Bloating is a gastrointestinal disorder. It affects millions of people around the world and can cause serious trouble. Many people are ignorant about this disorder and do not take the necessary steps to treat it. There are several causes for bloating. Some of these include over eating, food allergy, Aerophagia, menstruation, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal bacteria, gas producing foods, ovarian cyst, yeast overgrowth, intra abdominal tumors, contaminated food, constipation certain medicines, etc. The most important cause however is attributed to irregular eating habits. This is a serious cause of indigestion which results in bloating.

Irregular food habits produce more gas in the stomach which results in bloating. The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is responsible for producing the excess gas. This results in bloating of the stomach. There are a number of food items which increase the risk of bloating. These include wheat, buffalo’s milk, sweets, salt, etc. In women bloating occurs during the premenstrual tension. This however has a lot to do with the hormones and not merely the eating habits.

The main symptom of bloating is tightening of the abdominal region. This is coupled with abdominal pain. It is sometimes also accompanied with borborygmus. Bloating cannot be taken lightly and should be treated immediately. There are several remedies to get rid of this problem:

• Do not eat in a hurry
• Avoid buffalo’s milk
• Take fiber rich food
• Avoid fast food/ processed food
• Take food rich in potassium
• Probiotic medicines/capsules
• Avoid self medication

Do not eat in a hurry: Eating in haste tends to increase the pressure on the stomach. This in turn increases the gases produced. This results in stomach bloating. So take time to eat slowly and enjoy your food!

Avoid buffalo’s milk: If in case you are trying to get rid of bloating, the first thing you need to do is to avoid buffalo’s milk. Buffalo’s milk lacks lactose. It is this enzyme which helps in the breakdown of milk. When lactose is absent, the amount of gas produced increases drastically which causes stomach bloating. Replacing buffalo’s milk with soy bean milk is a good option.

Take fiber rich food: Food items that are fiber rich help in getting rid of bloating. This is because food rich in fiber eliminates constipation. This results in the production of less gas, which ultimately helps in getting rid of bloating.

Avoid fast food/ processed food: People nowadays consume a lot of junk food. This is very bad for health. Lack of time makes people go in for processed food. This has serious consequences. It leads to stomach bloating.

Take food rich in potassium: Inclusion of a potassium rich diet surely has its advantages if you are trying to get rid of bloating. Mushroom, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. are rich in potassium. When taken, they reduce the sodium content in the body (salt). Reduction of salt helps to reduce bloating.

Probiotic medicines/ capsules: Probiotics are a group of favorable microorganisms. They help to keep the intestinal tract clean. They are of utmost importance for a healthy intestinal tract. They kill the unwanted microorganisms like yeasts, parasites and pathogens and help in maintaining normal bowel movement. They are available in different forms. They come in capsules or powder or in the liquid form. Consuming them is an easy way of getting rid of bloating.

Avoid self-medication: Never advocate self-medication. Always consult a doctor before taking any medicines or treatment. It is not advisable to get rid of bloating fast. It should be done gradually.