Bloating refers to the abnormal swelling or increase in the abdominal diameter. It can be painful for some people, which can interfere with their activities of daily living. The following are the causes, signs and symptoms, and home remedies for bloating.
Causes
Bloating has three common causes, as per Web MD. According to the publication, these include overeating, eating rich and fatty food, and eating too fast. Overeating is considered as the most common cause of bloating, since the digestive system needs to break down a huge volume of food, which may lead to the condition. Next, eating fatty food also makes a person bloated, since it is more difficult to break down fat that carbohydrates and proteins; as a result, the stomach is always full. Then, eating too fast leads to bloating since air is also swallowed during fast eating.
Signs and Symptoms
Bloating presents a number of signs and symptoms, which can bring discomfort to a person. According to Dr. Axe’s official website, these include feeling full, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, which can be accompanied by fever, skin rashes, hives, watery eyes, itchy throat, diarrhea, constipation, presence of blood in the urine or stool, unintentional weight loss, difficulty going to the bathroom, fatigue, inability to focus, irregular menstruation, hemorrhoids, and pain around the lymph nodes, throat, armpits, and groin.
Home Remedies
While medications for bloating are available as treatment options, home remedies can also be applied to resolve the condition.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea serves as one of the remedies for bloating. According to Everyday Roots, it helps sooth churning stomachs, as well as ease gas pains. One of its ingredients is menthol, which has antispasmodic properties that affect the smooth muscles of the digestive tract and the nerves.
To prepare, as per the publication, the person needs herbal peppermint tea and boiling water. The water is boiled and it is poured over the tea bag in the mug, which is covered to allow the tea to sit for ten to 15 minutes. Then, the cover is removed and the tea bag is taken out, squeezing it to extract the liquid completely. If the tea is too hot, it can be pressed against the side of the mug with a spoon.
Banana
Another remedy for bloating is banana. Among the fruit family, banana is one with the highest potassium content, which helps regulate the body fluid balance. As an effect, bloating is managed. According to Red Book Magazine, other potassium-rich food sources include cantaloupe, spinach, nuts, tomatoes, mangoes, and asparagus, which contain the amino acid asparagine; it promotes urination to eliminate excess fluid from the body.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is another choice in the management of bloating. As per Top 10 Home Remedies, it also contains potassium, just like banana, as well as vitamin A and fiber, which helps in digestion. As per the publication, the person adds a cup of pumpkin to his meals. Various preparations can be applied, such as steaming, broiling, or baking.
Herbs
Herbs also stand as remedies for bloating. As per Texas-based dietitian, nutritionist, and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokeswoman Angela Lemonf, as cited by Everyday Health, various herbs in the carminative family might help ease gas and prevent bloating. She defined the term carminative as a substance that helps in gas expulsion. One example is ginger, which promotes digestion, helping the stomach empty faster. Other herbs in the carminative family include chamomile, dill, fennel, basil, caraway, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, garlic, and oregano.
Bloating is uncomfortable to a person that it affects his daily activities. Along with the aforementioned home remedies, persistence of the condition should lead to medical consult, which helps the person assess for causes, make goals, apply interventions, and evaluate outcomes.
