We’ve all been there. The moment of total panic when you realize you have a week left until you need to drop your stuff on the beach in a swimsuit, and your stomach can not seem to get the memo. Flatulence occurs for a wide range of reasons, from simply retaining water to more serious underlying conditions such as IBS. The excellent news is, there are some quick ways to tackle the look of a bloated belly – just in time for your beach debut.
Stop Fizz
One of the quickest fixes to getting a flat stomach is to cut out all carbonated drinks instantly – not just soda, but sparkling water and wine as well. The tiny bubbles contained in this drink can quickly cause even the flattest stomach to swell. One way to solve this problem is to use ginger – either artificial fresh ginger tea, hot or cold, or add grated ginger to stir-fries or honey and lemon drinks. This magical little root has the power to soothe your intestinal tract and eliminate excess gas, which means you do not have a bloated stomach.
Bye Bye To Salt waves
They may seem harmless enough, but foods that are filled with sodium and adding salt to your diet can in fact cause your stomach to expand. The reason is that sodium attracts water, which means it’s not removed from the body as efficiently. The end result? You’re looking up to two dress sizes heavier! Avoid adding salt to your food or eating foods that are naturally high in salt, such as certain types of bread, ketchup, chips and processed ready-to-eat foods. Instead, seek foods that fight water retention. That usually means things with a high potassium content – bananas, melons, mangoes and avocados. Potassium acts as diureticmeaning it helps the body get rid of excess water and eliminates bloating.
Not All Vegetables Are Friendly
When it comes to achieving that enviable flat belly in a rush, you might assume that all fruits and veggies are your friends – unfortunately, they aren’t. Apart from other health benefits, some have the effect of making the body produce more gas, causing bloating. Many dark-colored vegetables can make you bloat, including cauliflower, celery, broccoli, beans, onions and sprouts. So you may want to find a replacement in the short term while you focus on debloating!
Leave the Booze
You may remember hearing about it alcohol is a diuretic, so it should not be a problem, right? Actually, that’s wrong. Aside from the empty calories, and high sugar content of some alcohols like sugary liqueurs and wine, it can in fact trigger the body to try and retain more water, thanks to its intense dehydrating effect. So if you are really serious, save the alcoholic drinks until you are on vacation, and use flavored waters and herbal teas instead.
Choose Whole Grain and Carb Substitutes
The body converts carbohydrates into glycogen, a kind of fuel. There’s nothing wrong with that, but every gram of glycogen in your body also means you are storing about three grams of water. So try to control the carbohydrates in your diet, either by choosing whole grain alternatives (which are also more filling in smaller portions) or by swapping them out for substitutes like courtgetti noodles and butternut squash.
