Stomach bloating: three natural remedies to ease the painful feeling

Stomach bloating occurs due to excess wind, constipation, swallowing air or from food intolerance, among others. When it happens, your stomach may visibly expand and become painful or

uncomfortable. Ways to prevent this from happening include working out what food your body has reacted to, causing this, or changing your diet to avoid constipation. The NHS says bloating

often happens “after a big weekend or over a festive season”. You could try eating yoghurt as a natural way to relieve stomach bloating, according to American website Everyday Health. The

website says that probiotics, such as those found in yoghurt, may help “aid digestion” and “reduce excessive gas”. “Probiotics are live microorganisms, mostly good bacteria, similar to the

bacteria found in the human gut,” they write. “They’re available as dietary supplements, but a number of foods also contain them naturally such as yoghurt.” They add that you could also try

kimchi and sauerkraut, fermented foods, to help reduce symptoms. You can purchase yoghurts for around a £1 in most UK supermarkets. Healthline adds that taking probiotics is a good way to

prevent bloating. “Gas produced by the bacteria in the intestine is a major contributor to bloating,” they write. “Several clinical trials have shown that certain probiotic supplements can

help reduce both gas production as well as bloating in people with digestive problems.” The probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus is recommended by Everyday Health as being one that

may assist with bloating. They mention 2016 research from the World Journal of Gastroenterology, which found that some probiotics can alleviate moderate to severe abdominal pain. However, it

may not be the best idea to supplement your diet with yoghurt if you are lactose intolerant. This means that your body won’t be able to digest lactose, which yoghurt contains, and may

instead cause additional bloating. Swallowing air from fizzy drinks or when you’re talking may also cause bloating. Dehydration can also cause stomach bloating. On the Dr Josh Axe website it

states: “The more water you drink (or consume in water-heavy foods) and better you stay hydrated, the less bloating you’re likely to deal with. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance both

halt digestion and make it hard to ‘stay regular’.