauceda, RDN, CLT, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

But here's the thing: "Easy and healthy poops require us to drink enough water and most of us walk around dehydrated," Sauceda explains. In other words, staying hydrated with H2O can help get rid of your gas problem.

When you have tummy trouble, sipping on ginger tea can help you banish bloat and gas (and even nix nausea).

That's because ginger is a carminative plant, meaning it can stop the formation of gas or help the body expel gas, according to a November 2018 study in ‌Food Science & Nutrition‌‌.‌

Indeed, "the combination of a warm liquid and ginger makes this herbal tea a double whammy to help soothe the gut," Sauceda says.

Lapping up lemon water can help you beat belly bloat and combat constipation.

Remember, your backed-up bowels and resulting puffy stomach often stem from dehydration. When added to warm water, lemons, which may act as a mild laxative, could help bust the bloat and get things flowing, Sauceda says. Plus, the citrus supplies a healthy dose of immune-boosting vitamin C and antioxidants.

Just make sure you properly dilute your lemon juice since the acidity could damage the enamel of your teeth, Sauceda tells us.

Bananas are beneficial for your belly because they are packed with potassium, which could potentially help with bloating, Sauceda says. Potassium counteracts the effects of sodium, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and taking in too much sodium could be to blame for your bloat.

In fact, women who enjoyed a banana or a banana-flavored drink for 60 days reported significantly less bloat than those who only drank water, according to a small December 2011 study published in ‌Anaerobe.‌

Keep in mind, though, that bananas, especially ripe ones, may actually trigger bloating for some people as they're considered a high-FODMAP food, Sauceda adds.

ICYMI, FODMAPs — which stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols — are carbohydrates that may be tough to digest if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

When it comes to controlling gas and bloat, watermelon is a win. That's because the juicy fruit's rich water content (it's 92 percent H2O!) can help keep you hydrated, Sauceda says. Plus, it delivers a powerful punch of potassium.

However, like bananas, watermelon is a high-FODMAP food, so it might set off stomach woes for people with IBS, Sauceda says.

Pineapple juice just might be the answer to your swollen stomach. This tropical fruit can temper tummy trouble since it contains an enzyme called bromelain, which helps your body break down protein and aid in digestion, Sauceda says.

For a hearty dose of the digestive enzyme, juice the pineapple's core, where bromelain is most bountiful.

But bear in mind that bromelain's benefits for bloating and gas haven't been studied extensively — and drinking citrusy pineapple juice could cause more discomfort than relief for someone with acid reflux, Sauceda says.