Having a belly doesn't always mean you're overweight.
Want a flat belly? Change your menu. Find out what you need to eat and what to avoid to get rid of your belly.
Does your belly look like you swallowed a balloon? The reason may be excess weight, in which case the best way to lose weight is diet.
What other reasons could there be that your belly is big?
This could be a medical condition such as irritable bowel syndrome, weak abdominal muscles, constipation and excess gas in the intestines.
To relieve symptoms such as constipation or excess gas, you need to change your diet. Do it!
If your protruding belly is the result of constipation, first of all, think about what is causing it.
Constipation can be caused, for example, by the action of some medications, if so, then tell your doctor that you have problems with digestion, the doctor will prescribe the correct treatment.
It is possible that you are drinking too little fluid and this is usually what leads to intestinal upset.
You can stimulate the intestines to act by adding water-containing foods to your menu. This is cucumber, watermelon and of course water! At least 8-10 glasses a day.
Fiber - acts like a brush that removes food debris from the walls of the small intestine and colon.
There is plenty of fiber in the following foods: cereals, flaxseed oil (worth adding to salads and soups), dried fruits (for example, apricots and prunes), vegetable juices and purees (fill the stomach well and have few calories, for example, a glass of tomato juice is about 50 kcal), bread made from unsifted flour.
Pectin - regulates the work of the intestines, so that the metabolism is accelerated. Pectin is available in: fruits (especially apples, berries, apricots, gooseberries), vegetables (especially carrots, beets).
Probiotic bacteria - they help in digestion (for example, proteins), stimulate the secretion of gastric juice and increase intestinal peristalsis. They also restore normal intestinal flora. These bacteria are found in: yogurt and kefir, buttermilk, sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers.
Herbs - can be drunk as infusions and teas, and also added to dishes as a seasoning. Try, for example, this: mint, linden blossom, chamomile, caraway, marjoram, basil.
Another reason for a big belly is excessive intestinal gases. "Additionally" to the disease, strange sounds from the belly are added: gurgling and splashing.
What to do in this condition? First of all, try to avoid foods that cause bloating. Yes, some foods can cause bloating, such as beans, peas, beans, raw cabbage, onions, sauerkraut.
Also fried and fatty foods, carbonated drinks, milk and dairy products. Of course, each person is individual. Some have iron bellies, others have a swollen belly from everything.
It is also important that not only what you eat, but also how you eat affects digestion. Experts note that in most cases, the accumulation of gases in the stomach and intestines is a result of the process of digestion of food.
Poorly chewed food or you rush and swallow food, all this interferes with proper digestion. The result? Incompletely digested food enters the intestines. In addition, air also gets inside, for example, during chewing, and this can lead to problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
How to deal with excess gas
Eat foods rich in probiotics. They help get rid of gas accumulated in the intestines. Change the pH in the intestines and prevent the proliferation of fermentation bacteria. Use herbs.
Drink fennel and mint tea. Do not drink anything during meals or immediately before or after. Avoid foods that contain large amounts of sorbitol (a type of sweetener found in health food stores), which ferments in the intestines.
Avoid foods containing preservatives and artificial additives. Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
If, despite your efforts, bloating does not go away, you should consult a doctor. Excess gas can be a symptom of a food allergy, such as wheat or lactose intolerance.
Previously we talked about the causes of hair loss in women .
Expert: Elena Gutyro
