There are many different reasons why a person could experience abdominal bloating, and usually, the cause is unknown. Something as simple as swallowing too much air can be a common culprit of abdominal bloating.
Eating different foods that don’t sit well with your body may also have that same effect. There are a variety of health issues that can cause bloating as well including gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance and more serious conditions such as ovarian cancer, celiac disease, ascites, and tumors.
If you think that your stomach bloating could be caused by a more serious health condition or lasts a long time, it would be a good idea to visit your doctor.
Whatever the cause of bloating is, the general goal is to get it to go away as fast as possible. While there are many ways on to avoid bloating in the first place, the following are different ways to relieve abdominal bloating once it has already begun.
#1 - Drink Chamomile Tea
Some alternative medicine practitioners diagnose chamomile for stress-related digestive problems. In addition to the benefits that chamomile has to your digestive tract, it contains antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties that help aid with menstrual cramps and joint pain.
#2 - Drink Peppermint Tea
Drinking this tea before a meal that could cause bloating will help prevent the problem from even starting. If not, drinking it at the first sign of bloating will be beneficial as well. Drinking the tea without sugar increases its benefits, and peppermint tea is usually sweet enough without adding any extra sugar. Additionally, another bonus of peppermint tea is the caffeine free pick me up that it provides.
#3 - Drink Ginger Tea
It is stronger when consumed in tea form and assists to stimulate bile and saliva production to add in digestion. Gingerol is the primary compound in ginger that helps relieve uncomfortable feelings in the intestinal tract as well as helps to alleviate any overabundance of gas occurring in your stomach. Ginger also helps reduce nausea and motion sickness, which can sometimes be an added side effect from bloating.
It is advisable to drink a glass of ginger tea before and after a large meal, to prevent bloating from occurring.
#4 - Drink More Water
If the thought of drinking eight glasses of water a day irks you, you can try flavored water recipes to help keep your intake of water up without getting bored.
#5 - Exercise
Performing a minimum of ten minutes of cardio can help provide instant relief. This can include running, biking, swimming or participating in a highly active sport such as basketball or tennis. If you are not up for a strenuous exercise, a ten to fifteen-minute brisk walk could help relieve your symptoms and get your stomach back on track.
Another form of exercise that has its benefits in banishing abdominal bloat is yoga. There are a variety of poses that stretch the abdomen, which help relieve bloating the fast.
#6 - Potassium
#7 - Drink Lemon Water
If drinking plain water is too boring for you, it is highly recommended to add lemon to your water. Lemon has a variety of health benefits associated with it, including helping with gas issues. Lemons are a natural diuretic and can act as a gentle laxative to help move your digestive system.
Drinking the lemon water at room temperature or on the warmer side has been shown to help rehydrate you faster, therefore, relieving the bloating faster. Lemon water is a fat-free, low in calorie treat that can be consumed every day for many healthy benefits. If you don't have a fresh lemon to use, you can always substitute it with lemon juice.
#8 - Turmeric
Adding a couple of grams of turmeric to your diet can help with any abdominal bloating issues you may experience. But, make sure not to consume too much turmeric, as that can provide an opposite effect and possibly cause bloating. Additionally, turmeric supplements may have an adverse reaction to certain medications such as diabetes medications, blood-thinning medications, antidepressants and stomach acid reducing drugs. You should consult with your doctor before taking turmeric supplements.
#9 - Spice
Anise is known for calming spasms in your stomach and can, therefore, assist in relieving abdominal bloat due to its relaxing effect on the stomach. You can chew on Anise after a meal or consume it in an herbal tea or put it on your food.
Carraway can also ease digestive gas and bloat. It can be consumed as a supplement on its own or by adding caraway seeds to your food.
Cinnamon can be used to help prevent stomach pain and the formation of gas in your stomach. This benefit can be attained by adding cinnamon to drinks or by making cinnamon tea.
#10 - Massage It Out
Then move across to the left side of your body and massage in circles down towards your hip bone and back to your belly button for a few minutes. It is suggested to rub your fingers in a clockwise motion while performing the massage as this can help relax the stomach as the motion follows the workings of the intestines.
Conclusion
Abdominal bloating is never a pleasant occurrence. There are many things that you can do to attempt to avoid it, but sometimes it is not always avoidable. The tips discussed above can help relieve the bloating once it has already occurred and help you move on with your day with comfort.