Why Do I Always Have A Swollen Belly

If no matter how much physical activity you do, you still have a swollen belly, review your eating habits, follow a healthy and balanced diet and rule out possible gastric problems.

Always having a bloated belly is a reality for many people who do not find an apparent reason for their problem. Swelling of the abdomen is often uncomfortable or even painful. Also, it can have several possible causes and is a very common problem.

Why does it swell and how can we reduce it? Let’s see it next.

Having a swollen belly: discomfort and dissatisfaction

Having a belly like a balloon can be very uncomfortable, but worst of all is not knowing the reasons for the swelling in order to avoid or reduce them.

Basically, those responsible are diet, poor digestion and the accumulation of gases. However, sometimes it is convenient to see a doctor to determine the exact cause of the problem and rule out underlying diseases.

Pay attention to the causes behind the bloated belly.

1. Eat quickly

When eating (at any time of the day): do you chew each bite well, or do you basically swallow without breathing? Those who eat quickly and stop when they feel full multiply their risk of being overweight.

In part, this is because it takes the brain about 20 minutes to signal the stomach that it is full. When you eat too fast, hunger continues after several bites or servings. On the other hand, this habit causes us to swallow more air, which accumulates in the belly and, therefore, swells.

When we do not chew well, foods full of carbohydrates reach the stomach almost intact and do not contain the saliva necessary to be predicted. Thus,  stomach fermentation results in inflammation and gas.

2. Consume fried foods

Junk food is the number one cause of many current problems and illnesses. The fried, battered and breaded cause the sensation of a bloated belly (among other pathologies).

The way we cook food is closely related to how we feel after eating. When the food has absorbed oil, it goes to the stomach and slows down the digestion process. Therefore, after frying we can feel bloated or with little capacity to carry out our activities.

3. Drink carbonated soft drinks

The bubbles swell the belly. That is not a novelty. So why do we continue to consume sodas or carbonated waters? If, in addition to gas, we take sugar into account, all those empty calories contribute to weight gain.

If these drinks are taken during meals, the feeling of a bloated belly will be greater. Even with light drinks.

4. Eating fibers the wrong way

Both the excess and the lack of fibers makes us show off a swollen belly. If we don’t eat enough, we will suffer constipation. Not going to the bathroom periodically results in a swollen abdomen.

Many people make the mistake of eating too many fibers, which is also bad for your health. Why? Because it causes diarrhea that, in addition to being annoying, causes bloating.

5. Digestive problems

Lack of enzymatic or digestive strength means that the stomach does not have the ability to digest food properly. Perhaps it could be due to an innate health problem of the person; but, in most cases, it is caused by the food that is eaten.

If the diet is based on refined foods such as flours (bread, cookies, pasta) and sugar, the enzymes  they have to work too hard to digest them. This overload reduces not only the efficiency, but also the amount of elements in charge of digestion.

If food is not fully digested, it breaks down and can lead to gas, dyspepsia and, of course, bloating.

6. Eat always cooked vegetables

With the cooking of the food we can remove all the nutrients and enzymes. The heat kills the vitamins and proteins in vegetables, and when they reach the stomach, the gastric juices must work much harder to break them down.

7. Intolerances to certain foods

Perhaps we are intolerant to a particular food and we do not know it, and its ingestion causes us to bloat in the belly.

Celiac disease and lactose intolerance are the two most common, but there are more. They cause slow digestion, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, gastritis and vomiting.

8. Bad posture

If we spend all day with the body bent forward, not only will our back and neck ache, but we will also show off a bulging belly. Why? Because the natural girdle of the body is weakening and the belly expanding.

9. Fluid retention

The cause of having a bloated belly is not only due to solid food, but also to the liquids that accumulate in the body. A clear example happens with women during the menstrual period.

Hormones retain fluids and, if we add to that little or no intake of water and the consumption of salty foods (or a lot of any food), the situation worsens.

10. Sedentary lifestyle

It is true that many times we exercise and lose weight in other parts of the body and not the abdomen. However, it is worse to stay at home lying on the couch. The fat in the abdomen weakens the muscles in the area and it is increasingly difficult to “keep them afloat.”

Keys to reducing a swollen belly

These tips can be of vital use if you want to eliminate stomach bloating:

• Eat small servings.
• Eat fresh salads and raw fruits.
• Rule out intolerances to certain foods.
• Avoid sodas and drink lots of water.
• Try a low-carbohydrate diet and cut back on sugars.
• Avoid constipation.
• Exercise 3 times a week.

If you have any questions about how to improve your lifestyle to feel better, consult your GP. The professional will help you design an appropriate strategy for you.