Sipping on hot liquids softens hard stools and relieves discomfort. Peppermint and carmint tea are great hot drink options that naturally soothe the gut. [2] X Research source
Place your hands on top of each other. Set your fingertips on the bottom right side of the stomach. Move your hands in a small counter-clockwise circle, applying firm pressure. Do 3 to 4 circles and move up your stomach. Keep moving up the stomach until you reach your ribs. Continue making circles as you move horizontally across the stomach to the left side. Bring the circles down to the bottom of your stomach. Repeat this technique of going up, over, and down 3 to 5 times.
This can also soften hardened stools that may cause your bloat and/or poor digestion. If you don’t have a heat pack, try taking a warm bath.
Add some extra walking into your day by parking in the furthest parking space or taking the dog on a midday walk. If walking outside isn’t feasible, try out a treadmill, elliptical, or walking the length of your house back and forth.
Yoga Walking Swimming Bicycling
Stay away from chewing gum and hard candies while you’re at it. These require you to breathe and talk while you “eat,” which can lead to discomfort.
Beano for breaking down hard-to-digest foods Pepto-Bismol for upset stomach and diarrhea Lactaid for lactose intolerance Gas-X to reduce gas buildup in the gut
Soaking in a warm bath with a few drops of peppermint oil can help ease bloat and discomfort. Ginger oil has also been proven to speed up digestion. [13] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Meditating Reading a book Listening to music Watching a movie Journaling Breathing exercises
Eat at least 3 servings of vegetables a day Have fruits and/or vegetables with every meal Eat beans, lentils, and peas at least 3 times a week Replace processed snacks with seeds, nuts, and fruits Substitute white rice for brown rice
Drinking water before, during, and after meals helps the body break down and process foods. For a healthy individual, it’s recommended to drink between 4 and 6 cups (about 946 and 1420 mL) of water a day. [18] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Avoid carbonated beverages since those cause more air to build up in your gut. [19] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Drinking water before, during, and after meals helps the body break down and process foods. For a healthy individual, it’s recommended to drink between 4 and 6 cups (about 946 and 1420 mL) of water a day. [18] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Avoid carbonated beverages since those cause more air to build up in your gut. [19] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Try swapping wheat, rye, and barley with oat-based products. Switch to gluten-free pasta made from chickpeas or rice. Explore milk alternatives such as almond, cashew, and coconut.
Culturelle is a highly recommended probiotic that helps get rid of bad gut bacteria. [23] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Yogurts are also a great source of good bacteria, and there are even probiotic-specific brands on the market like Activia. [24] X Research source
Apples Pears Blackberries Cow’s milk Cottage cheese Honey Broccoli Cabbage Lentils
Keep a journal logging your food intake, bowel movements, and symptoms to help your doctor understand and further evaluate why you may be bloated. Take pictures of your bloat to show the doctor. This can help if you’re not bloated at the time of the appointment. A doctor may prescribe medication(s) to help with chronic bloating. See a doctor immediately if you experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, severe abdominal pain, dramatic weight loss, chest pain, or fever alongside your bloating. [28] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source