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If you've ever felt bloated, you know it feels like someone pumped you full of uncomfortable air.
Bloating can not only be painful and uncomfortable, but it can make you feel like you're much larger than you actually are. Not to mention, it can completely ruin your night--and your outfit.
Did you know that you can easily get rid of bloating with just a few snacks? That's right, just snack on any of the foods below and watch the bloating disappear!
1. Water with a little lemon.
"People tend to think that when they're holding on to water they should cut back drinking it, but that's not the case," says David Grotto, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life and The Best Things You Can Eat. "Retaining water is actually your body's way of holding on to fluid so you don't dehydrate. If you're having a bloating problem, that's the time you want to push fluids, not restrict them," says Grotto. Lemon is a natural diuretic and a gentle laxative when added to warm water, so it's a great addition to ensure that you'll actually flush out the excess fluid and some of the salt retained in your body.
2. Celery.
Celery "has been used as a digestive aid to regulate bowel movements and to control intestinal gas because its chemicals are known to decrease fluid retention. Celery has a high water content with a detoxing system, which can help to purge your body of toxins," says Grotto. It's important, though, to lean towards cooked veggies instead of simply eating them raw. "The fiber structure is broken down once they're cooked, making them easier to digest," says Grotto. "Even if the raw vegetables have a high water content, it can result in more bloating for some people."
3. Watermelon.
While all melons are beneficial, watermelons are especially beneficial in this case--that's probably because they contain over 92 percent water. This particular melon also has natural diuretic property and it is a great source of potassium. "The balance between sodium and potassium is important when it comes to controlling bloat," he says. For an incredible spa water, try mixing lemon, cucumber, watermelon, and rosemary for the ultimate belly-deflating fix. Be warned, though, you might be making quite a few trips to the restroom!
4. Rosemary and turmeric.
"Rosemary has been used to treat everything from heartburn and headaches to toothaches and high blood pressure. But it also treats intestinal gas and helps digestion," says Jackie Newgent, RD, culinary nutritionist, FITNESS advisory board member, and chef. Try putting it in your tea or adding it to a broth along with some celery. Turmeric, on the other hand, is praised for its ability to fight pain and inflammation, but it's also great in aiding upset stomach and bloat reduction, says Newgent.
5. Beans and Lentils.
Grotto explains that many of his patients that complain about bloating consume too much salt and not enough potassium or fiber. "Ramping down your sodium and increasing your potassium will have an almost immediate effect of reducing bloat," he says. "Lentils, with their high amount of fiber, are a good choice for aiding with digestion. Potassium-rich foods include white beans, soybeans, and lima beans — and they are also the highest-fiber vegetables you can get." Beans are also naturally high in both protein and estrogen, which can relieve bloating associated with periods.
6. Yogurt.
If you're lactose-intolerant or just find that it causes you to bloat, yogurt with live active cultures can do wonders. "Yogurt is already pre-digested and the milk sugar is broken down, where as in milk it's not, which can create gas and bloating," says Newgent. "The nature of the active cultures lactobacillus and acidophilus found in yogurt can improve symptoms of bloating." Stir in some melon to really blast away that bloating!"
What do you think about all this? Let us know your thoughts and reactions in the comments!
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